What are the risks of fat freezing?

Like any procedure there’s always risks but the risks of fat freezing are minimal because it’s a non-invasive procedure.

Is the procedure painful?

Some people report experiencing a tugging sensation during the process. It’s slightly uncomfortable but not painful. The area will feel numb during the treatment and may be up to a couple of weeks afterwards too. This is due to the cooling process. On rare occasions people report pain which is like a stinging sensation due to the intense cold temperature, but the pain is never unbearable.

Side effects

After the procedure you may notice redness in the area which you have had the treatment. This is completely normal and only temporary. The area may also become swollen, this is to be expected when your skin has been under pressure. On occasion you may see bruises appearing on your skin, depending on how sensitive your skin is, and your skin may feel more sensitive to touch than usual. These side effects are due to the exposure to the cold temperature but won’t last long. A small price to pay to remove that unwanted fat.

Paradoxical adipose hyperplasia

This is an extremely rare but serious side effect of fat freezing. In fact only 0.0051% of (1/20000) cryolipolysis treatments have had this happen to them. What happens is the area that is sucked up by the applicator, hardens and grows much bigger than it was before the treatment. The treatment has an adverse effect and instead of the fat cells shrinking they become larger. This happens more to men than it does to women, but still very rare.

Overall fat freezing is safe and effective as it’s non-invasive and there is no need for anaesthetic, and no risks of infection. However, if you have underlying health conditions you should discuss this with your consultant beforehand as certain conditions can be subject to complications.

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