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As any bra-wearer can attest, a good fit is hard to come by. “Bra bulge” is a frequent frustration as back fat and armpit fat come into contact with the snug band of a traditional bra. As we age, fat cells tend to congregate in specific areas of the body. Some patients have to confront fat around the love handles, while others are more self-conscious about their upper arms; the bra area is yet another location where stubborn fat can develop.

If you are struggling with the amount of fat you observe in your underarm and back area, CoolSculpting may be a saving grace. CoolSculpting is a non-surgical fat reduction procedure that’s designed to eliminate fatty tissue with no recovery time necessary. This fat-freezing treatment has been FDA cleared for more than a decade, and is an excellent fat removal procedure for those who lead a healthy lifestyle but are frustrated with the stubborn fat surrounding their bra each morning.

Board-certified NYC dermatologist, Dr. Michele Green, is a leading expert in CoolSculpting procedures, and is available to help you with your body sculpting journey. Contact the office today to create a custom treatment plan that will help you feel confident and comfortable in your body.

A safe and effective solution for back fat

CoolSculpting is approved for use by the FDA for eliminating fat within eight target areas of the body:

  • Abdomen
  • Back fat
  • Bra fat, flank
  • Rolls along the upper thigh/lower buttock (“banana roll”)
  • Submental area (double chin)
  • Thigh
  • Upper arms

CoolSculpting was initially developed by two Harvard medical professionals who observed a fascinating phenomenon amongst children eating popsicles. When the popsicle was pressing on to a child’s cheek, the fat cells would temporarily freeze, causing the child to develop a dimple on the cheek’s outer layer.

This phenomenon, known as popsicle panniculitis, led Dr. Rox Anderson and Dr. Dieter Manstein to explore cryolipolysis, which is a targeted treatment to permanently remove fat cells through the process of fat freezing. Fat cells were found to die off at much higher temperatures than any nerves or tissues in the body. This meant that the targeted application of cold could essentially kill stubborn fat in the treated area, and the dead fat cells could then be metabolized and naturally eliminated through the lymphatic system. With this discovery, CoolSculpting was born!

What causes bra bulge?

Bra bulge is an extremely common problem, particularly for older women. It’s defined as the band of fatty tissue that sits over your back muscles and can create a fold of skin above the waist. It’s caused by several different factors, but is defined as subcutaneous fat, meaning that it’s a normal accumulation of fat that just so happens to congregate around the upper back, armpit, and bra area.

Bra fat can sometimes be sparked by unhealthy eating habits or muscle underdevelopment. Some research suggests that the consumption of carbohydrates and refined sugars– particularly when a person isn’t in need of additional calories–can lead to increased abdominal fat. Further, when we focus on strength training in other areas of the body and skip the development of our back muscles, these muscles can lose strength, leading to a dreaded bra bulge.

However, the majority of patients who experience unwanted bra fat simply develop pockets of fat in this area of the body due to natural aging. Changes in metabolism and estrogen levels can affect the way your body stores fat, and even patients who maintain a healthy diet and exercise routine are often frustrated by unwanted fat in the bra area.

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How do I get rid of the fat under my bra line?

For those who feel self-conscious about excess or stubborn fat, CoolSculpting is an excellent treatment option. Unlike invasive plastic surgery procedures such as liposuction, CoolSculpting involves no needles and zero downtime, and permanent body contouring results can appear from one single treatment.

It’s important to note that CoolSculpting is not a weight loss alternative. For optimal results, patients should go into a CoolSculpting procedure while they are within 30 pounds of their ideal weight, as any weight fluctuation after treatment could unfortunately disrupt the treatment’s effectiveness. If you maintain a healthy diet, exercise regularly, and just want to remove stubborn fat from the bra area, you are an excellent candidate for CoolSculpting.

CoolSculpting treatment for bra fat

The CoolSculpting treatment process is simple. First, you’ll meet with Dr. Green either in-person or online for your initial consultation. During this process, Dr. Green will give you a frank and honest assessment of the treatment area, and then you’ll work together to create a detailed treatment plan with your goals in mind. From there, you can schedule your initial CoolSculpting procedure.

