- Visit
- Length depends on how many areas are treated
- Typical course
- At least 2 sessions, 4 to 8 weeks apart, for most people (maker)
- Results
- Usually start to show 1 to 3 months after treatment
- Downtime
- Most people return to normal activities the same day
What is CoolSculpting?
CoolSculpting® (Allergan Aesthetics, an AbbVie company) is a form of cryolipolysis, often called “fat freezing.” An applicator placed over a bulge of fat cools it in a controlled way. Some of the fat cells in that spot are damaged by the cold, and over the following weeks to months your body clears them away naturally.
Treatment areas
The CoolSculpting Elite system is FDA-cleared to reduce visible fat bulges in these areas:
- Upper arms, bra-line fat, back fat, the fold under the buttocks (“banana roll”), thighs, abdomen and flanks: for people with a BMI of 30 or less
- Under the chin and under the jaw: for people with a BMI up to 46.2. Treating under the chin can also improve the look of loose skin there.
It is not a weight-loss treatment. CoolSculpting reduces fat in the area treated. It does not lower your weight, treat obesity or improve your overall health.
What to expect
Consultation
We review your health history, check your BMI, examine the area and confirm CoolSculpting is appropriate for you.
Applicator placement
A gel pad helps the applicator make good contact with your skin, and the applicator is positioned over the bulge.
During treatment
You may feel pulling, tugging, intense cold, tingling or aching at first. These sensations ease as the area becomes numb.
Afterward
Most people return to normal activities the same day. Numbness or tingling in the area can last several weeks.
Results and next steps
Changes usually start to show 1 to 3 months later. Most people need at least two sessions, typically 4 to 8 weeks apart.
What results to expect
Changes are gradual and modest. In a 2015 review of published studies, the average reduction in the treated fat layer, measured by ultrasound, ranged from about 10% to 25%. That is a change in the shape of one area, not a change on the scale. Results vary from person to person.
According to the maker, fat cells destroyed by treatment do not come back. If you gain weight, though, the remaining fat cells can grow, so keeping a steady weight helps maintain results.
The CoolSculpting timeline
- Treatment day — Most people return to normal activities
- Several weeks — Numbness, tingling or itching can linger
- 4 to 8 weeks — Next session, for most people who need two
- 1 to 3 months — Changes usually start to show
Side effects & risks
- Common, usually temporary: redness, swelling, bruising, skin discoloration, firmness, tenderness, stinging, cramping and aching. Numbness, tingling or itching can last several weeks.
- Delayed pain: some people develop pain in the treated area that begins after treatment rather than during it. In a published study, it went away on its own.
- Less common: small lumps under the skin (nodules) and freeze burns, which can be severe. Treatment under the chin or jaw can temporarily affect a nerve, changing the position of the lip or tongue, or cause a feeling of fullness in the throat.
- Rare but serious: paradoxical adipose hyperplasia (PAH), in which the treated area slowly grows larger instead of smaller. PAH does not go away on its own and may need surgery. The maker reports about 1 in 3,000 treatments; a 2025 review of published studies estimated about 1 in 455 patients, based on low-certainty evidence. Hernias in the treated area have also been reported.
Who should not have it / talk to Dr. Shin first
CoolSculpting is not used if you have:
- cryoglobulinemia, cold agglutinin disease or paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria
- Raynaud’s disease, pernio (chilblains) or cold urticaria (hives from cold)
- poor blood circulation in the area to be treated
Talk to Dr. Shin first if you:
- have a BMI above the cleared limit for the area (treatment outside these limits is off-label)
- have a hernia in or near the area, or recent surgery there
- hope to lose weight overall; CoolSculpting won’t do that, but Dr. Shin can talk with you about your health goals
Common questions
Is CoolSculpting a weight-loss treatment?
No. CoolSculpting is FDA-cleared to reduce visible fat bulges in specific areas. The FDA notes that non-invasive body contouring does not treat obesity, improve your health or cause weight loss. It changes the shape of a treated area, not the number on the scale.
When will I see CoolSculpting results?
According to the maker, most people start to see results 1 to 3 months after treatment, as the body clears the treated fat cells. Because many people need a second session, the whole plan can take a few months. Results vary from person to person.
How many CoolSculpting sessions will I need?
The maker says most people need at least two sessions, typically 4 to 8 weeks apart. Your plan depends on the size and number of areas and on your goals. We’ll give you a recommendation, and an estimate of visit length, at your consultation.
Does CoolSculpting hurt?
At first you may feel pulling, tugging, mild pinching, intense cold, tingling, stinging or aching. These sensations usually ease as the area goes numb. Afterward, the area may be tender or numb for several weeks, and some people develop delayed pain that goes away on its own.
Can fat come back after CoolSculpting?
The maker says fat cells destroyed by treatment do not come back. However, the remaining fat cells can grow if you gain weight. Keeping a steady weight helps maintain your results, and CoolSculpting does not prevent future weight gain. Results vary from person to person.
Important information
- CoolSculpting® is FDA-cleared, not FDA-approved. It is cleared to reduce visible fat bulges in certain areas for people within set body mass index (BMI) limits. The FDA notes that non-invasive body contouring does not treat obesity, improve your health or cause weight loss.
- A note on fat-dissolving injections. KYBELLA® (deoxycholic acid) is the only FDA-approved fat-dissolving injection, and it is approved for fat under the chin. We don’t recommend unapproved fat-dissolving injections; the FDA has received reports of scarring, serious infections, skin deformities and painful knots after their use.
Sources & further reading
- CoolSculpting Elite System 510(k) indications for use, K233732 (2024) (opens in a new tab) — U.S. Food & Drug Administration
- Non-Invasive Body Contouring Technologies (opens in a new tab) — U.S. Food & Drug Administration
- CoolSculpting FAQ and Important Safety Information (opens in a new tab) — Allergan Aesthetics (manufacturer)
- Cryolipolysis for fat reduction and body contouring: safety and efficacy of current treatment paradigms (Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2015) (opens in a new tab) — PubMed, U.S. National Library of Medicine
- Incidence of Paradoxical Adipose Hyperplasia After Cryolipolysis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum, 2025) (opens in a new tab) — PubMed, U.S. National Library of Medicine
- Delayed Onset Pain Associated With Cryolipolysis Treatment: A Retrospective Study With Treatment Recommendations (Dermatologic Surgery, 2015) (opens in a new tab) — PubMed, U.S. National Library of Medicine
- Using Fat-Dissolving Injections That Are Not FDA Approved Can Be Harmful (opens in a new tab) — U.S. Food & Drug Administration
Last updated October 2026. This page is educational and does not replace a visit with a clinician.
