Despite consistent diet and exercise, many patients find that certain areas of fat resist all their efforts. The flanks, lower abdomen, inner thighs, and submental area (under the chin) are notorious for stubborn fat deposits that seem immune to caloric restriction. CoolSculpting — clinically known as cryolipolysis — is the most extensively studied non-surgical fat reduction technology in the world, with over 11 million treatments performed globally. At Victory Medical's dedicated MedSpa at 2108 W Ben White Blvd, we've helped hundreds of Austin patients achieve the body contour they've worked toward.

What Is CoolSculpting?

CoolSculpting uses precisely controlled cooling to target and eliminate fat cells without damaging the overlying skin or surrounding tissue. Fat cells are uniquely vulnerable to cold — they undergo programmed cell death (apoptosis) at temperatures that leave skin and muscle cells unharmed. Over the two to four months following treatment, the body's lymphatic system clears the dead fat cells, producing a permanent reduction in fat layer thickness in the treated area.

The FDA has cleared CoolSculpting for nine areas of the body: the abdomen, flanks ("love handles"), inner and outer thighs, upper arms, bra fat, back fat, submental area (double chin), and submandibular area.

How a CoolSculpting Session Works

A CoolSculpting session at Victory MedSpa begins with a body contouring consultation with Ola Zylka, MSN, FNP-C. During this consultation, we assess your areas of concern, discuss realistic outcomes based on your body type and fat distribution, and create a personalized treatment plan. CoolSculpting works best for patients who are near their goal weight with discrete, pinchable areas of fat — it is not a treatment for generalized obesity.

During Treatment

A gel pad is applied to protect the skin, and the CoolSculpting applicator is placed over the treatment area. The applicator creates a vacuum that draws the fat tissue between two cooling panels. You will feel intense cold for the first five to ten minutes, which typically transitions to numbness as the treatment area is cooled. Most patients read, work on a laptop, or simply relax during the 35–45 minute treatment cycle.

Following each cycle, the treated area is briefly massaged to break up the crystallized fat cells — a step that has been shown to enhance results by up to 68% compared to treatment without post-massage.

After Treatment

There is no required downtime. You can return to normal activities immediately, including work and exercise. The treated area may be red, swollen, bruised, or tender for several days — these are normal inflammatory responses that indicate the cryolipolysis process is working. Most patients can resume their full routine the same day or the next morning.

What Results Can You Expect?

CoolSculpting produces a 20–25% reduction in fat layer thickness in the treated area per session, as measured by ultrasound in clinical studies. Results begin to become visible at six to eight weeks, with full results at three to four months as the body clears the eliminated fat cells.

Results are permanent in the sense that the treated fat cells are gone. However, remaining fat cells can still expand with weight gain. We always recommend patients be at or near their goal weight and committed to maintaining it to get the most from their investment.

CoolSculpting vs. Other Body Contouring Options

Austin patients often ask how CoolSculpting compares to alternatives like SculpSure, Emsculpt, and liposuction:

  • SculpSure uses laser heating rather than cooling; both have similar efficacy data, though CoolSculpting has a larger clinical evidence base
  • Emsculpt builds muscle and reduces fat through electromagnetic stimulation — it complements rather than competes with CoolSculpting
  • Liposuction removes more fat per session but requires anesthesia, surgical recovery, compression garments, and carries surgical risk

For patients who want significant fat reduction without surgery, CoolSculpting remains the most clinically validated option.

DualSculpting: Treating Two Areas Simultaneously

Victory MedSpa offers DualSculpting — using two CoolSculpting systems simultaneously on different areas of the body. This approach cuts total treatment time in half and is popular for patients targeting both flanks and the abdomen in the same visit, or treating bilateral areas like inner thighs together.

Scheduling Your Consultation

To book a CoolSculpting consultation at Victory MedSpa, call (512) 969-6900 or book online through the Jane App. Our dedicated MedSpa is located at 2108 W Ben White Blvd, Austin, TX 78704 — a standalone MedSpa space that moved to its current location in 2024 to provide a more focused, spa-quality experience for aesthetic patients.