Who Is a Good Candidate for CoolSculpting® After Weight Loss?

Losing weight changes a lot, but it doesn't always change every area evenly. Many people find that a soft lower belly, love handles, or a bit of fullness under the chin sticks around after weight loss, no matter how consistent they are with diet and exercise.

CoolSculpting may help, and the best candidates possible tend to share a few traits. They're at or near their goal weight, have pinchable fat in specific areas, are in good overall health, and have realistic expectations about results.

Our board-certified dermatologists at Clear Lake Dermatology in Greater Houston, TX offer CoolSculpting at our League City and Webster locations. Call today to discover more and book a consultation.

What is CoolSculpting?

Many patients start by asking, "What is CoolSculpting?" It's a nonsurgical treatment that uses controlled cooling, called cryolipolysis, to target fat cells under the skin. Fat cells are more sensitive to cold than the tissue around them, so they can be frozen without harming your skin.

Over the following weeks, your body naturally clears away the treated cells. Because it trims specific fat pockets instead of reducing your overall weight, CoolSculpting is considered a body contouring treatment.

Signs CoolSculpting in Webster may be right for you

CoolSculpting works best for people who are already in a good place with their health and want to refine their shape. You may be a strong candidate if you have:

• A stable weight: You're at or close to your goal and have kept your weight steady for a few months after weight loss.
• Pinchable, stubborn fat: You have fat pockets you can grab between your fingers that haven't changed with exercise.
• Good overall health: You don't have certain conditions that could make treatment or recovery unsafe.
• Realistic goals: You want a smoother, more defined shape and understand that CoolSculpting results show up gradually.

If loose skin bothers you more than fat, a skin tightening treatment may be a better place to start. Our team can help you sort out which approach makes sense for your body contouring goals.

What to expect during and after CoolSculpting

Each CoolSculpting session usually takes about 35 – 60 minutes per area. An applicator is placed over the fat pockets being treated, and you can relax, read, or scroll on your phone while it works. Afterward, the area may be red, swollen, tender, or numb for a few days, but most patients head back to work the same day.

Most people start to see a change in about three weeks, and CoolSculpting results in League City tend to be most noticeable after 1 – 3 months. Some areas need more than one session. Treated fat cells are cleared from the body, but the ones left behind can still expand if you gain weight, so healthy habits go a long way. Patients across Greater Houston, TX often like that a session can fit into a lunch break.

See if you're a candidate for CoolSculpting

CoolSculpting can be a helpful next step after weight loss for people with a few stubborn areas left. If you have questions such as, "What is CoolSculpting?" or "How soon will I see a difference?" our team is glad to walk you through it. At Clear Lake Dermatology in Greater Houston, TX, we'll look at the areas you want to change and explain what CoolSculpting results typically look like. From there, we'll create a body contouring plan around your goals. Call today to learn more and book your consultation.