What happens to the fat cells?
With CoolSculpting, fat is not suctioned out but cooled. Fat cells are more sensitive to cold than the skin and surrounding tissue: they are damaged, die off and are broken down naturally by the body over weeks and months.
- Cooling to about 3 °C
- Breakdown up to 4 months
- Around 25 % less fat in the area
- Skin and tissue are spared
At the consultation, which is without obligation, we explain what happens in your body.
What happens to the fat cells with CoolSculpting
With CoolSculpting the fat deposit is drawn into an applicator and cooled in a controlled way to about 3 °C. The fat cells crystallise, die off and are broken down by the immune system over the following weeks and months. Skin, muscle and the surrounding tissue remain unharmed.
The technical term is cryolipolysis: the targeted breakdown of fat cells by cold. More on the page Cryolipolysis.
Step by step inside the body
First the fat cell is cooled. Once it is damaged, natural breakdown begins: the immune system gradually takes up the dead fat cells, and the body removes their contents naturally.
Because this process is slow, the body has time to adjust to the new contour. The change therefore looks natural.
The process at a glance
- Target temperatureAbout 3 °C
- Fat reduction per treatmentAround 20 to 25 %
- First changesFrom 2 weeks, depending on the area
- Most visibleAfter around 2 months
- Breakdown of fat cellsUp to 4 months
- Next sessionAt the earliest after 6 weeks
The timeline
The first changes appear at the earliest after three to four weeks. The improvement is most clearly visible after around two months, but the body continues to break down the fat cells for up to four months after the treatment.
- Cooling
At first you feel pressure and intense cold, which soon fades. Afterwards you carry on with your usual activities.
- Temporary reactions
The area may be red, slightly swollen and tender; sometimes it tingles or feels numb.
- First changes
The dead fat cells are gradually broken down.
- Clear result
Trousers feel looser, the belt needs tightening.
- Breakdown complete
The body has fully removed the fat cells. A further session is possible.
Why the result lasts
The number of fat cells we have is fixed at a young age — between the ages of 9 and 13. Gaining or losing weight afterwards only changes the size of the fat cells, not their number. CoolSculpting, by contrast, reduces the number of fat cells in the treated area. Dead fat cells do not come back.
The remaining fat cells can grow larger if you gain weight. With a balanced diet and exercise the result is maintained.
| Feature | Diet and exercise | CoolSculpting |
|---|---|---|
| What happens to the fat cells | They shrink | They die off and are broken down |
| Number of fat cells | Stays the same | Falls in the treated area |
| Targeted at one spot | Not possible | Yes, one area per applicator |
| If weight is gained | Cells grow again | Remaining cells can grow |
The research behind CoolSculpting
The method goes back to two dermatologists at the Wellman Center for Photomedicine of Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School. They discovered that fat cells are much more sensitive to cold than the cells of other tissues.
After the basic research was completed in 2005, the company ZELTIQ developed the CoolSculpting device from it. In 2010 it became the first device of its kind to receive approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA); in the EU it is approved as a class IIa medical device.
What the result looks like
Three cases from the Kuzbari Centre, photographed two to six months after treatment. Before on the left, after on the right.
- CoolSculpting · Abdomen
left before, right after - CoolSculpting · Flanks
left before, right after - CoolSculpting · Buttocks
left before, right after
Photos of patients who consented to their publication. Every body responds differently; a result shown here cannot be transferred to anyone else.
All CoolSculpting cases by region: before and after photos
Who advises you
Our body contouring specialists Dr. Ali Saalabian and Dr. Shawqi Arafat are available for your consultation. They clarify with you whether CoolSculpting, liposuction or a lift suits you.
Focus on body contouring, at the Kuzbari Centre since 2015 and more than 2,000 liposuction procedures. At the consultation he clarifies with you whether CoolSculpting, liposuction or a lift is right for you.
View profile
At the Kuzbari Centre since 2024, focusing on body contouring and facial surgery. He advises you whether your fat deposits can be treated with cold or whether surgery would achieve more.
View profileCosts
One CoolSculpting cycle at the Kuzbari Centre costs 370 to 550 euros. Consultation, marking, follow-up appointments and the Beautiful Body guarantee are included in the price.
- Consultation and thorough explanationincluded
- Precise marking of the areaincluded
- Treatment with the original CoolSculpting deviceincluded
- All follow-up appointmentsincluded
- Beautiful Body guaranteeincluded
The costs can be spread over up to five years through Kuzbari Finance, at an effective annual interest rate of 9.99 %. You receive the binding terms with your application.
- 1,000+CoolSculpting treatments in-house
- 25 %less fat in the area per treatment
- 11consecutive Patients’ Choice Awards
- 38DocFinder awards in total
Frequently asked questions about the fat cells
What happens to the fat cells with CoolSculpting?
The fat cells are cooled to about 3 °C, crystallise and die off. Over the following weeks and months the immune system gradually breaks them down.
Where does the fat go?
The dead fat cells are taken up by the immune system and removed from the body naturally. No procedure is needed for this.
Does the cold damage the skin?
No. The temperature is chosen so that only fat cells are affected. A protective pad and sensors in the applicator protect the skin and the tissue layers beneath it from frostbite.
How much fat is broken down?
One treatment reduces the fat layer in the treated area by around 20 to 25 per cent. Further sessions can increase the effect.
When will I see a result?
The first changes appear after three to four weeks and are clearest after around two months. The breakdown of the fat cells takes up to four months.
Can the fat cells come back?
Dead fat cells do not come back, because the number of fat cells is already fixed between the ages of 9 and 13. The remaining fat cells can, however, grow larger if you gain weight.
How often can the treatment be repeated?
The treatment can be repeated. At least six weeks lie between two sessions so that the body can break down the fat cells.
What side effects are possible?
In the first days the area may be red, slightly swollen and tender; some people notice tingling or numbness. These reactions settle by themselves.
Your CoolSculpting consultation
We examine your problem area and tell you honestly what CoolSculpting can achieve there — without obligation.
Monday to Friday, 8 am to 6 pm · Seitzergasse 2-4, 1010 ViennaArrange an appointment online now!
The consultation appointment without obligation lasts 30 minutes. Cancellation is possible up to 48 hours beforehand.
Through this form you can ask us any questions you may still have about Coolsculpting.
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01 358 28 01
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