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Why Is CoolSculpting So Expensive?

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Dr. Hardik Soni

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There are a number of reasons why people seek out aesthetic treatments and procedures. When getting your services from an experienced cosmetic doctor, you get results that can enhance your natural features, boost your confidence, and improve how you present yourself. However, most aesthetic treatments need to be paid out of pocket since health insurance rarely covers cosmetic treatments and surgery.

So is CoolSculpting really an expensive procedure? When considering their cost, effectiveness, and results, non-invasive treatments like CoolSculpting don’t come cheap. But when you take the results and compare it with all the other fat-reducing procedures available, the cost of CoolSculpting feels more like an investment for a safe and effective procedure. Here’s what you need to know about the costs of getting CoolSculpting.  

Is CoolSculpting Really Expensive?

The average CoolSculpting treatment can fetch a few thousand dollars per session. However, this isn’t far off from the prices of other non-invasive fat-reduction procedures and body contouring treatments. In fact, similar procedures may be much more expensive just for the same results.

When you consider more than just the average cost of a session – including its benefits and factors like its effectiveness, additional costs incurred, and recovery period (which means taking time off work and the costs and additional expenses of staying at home to recover) – you’ll find that CoolSculpting is an investment on your body – and one that’s worth the price.  

Here are a few reasons CoolSculpting stands out from other fat reduction procedures – and why you’re getting value when you choose this treatment. 

1) It’s a Non-Invasive Process

Those who want to avoid surgical scars and those who are unfit to have cosmetic surgery can benefit from CoolSculpting. After your CoolSculpting sessions, there’s only minimal downtime and you can resume your daily activities shortly.  

As an alternative to liposuction, CoolSculpting doesn’t require any incisions or injections, so the risks associated with cosmetic surgery are virtually none. Unlike cosmetic surgery, CoolSculpting won’t need around 2 weeks of recovery followed by several months to fully heal, which can require you to take time off work and clear your schedule for any special occasions. 

2) It’s an Effective Way to Remove Stubborn Fat

There’s a reason why CoolSculpting is the most popular non-surgical fat reduction procedure in the world. After CoolSculpting treatment sessions, patients slowly but surely see the change following the months after treatment.

CoolSculpting works by using cryolipolysis, a process that freezes fat deposits and kills fat tissue without affecting the surrounding skin, muscles, and organs in the treated area. Each CoolSculpting session has a treatment time of less than an hour and uses a non-invasive handheld device that has advanced fat-freezing technology to target the area. 

Over the course of several months and additional sessions, these dead cells are dissolved and absorbed into the lymphatic system. From there, these are filtered through the body and excreted through the system. It can take up to 6 months to fully expel all the dead fat cells.

3) It’s a Safe, Low-Risk Procedure

CoolSculpting is FDA-approved for 9 treatment areas, meaning the process is safe for anyone that’s an ideal candidate for the procedure. While cosmetic surgical procedures like liposuction are generally safe, there’s always a risk of complications like scarring, skin infections, and other potential complications when undergoing an invasive medical procedure.

But since CoolSculpting doesn’t require incisions or injections the way cosmetic procedures like liposuction does, the risk of potential side effects like skin infection, anesthesia reactions, bruising, and bleeding are virtually lowered. 

While minimal discomfort from the mild tugging can be expected after the treatment, these common side effects cause only very minimal discomfort especially in the hands of the professionals at Ethos Spa. You’ll be working with CoolSculpting specialists who know how to best use CoolSculpting technology to maximize results and minimize temporary side effects.  

4) It Keeps Dead Fat Cells Dead

Once your unwanted fat cells are killed by cryolipolysis, they can’t be revived and will ultimately dissolve away from the treated area. It can take up to 6 months, but there’s no chance that these frozen tissues will remain around the area. This means that you will see the changes in your body as it naturally sheds away the dead fat cells.

Nonetheless, it’s still necessary to maintain a healthy lifestyle to keep your sculpted appearance. While the treated fatty tissue can’t be revived, new fat cells can grow in its place if you gain back a significant amount of body weight. To keep the results you got from CoolSculpting, you need to be willing to maintain a healthy lifestyle through a balanced diet and regular exercise even after you’ve reached your ideal weight goals.

Estimated Costs of CoolSculpting vs. Other Treatments

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The average CoolSculpting session can cost around $2000 to $4000. However, expect to spend around $600 to $800 for smaller areas like your chin or abdomen. But when comparing prices with other fat reduction treatments, you should also consider other factors like safety, effectiveness, and all the other costs outside of the session. 

For comparison, let’s compare CoolSculpting with 3 other fat-reducing procedures: liposuction, BodyTite, and SculpSure. 