The CoolSculpting procedure takes between 35 minutes to an hour. Dr. Green will use a CoolSculpting applicator that is tailored to the treatment area, meaning that it’s an appropriate size to eliminate as many fat cells as possible – the CoolMini applicator is usually a go-to for bra fat, as its unique shape is excellent for contouring smaller, curved areas. At the start of treatment, you may experience minor discomfort as the treatment area “freezes”, but this feeling usually dissipates within a few minutes.

Post-treatment, you may go back to your normal daily activities, as there is no recovery time associated with CoolSculpting. You might experience mild swelling or bruising on the treated area, as the skin “thaws”, but these effects should fully disappear within the first week after your procedure.

In rare cases, patients may experience side effects such as lingering pain or paradoxical adipose hyperplasia, in which the fat cells can re-congregate. However, these side effects are more common in cases where patients work with less experienced CoolSculpting specialists. Oftentimes, medical spas or “med spas” will offer free consultations or discounted CoolSculpting sessions to entice new patients, but all too frequently these appointments and procedures do not have the supervision of a medical professional. When it comes to safe and successful CoolSculpting treatment, it’s recommended that you work with an expert, board-certified plastic surgeon or dermatologist, such as Dr. Green.

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CoolSculpting Results for armpits, back fat and bra fat

So, does CoolSculpting really work on bra fat? CoolSculpting has become a popular discussion on both social media and medical discussion boards alike but, as well all know, popularity doesn’t necessarily spell out success for every treatment.

In the case of CoolSculpting, you can have confidence in your decision. Dr. Green has worked with patients with a variety of fat removal needs surrounding the underarm, bra bulge, and upper back, and CoolSculpting has proven to be an extremely effective body contouring technique with no downtime and permanent results.

After your treatment, you’ll see your results continue to improve over several weeks, and you’ll be able to observe maximum fat reduction within 3 to 4 months after treatment. At this point, you’ll meet with Dr. Green to evaluate your body contouring success, and if you’ve achieved your desired results from just one session, you can enjoy your permanent, newly sculpted back, underarms and bra line.

For optimal results, you may choose to have an additional CoolSculpting session, as each session will further eliminate unwanted fat cells. A second session can be scheduled for the treated area within 1-4 months after your initial CoolSculpting procedure.

How does CoolSculpting work on armpit fat?

CoolSculpting is a targeted non-surgical fat reduction treatment that is FDA-approved to remove bra fat, which includes the area under the bra line, the upper back, and the armpit. Using tailored CoolSculpting applicators, Dr. Green will be able to target unwanted fat in as little as one session, and this includes armpit fat. The fat cells in the underarm react to CoolSculpting in the same way as other areas of the body; the fat cells freeze, die off, and are broken down and eliminated through the body’s natural metabolic processes.

How much fat can CoolSculpting remove?

CoolSculpting is designed to target and eliminate fat cells, and multiple treatments can occur in a treated area to eliminate a large amount of unwanted fat. However, patients may be interested in body contouring that focuses on a smaller treatment area than what a CoolSculpting applicator can reach. In this case, CoolSculpting can actually be combined with Kybella, which is an injectable cosmetic treatment that uses a naturally-occurring active ingredient, deoxycholic acid, to break down and absorb dietary fat.

As Dr. Green describes in her RealSelf Q&A, “Both Kybella and Coolsculpting work exceedingly well to treat this area….If there is any residual fat left in the bra area, it can then be treated with Kybella. The combination of Kybella and Coolsculpting is generally the best method.” With this combination treatment, patients are able to achieve optimal results that will leave them feeling fully confident in their own skin.

LT 25 yo female before and after Kybella x3 in bra fat 4 months apart MGWatermark

How much is CoolSculpting for back fat?

The cost of CoolSculpting for back fat, bra bulges, and armpit fat varies based on the individual needs of each patient, the number of treatments necessary, and the CoolSculpting applicators required in order to achieve optimal results. CoolSculpting is considered an affordable alternative for many invasive fat removal plastic surgeries and, as the results are permanent, is a worthy investment.

How do I get started with CoolSculpting today for my bra fat?

If you are interested in learning more about CoolSculpting for bra fat and other body areas, Dr. Green will work with you, in her discreet NYC office, to develop a customized treatment plan to help you with the best non-invasive body contouring results. To schedule your in-person or virtual consultation contact us online, or call us at 212-535-3088

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