Understanding CoolSculpting Side Effects and How to Manage Them

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsMinor Side EffectsRare ComplicationSecondary SymptomsSurgical Alternatives

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Minor Side Effects

Rare Complication

Secondary Symptoms

Surgical Alternatives

CoolSculpting is generally considered low-risk for good candidates for the procedure. If side effects occur, they tend to be mild to moderate and resolve on their own. Rarely, more serious adverse effects can occur, such asparadoxical adipose hyperplasia(PAH).

CoolSculpting Minor Side Effects

Minor side effects of CoolSculpting may include:

Timing After Exposure to Cold

Most side effects or complications happen shortly after the CoolSculpting procedure and last a short time (days or weeks). Still, serious complications may last longer or be permanent without corrective surgery.

During the treatment, you may feel:

Immediately after treatment, you may experience:

One to two weeks after treatment, you may experience:

Rare Complication: Paradoxical Adipose Hyperplasia

Paradoxical adipose hyperplasia, also called paradoxical fat hyperplasia, is a rare complication of fat-freezing in which the number of fat cells in the treated area increases instead of decreases.

Research on the causes of PAH is ongoing, but risk factors may include:

Symptom Onset

PAH typically develops two to five months after cryolipolysis treatment.

Location and Appearance

PAH is a delayed increase inadipose (fat) tissueat the treatment area. It appears as a well-demarcated mass (having clear boundaries) under the skin, and it may be slightly tender to the touch.

The mass is a raised, firm bulge of fatty tissue, and is usually shaped like the treatment applicator (often rectangular).

What to Do About Side Effects and Adverse ReactionsBefore having a CoolSculpting treatment, talk to your healthcare provider to make sure the procedure is right for you.A good candidate for CoolSculpting has:Good general healthLocalized pockets of resistant fatRealistic expectationsSkin that is notexcessively looseCoolSculpting and other fat-freezing procedures are not advised for people who have:AllergiesAn implanted medical deviceAutoimmune conditionsChronic painHistory of herniaNerve conditions such asdiabetic neuropathyPoor circulationSkin conditions such as dermatitisYou should not have a fat-freezing procedure if you have a cold sensitivity disorder that can affect the blood or skin, such as:ChilblainsCold agglutinin diseaseCold urticariaCryoglobulinemiaParoxysmal cold hemoglobinuriaPernioPoor blood circulation in the treatment areaRaynaud’s diseaseIf you have unexpected or troublesome side effects or you have complications, talk to your healthcare provider.If you experience a problem with the use of a medical device, such as CoolSculpting, consider reporting it using theFood and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Online Voluntary Reporting Form

What to Do About Side Effects and Adverse Reactions

Before having a CoolSculpting treatment, talk to your healthcare provider to make sure the procedure is right for you.A good candidate for CoolSculpting has:Good general healthLocalized pockets of resistant fatRealistic expectationsSkin that is notexcessively looseCoolSculpting and other fat-freezing procedures are not advised for people who have:AllergiesAn implanted medical deviceAutoimmune conditionsChronic painHistory of herniaNerve conditions such asdiabetic neuropathyPoor circulationSkin conditions such as dermatitisYou should not have a fat-freezing procedure if you have a cold sensitivity disorder that can affect the blood or skin, such as:ChilblainsCold agglutinin diseaseCold urticariaCryoglobulinemiaParoxysmal cold hemoglobinuriaPernioPoor blood circulation in the treatment areaRaynaud’s diseaseIf you have unexpected or troublesome side effects or you have complications, talk to your healthcare provider.If you experience a problem with the use of a medical device, such as CoolSculpting, consider reporting it using theFood and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Online Voluntary Reporting Form

Before having a CoolSculpting treatment, talk to your healthcare provider to make sure the procedure is right for you.

A good candidate for CoolSculpting has:

CoolSculpting and other fat-freezing procedures are not advised for people who have:

You should not have a fat-freezing procedure if you have a cold sensitivity disorder that can affect the blood or skin, such as:

If you have unexpected or troublesome side effects or you have complications, talk to your healthcare provider.

