CoolSculpting an Aesthetic Solution, not a Health One
DEAR DR. ROACH: I would like to know your opinion regarding “cool sculpting.” Does it really work? Are there any bad consequences that a person should know about it? Is it advisable for a person in her 80s who is in good health and is not overweight but is beginning to add fat around her middle? — L.S.
ANSWER: CoolSculpting is a branded medical device that uses cold temperatures and vacuum to cause the death of fat cells. Over months, this can create a reduction in discrete areas of subcutaneous fat. This process, cryoablation, is related to liposuction. It is designed to remove fat and improve body appearance. It is not effective at removing large amounts of fat for overall health. A 2013 study found the procedure to be safe and well-tolerated, with an overall 73 percent patient satisfaction rate.
The negative effects seem minimal, with a few people getting additional fat growth in the treated areas, and others developing nodules under the skin. Redness, bruising and numbness are common and temporary.
By contrast, the amount of fat removed by traditional liposuction is greater than that removed by cryoablation, so the optimal procedure depends on the individual’s goals.