 CoolSculptingLiposuctionBodyTiteSculpSure
When was it first FDA-approved?Approved in 2010Depends on the type of liposuction treatment (laser, ultrasound, tumescent liposuction, etc.)Approved in 2016Approved in 2015
Is It Invasive?No. No incisions or injections are necessary.Yes, it is an invasive procedure. Even ultrasound-assisted liposuction procedures require a metal rod inserted under your skin.Minimally invasive procedure. Injections are required. Incisions will also be made to insert a radio frequency transmitting probe under your skin.No, but uses heat which can cause discomfort and skin damage.
How It WorksCoolSculpting uses cryolipolysis, which kills fat cells by freezing it. Fat cells are then dissolved and absorbed by the lymphatic system, filtered, and naturally eliminated from the body.  Fat cells are disrupted through various ways like ultrasound, laser, salt water solutions, etc. The fat is then suctioned out via a cannula connected to a vacuum.Uses radio frequency-assisted lipolysis. Radio frequencies produce heat that can dissolve fat cells, which are absorbed by the body. It’s often paired with liposuction’s suction technology to remove the excess fat.Uses hyperthermic laser technology to break down fat cells through heat. This kills fat cells, which are absorbed, filtered, and excreted by the lymphatic system.
Treatment AreasDouble chin, love handles, neck fat, bra line, underarms, banana roll, back, thighs, upper and lower abdomenAbdomen, upper arms, butt, calves, ankles, chest, back, hips, thighs, chin, neck, breastsBelly, arms, abdomen, bra lines, breasts, knees, and thighsAbdomen, thighs, chin, waist, stomach, excess thigh fat, butt
Average Price Ranges (Cost Per Session)$2000 to $4000 ($600 to $800 for smaller treated areas like using the chin applicator or abdomen applicator)$3,637$5,000 to $14,500$1,400 to $1,500
Additional CostsN/AOther upfront costs like medical tests, anesthesia, operating room and other surgical facility costs, medication taken during recovery period (i,e. Pain medications)Additional liposuction cost and expenses, if applicableCompressive garments  N/A
Downtime & Recovery TimeMinimal, you can resume your normal activities shortly after every sessionUp to 2 weeks before you can return to work, but up to 3 months to fully recover and safely get back to strenuous activityUp to 2 weeks, though you may need to wear compression garments to manage the moderate pain and discomfort and have a quicker recovery time during your recovery periodMinimal, you can resume your normal activities shortly after every session
Is It for Weight Loss?No. CoolSculpting can sculpt your body and make you look thinner, but it’s not meant to be a treatment for obesity.No. A plastic surgeon will only remove around up to 10 pounds of fat.No. It can only enhance your current weight loss journey.No. It can only accentuate a healthy lifestyle that’s part of your weight loss regimen.
Is It Effective?Yes! That’s why it’s the #1 non-surgical fat reduction treatment in the world. Yes, though the recovery period can incapacitate patients for several weeks, and it can take up to 3 months to fully heal from the surgical procedure.Yes, but it’s the most expensive option. It also uses heat, which can cause skin damage. It’s also the most recently approved treatment by the FDA.Yes, but it uses heat, so there’s a risk of skin damage and discomfort. Lasers can also put patients at risk of permanent skin discoloration. It was also only FDA-approved in 2015, so there is not as much information about its effectiveness compared to other non-invasive methods like CoolSculpting.

While CoolSculpting isn’t the cheapest among the different types of procedure, it offers the best of all options. It’s been approved by the FDA since 2010, and its status as a popular fat reduction treatment attests to its effectiveness. It’s not as expensive as procedures like BodyTite, which can fetch typical prices of up to $14,500 per session.

Aside from not being a surgical procedure, CoolSculpting doesn’t require any invasive processes like injections or incisions. It doesn’t use heat like non-surgical procedures like BodyTite and SculpSure, which can cause skin damage when mishandled.

Try CoolSculpting Today at Ethos Spa

Among all the fat reduction procedures, CoolSculpting is the preferred fat removal treatment that offers you the best benefits with fewer risks. When you compare the overall costs of CoolSculpting with other procedures, you can see that the treatment is an investment in yourself as you get closer to your weight goals and ideal body.

Ethos Spa is one of the leading CoolSculpting centers in New Jersey, offering state-of-the-art aesthetic treatments and highly-skilled cosmetic professionals that can transform your body into its best version. Enhance your natural appearance and remove unwanted body fat with our personalized treatment plans. Schedule a consultation with us today to get started.

Dr. Hardik Soni

MD, Founder/Lead Physician

About Dr. Hardik Soni

Dr. Hardik Soni is the founder and Medical Director of Ethos Aesthetics + Wellness. His primary focus is on minimally invasive and non-invasive cosmetic procedures including botulinum injection (Botox and Dysport), dermal fillers (Juvederm, Restylane, Radiesse), laser hair removal, chemical peels, and laser skin rejuvenation. Dr. Soni believes in a more conservative approach and his first goal is education. Clients are able to determine the ideal treatments after discussion with Dr. Soni regarding the expected outcomes, cost, as well as risks.

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