If you experience a problem with the use of a medical device, such as CoolSculpting, consider reporting it using theFood and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Online Voluntary Reporting Form

Does Treatment Reverse PAH?

PAH does not go away on its own but can be successfully treated.

PAH is usually treated with surgery, such asliposuctionor, less commonly, abdominoplasty (“tummy tuck”).

Plastic surgeons typically treat PAH.

Other Secondary Symptoms and Conditions

CoolSculpting may cause or worsen ahernia(organ or tissue bulging through a weak area in the abdomen or abdominal wall lining), particularly in or around a preexisting hernia or structurally weak areas, like surgical scars or separation between abdominal muscles.

Other less common adverse events and conditions associated with CoolSculpting include:

CoolSculpting does not remove tissue (like fat or skin) from the body and does not treat obesity, cause weight loss, or contribute to health benefits. Surgeries that offer more dramatic effects, or that may be used if CoolSculpting isn’t advised, include liposuction andabdominoplasty.

These procedures are more invasive than CoolSculpting and come with higher risks. Talk to your health provider about the benefits of these surgeries versus their risks.

Liposuction

Liposuction(also called lipoplasty or lipo) is a minimally invasive surgery that removes fat from specific areas of the body, such as the following:

Abdominoplasty

Abdominoplasty is a surgical procedure that removes excess fat and skin, tightens stomach muscles, and pulls the skin of the abdomen taut. The extent of the procedure can range from a “mini tummy tuck” topanniculectomy. This entails removes hanging skin and fat from the lower abdomen after weight loss over 100 pounds.

Summary

CoolSculpting is a noninvasive body contouring procedure that freezes subcutaneous fat cells.

CoolSculpting is considered low risk, but side effects and complications can occur. Most side effects are minor and temporary, such as bruising, redness, and swelling. More serious complications can also occur, such as paradoxical adipose hyperplasia or hernia. PAH typically requires surgery to correct.

CoolSculpting is not appropriate for everyone. For some people,surgical proceduressuch as liposuction orabdominoplastyare necessary to achieve desired results.

Talk to your healthcare provider about the risks and benefits before trying CoolSculpting, and see your healthcare provider after the procedure if you have any concerns.

11 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Nikolis A, Enright KM.A multicenter evaluation of paradoxical adipose hyperplasia following cryolipolysis for fat reduction and body contouring: a review of 8658 cycles in 2114 patients. Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 2021;41(8):932-941. doi:org/10.1093/asj/sjaa310U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Non-invasive body contouring technologies.Altmann J, Burns AJ, Kilmer SL, et al.Global expert opinion on cryolipolysis treatment recommendations and considerations: a modified delphi study. Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum. 2022;4:ojac008. doi:10.1093/asjof/ojac008Allergan.About CoolSculpting (important safety information).American Society of Plastic Surgeons.What is cryolipolysis?Kania B, Goldberg DJ.Cryolipolysis: A promising nonsurgical technique for localized fat reduction. J of Cosmetic Dermatology. 2023;22(S3):1-7. doi:10.1111/jocd.16039Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.CoolSculpting.Few J, Saltz R, Beaty M, et al.Cryolipolysis: clinical best practices and other nonclinical considerations. Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum. 2020;2(2):ojaa010. doi:10.1093/asjof/ojaa010Ali T, Habib A, Riaz R, Shaukat A, Akilimali A.Assessing the benefits and drawbacks of cryolipolysis as a noninvasive body sculpting technique: risks, side effects, and future research – an editorial. International Journal of Surgery: Global Health. 2023;6(5). doi:10.1097/GH9.0000000000000340Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.Liposuction.Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.Tummy tuck.

