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What are the contraindications to Coolsculpting/ultrashape?

Dr. Dean Kane Q & A. shutterstock_54336289

Q. 1. Is that true for other endocrine disorders of the pituitary- such as hypopituitarism? 2. What about heart disorders/hypertension? 3. Once the fat dies in the treated areas, if someone is metabolically challenged (hypothyroid, hyopituitary) does weight gain and fat happen in other strange areas? would weight (fat) gain happen abnormally around the arms, breasts, legs etc? 4. as the body eliminates the frozen fat, is there any danger in certain medical conditions to an increase in circulating fat?

A. ​These are good questions. I do not have any experience with UltraShape.​

​Concerns regarding CoolSculpting include:
​» Cryoglobulinemia or paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria
» Known sensitivity to cold such as cold urticaria or Raynaud’s disease
» Impaired peripheral circulation in the area to be treated
» Neuropathic disorders such as post-herpetic neuralgia or diabetic neuropathy
» Impaired skin sensation
» Open or infected wounds
» Bleeding disorders or concomitant use of blood thinners
» Recent surgery or scar tissue in the area to be treated
» A hernia or history of hernia in the area to be treated or adjacent to treatment site
» Skin conditions such as eczema, dermatitis, or rashes
» Pregnancy or lactation
» Any active implanted devices such as pacemakers and defibrillators

​These are not absolute contra-indications but are issues to discuss with your Certified CS physician.

  1. ​Hypopituitarism is a constellation of many different hormone related deficiencies and as a single diagnosis has no bearing on the use of CS; only if one of the syndromes can be the cause of a skin injury  due to the CS process.
  2. ​Cardiac disease or high blood pressure are 2 general concerns but not reasons by themselves not to perform CS. A review of your skin response to cooling is the issue here but as a patient who is sitting for many hours during the CS process, being optimized for your heart disease is part of the decision making process whether to use CS or other options.
  3. ​I better understand now after 35 years in medicine that fat is distributed by some genetic priority system. If fat is removed by surgery or CS from one area, you will have to reduce your calories  in order to maintain that fat loss. If calories are consumed over the new weight level, they will distribute to the next genetically determined area(s) of weight gain. I have seen this occur following CS to the other 80% of viable cells in the same area and with liposuction or skin/fat excision to the buttocks, breasts, visceral fat and other areas.
  4. Currently, there is no findings where fat levels rise in the blood following CS. It may be that the immune system carries the fat and cell fragments away inside the white cells.

Please consult with a Certified CoolSculpting Physician regarding these and any other concerns you may have. I hope this has been helpful. All the best!

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