Who is a good candidate for CoolSculpting?

CoolSculpting is equally effective for men and women with visible, pinchable pockets of fat, who are in good health, and near their ideal weight. The target is pinchable fat – stubborn fat rolls that resist reduction or elimination with diet, and are difficult, if not impossible to target with exercise.

Pinchable fat

What areas of your body do you want to reshape? The areas to be treated must have pinchable fat. Can you pull your fat away from your body between your fingers? If so, you may be an excellent candidate. This is important because the areas of concern must be able to be drawn into the applicator.

Healthy tight skin

In addition, your skin must be healthy with minimal laxity or looseness. This is important because when the fat cells die and are removed from the body, the skin must be able to tighten around your new contours. CoolSculpting freezes the fat, without affecting the skin and surrounding tissues. If there is excess skin, surgical procedures may be needed to achieve desired results.

Medical considerations

Other medical considerations to be evaluated include current medical conditions, a hernia in the areas to be treated, recent surgeries or scarring in the desired treatment areas.

Realistic expectations

Good candidates should have realistic expectations. Typically, this procedure provides a 20-25% reduction in fat in the treated area per procedure. Thus, multiple treatments may be needed to achieve your goals.

An alternative to liposuction

People who are not interested in surgical procedures like liposuction will appreciate that CoolSculpting is a great, nonsurgical alternative to remove stubborn fatty deposits, with no downtime.

Who is not a good candidate?

CoolSculpting is not a weight loss procedure. Coolsculpting is a targeted treatment for problem areas that don’t respond to diet and exercise. Therefore, people with body fat all over the body will not achieve the best results.

Immediate results

People seeking immediate results will be disappointed with CoolSculpting because multiple treatments may be necessary to achieve your aesthetic goals. And with each treatment, it takes time for the body to remove the dead fat cells. It can take a few months to see the final results.

Eating disorders

Patients with a history of eating disorders are not likely to be good candidates.

Impaired Lymph System

CoolSculpting relies on a healthy lymph system to remove the dead fat cells. It can take up to four months for the body to process and remove the dead fat cells. If the lymph system is impaired, this can cause adverse effects.

Pregnant women

Pregnant women are not candidates.

Other conditions that can affect whether you are a good candidate include:

• Sensitivity to cold including Raynaud’s disease
• Impaired circulation in the areas of concern
• Nerve pain
• Impaired skin sensation
• Some blood disorders
• Bleeding disorders
• Scars in the areas to be treated
• Skin rashes, eczema or dermatitis in the areas to be treated
• Chronic pain

CoolSculpting is noninvasive and low risk but there are potential side effects that can affect your decision to have CoolSculpting. Thousands of people have had Coolsculpting and achieved amazing improvements in body contours without surgery. But it is not for everyone.

Schedule a CoolSculpting consultation

The best way to know whether CoolSculpting is the answer for your body goals is to schedule a consultation  with Dr. M. David Cole at Horizon Dermatology and Cosmetic Center in Newport Beach, Beverly Hills, Torrance, Fullerton and Encinitas, CA .  Patients must inform Dr. Cole of their entire medical history. Dr. Cole will assess your health, your skin and the areas of your concern. He will discuss with you your goals and the best way to achieve them. His goal is your health and beauty.