11 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Nikolis A, Enright KM.A multicenter evaluation of paradoxical adipose hyperplasia following cryolipolysis for fat reduction and body contouring: a review of 8658 cycles in 2114 patients. Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 2021;41(8):932-941. doi:org/10.1093/asj/sjaa310U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Non-invasive body contouring technologies.Altmann J, Burns AJ, Kilmer SL, et al.Global expert opinion on cryolipolysis treatment recommendations and considerations: a modified delphi study. Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum. 2022;4:ojac008. doi:10.1093/asjof/ojac008Allergan.About CoolSculpting (important safety information).American Society of Plastic Surgeons.What is cryolipolysis?Kania B, Goldberg DJ.Cryolipolysis: A promising nonsurgical technique for localized fat reduction. J of Cosmetic Dermatology. 2023;22(S3):1-7. doi:10.1111/jocd.16039Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.CoolSculpting.Few J, Saltz R, Beaty M, et al.Cryolipolysis: clinical best practices and other nonclinical considerations. Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum. 2020;2(2):ojaa010. doi:10.1093/asjof/ojaa010Ali T, Habib A, Riaz R, Shaukat A, Akilimali A.Assessing the benefits and drawbacks of cryolipolysis as a noninvasive body sculpting technique: risks, side effects, and future research – an editorial. International Journal of Surgery: Global Health. 2023;6(5). doi:10.1097/GH9.0000000000000340Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.Liposuction.Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.Tummy tuck.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Nikolis A, Enright KM.A multicenter evaluation of paradoxical adipose hyperplasia following cryolipolysis for fat reduction and body contouring: a review of 8658 cycles in 2114 patients. Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 2021;41(8):932-941. doi:org/10.1093/asj/sjaa310U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Non-invasive body contouring technologies.Altmann J, Burns AJ, Kilmer SL, et al.Global expert opinion on cryolipolysis treatment recommendations and considerations: a modified delphi study. Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum. 2022;4:ojac008. doi:10.1093/asjof/ojac008Allergan.About CoolSculpting (important safety information).American Society of Plastic Surgeons.What is cryolipolysis?Kania B, Goldberg DJ.Cryolipolysis: A promising nonsurgical technique for localized fat reduction. J of Cosmetic Dermatology. 2023;22(S3):1-7. doi:10.1111/jocd.16039Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.CoolSculpting.Few J, Saltz R, Beaty M, et al.Cryolipolysis: clinical best practices and other nonclinical considerations. Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum. 2020;2(2):ojaa010. doi:10.1093/asjof/ojaa010Ali T, Habib A, Riaz R, Shaukat A, Akilimali A.Assessing the benefits and drawbacks of cryolipolysis as a noninvasive body sculpting technique: risks, side effects, and future research – an editorial. International Journal of Surgery: Global Health. 2023;6(5). doi:10.1097/GH9.0000000000000340Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.Liposuction.Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.Tummy tuck.

Nikolis A, Enright KM.A multicenter evaluation of paradoxical adipose hyperplasia following cryolipolysis for fat reduction and body contouring: a review of 8658 cycles in 2114 patients. Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 2021;41(8):932-941. doi:org/10.1093/asj/sjaa310

U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Non-invasive body contouring technologies.

Altmann J, Burns AJ, Kilmer SL, et al.Global expert opinion on cryolipolysis treatment recommendations and considerations: a modified delphi study. Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum. 2022;4:ojac008. doi:10.1093/asjof/ojac008

Allergan.About CoolSculpting (important safety information).

American Society of Plastic Surgeons.What is cryolipolysis?

Kania B, Goldberg DJ.Cryolipolysis: A promising nonsurgical technique for localized fat reduction. J of Cosmetic Dermatology. 2023;22(S3):1-7. doi:10.1111/jocd.16039

Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.CoolSculpting.

Few J, Saltz R, Beaty M, et al.Cryolipolysis: clinical best practices and other nonclinical considerations. Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum. 2020;2(2):ojaa010. doi:10.1093/asjof/ojaa010

Ali T, Habib A, Riaz R, Shaukat A, Akilimali A.Assessing the benefits and drawbacks of cryolipolysis as a noninvasive body sculpting technique: risks, side effects, and future research – an editorial. International Journal of Surgery: Global Health. 2023;6(5). doi:10.1097/GH9.0000000000000340

Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.Liposuction.

Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.Tummy tuck.

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