CoolSculpting by Body Part: What to Expect

Woman receiving CoolSculpting treatment on stomach administered by an Ideal Image Medical Professional.

With no needles, no surgery and no downtime required, it’s no wonder why there are more than 23,000 searches for CoolSculpting® fat reduction services each month — for reference, that’s about one search every two minutes. This FDA-cleared fat-freezing procedure is red hot among both men and women who are looking to eliminate stubborn body fat. The only question is, what to expect?

As the nation’s largest provider of CoolSculpting®, Ideal Image has mastered CoolSculpting® treatment areas across the entire body, from under the chin to under the buttocks. If you’re curious about what areas CoolSculpting® works best on, or the recovery process for various CoolSculpting® treatment areas, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s what to expect with CoolSculpting®.

What Does CoolSculpting Work Best On?

CoolSculpting® uses patented cooling technology (cryolipolysis) to target, freeze, and eliminate excess fat cells underneath the surface of the skin (up to 25% in the treated area). CoolSculpting® works best on areas of stubborn fat that typically only shrink through diet and exercise, such as muffin tops and love handles. However, CoolSculpting® is not a form of weight loss nor is it recommended to treat obesity.

CoolSculpting® is ideal for those who want to treat specific areas that have been resistant to healthy eating habits and targeted workouts. It’s especially great for active people since most clients are able to return to their daily routine immediately after the procedure. And unlike other fat reduction services, like liposuction, there is no invasive surgery or stitches required. No knife, no needles, no surgery – no downtime!

Where Can You Get CoolSculpting?

CoolSculpting® parts of the body that have been notoriously difficult to trim down can be the easiest and quickest way to get rid of stubborn fat cells for good. While CoolSculpting® the entire body isn’t exactly possible, there are several go-to areas for fat reduction services.

1. Stomach and Flanks

The stomach is one of the first places where the body stores fat, so it’s no surprise that it’s also the most popular area for CoolSculpting®. Aside from the abdomen area, CoolSculpting® can also target the flanks, better known as love handles or muffin tops. Bear in mind, if your stomach flab is excess skin from weight loss and not fat, you may be better suited for a different type of procedure.

2. Below the Buttocks (Banana Roll)

So, does CoolSculpting® work on the buttocks? Yes! But more specifically, CoolSculpting® works on the area below the buttocks, called the banana roll. Flash-freezing fat cells in this region can result in a smoother, slimmer lower buttocks contour.

3. Thighs

While the skin on the inner thighs is a bit thinner and easier to locate surface fat, fat on the outer thighs — often referred to as “saddlebags” — is often a bit harder to target with diet and exercise. CoolSculpting® technology can penetrate below the skin’s surface for trimmer, tighter thighs.

4. Upper Arms

CoolSculpting® is ideal for areas of upper arm fat, like the fat that collects between the shoulder and elbow. Like excess skin around the stomach, CoolSculpting® cannot minimize excess skin – or colloquially, “bat wings” – caused by weight loss. However, it can trim fatty tissue that’s resistant to weight loss.

5. Back Fat and Bra Fat

Fat-freezing has amazing results in several areas of the back, including lower back fat that extends from the flanks and fatty tissue between the breast and armpit. Also called “bra bulge” and “bra fat,” the Medical Professional administering your treatment must confirm this fatty tissue is not glandular breast tissue before they can begin CoolSculpting® the area.

6. Under the Chin and Jaw

Fat cells under the chin and jaw respond so well to CoolSculpting® that there’s even a mini CoolSculpting® applicator designed specifically to help with the common double chin area. Not to mention, CoolSculpting® is one of the only methods to sculpt the jaw for people with a genetic predisposition for fullness under the chin.

Does CoolSculpting Vary By Body Part?

CoolSculpting® varies slightly from body part to body part. For instance, smaller CoolSculpting® treatment areas, like under the chin, can take as little as 35 minutes to complete. Larger areas, such as the stomach or thighs, can take approximately an hour. You can target up to four treatment areas at a time, which can extend your treatment duration to about four hours.

What is Recovery Like for Different CoolSculpting Treatment Areas?

There are a handful of things to expect after CoolSculpting®, but major recovery time is not one of them. Some clients have minimal discomfort following the procedure, such as tingling, tenderness to the touch, bloating, diarrhea, and muscle spasms – but most are not common. After your session, the treatment area may be red for up to a few hours. Most clients are able to return to their daily routine immediately.

Once the fat cells in the CoolSculpting® treatment area have been frozen, a gradual reduction in the thickness of the fat layer will occur. Your body will begin to naturally break down and remove the injured fat cells, and you may start to see changes as early as three weeks. The most dramatic results occur after one to three months and improve with repeated procedures over time.

Compared to other fat reduction procedures, such as liposuction, there is no risk of infection from invasive surgery with CoolSculpting® treatment. Likewise, there are no stitches, bruises, or painful inflammation that could dampen your results. Where immediate recovery for liposuction takes three to five days with lingering side effects for weeks, CoolSculpting® recovery takes just hours.

Ready to Trim Extra Fat Without Going Under the Knife?

Your body goals are just a few clicks away. CoolSculpting® will deliver results you can see and feel within 1-3 months. At Ideal Image, CoolSculpting® is only administered by extensively trained Medical Professionals and our unique post-treatment technique results in 67% more fat loss.

Book a free consultation with one of our trusted Aesthetic Consultants today to learn more about CoolSculpting® from the largest national provider in the U.S. and say goodbye to stubborn body fat once and for all.