Does Fat Freezing Really Work? How Cryolipolysis Works, Results and Who It Suits

Yes, fat freezing works, for the right pocket of fat on the right person, and the result is permanent for the cells it removes. It does not work as a weight loss treatment, it does not tighten skin, and it does nothing for the fat behind the abdominal muscle. This guide explains how fat freezing works, what results to expect and when, who it works for and who it does not, and what our clients in Newcastle say about theirs.

How does fat freezing work?

Fat cells freeze at a higher temperature than skin, nerves and muscle. Cryolipolysis uses that gap. A cupped applicator draws the pocket of fat in, cools it to about minus ten degrees and holds it there for around an hour. The skin, protected by a gel pad, gets cold but comes to no harm. The fat cells underneath are damaged by the cold and, over the following weeks, die. Your body treats them the way it treats any dead cell: the immune system breaks them down and clears them through the lymphatic system, and they are gone for good. Fat cells do not grow back in adults, so the pocket is smaller from then on, provided your weight stays roughly where it is.

The two minutes of massage straight after the applicator comes off matters more than it sounds. It breaks up the frozen fat so more of the cells are cleared, and the published trials that measured it found a better result with the massage than without.

Does fat freezing really work? The numbers

A single session removes roughly 20% to 40% of the fat cells in the treated pocket. That is the range across the clinical studies and it matches what we measure at the clinic. On a stomach with a soft two-inch roll it is a visible change; on someone who is two stone above where they want to be it is not, because the pocket that was treated is a small share of the whole. The people who write the "fat freezing doesn't work" reviews are, almost always, the second group, or someone who was treated on a machine that never reached the right temperature, or someone who judged the result at two weeks when the body had barely started clearing the cells.

Results build over time. Some change at three to four weeks, most of it by eight, and the final result at twelve weeks, which is when we take your comparison photographs and measure the area again. A second session on the same pocket, eight to twelve weeks after the first, removes a similar share of what is left, and that is how a stubborn area gets to a result you would call finished.

Where fat freezing works best

The stomach and lower belly, the flanks and love handles, the inner and outer thighs, the back fat under the bra line, the upper arms, the chin, and the male chest. The common factor is a pocket you can pinch. If you can hold a roll of fat between your fingers, the applicator can draw it in and cool it. If the area is firm and you cannot pinch it, the fat sits behind the muscle wall and no applicator reaches it, whatever the clinic says. Our guide to the areas fat freezing treats best goes through each one, and the stomach fat freezing page covers the belly, where most people start.

Who fat freezing does not work for

Anyone hoping to lose weight overall. Someone whose main concern is loose skin, because removing fat from under loose skin can make it looser; that is a job for Exilis Ultra or a combination. Someone with visceral fat, the hard, rounded stomach that sits behind the muscle, which responds to diet, exercise and time rather than any device. Anyone with a cold-related condition, a hernia in the area or who is pregnant, which the assessment covers. Someone who wants a result next week: the biology takes three months and nothing speeds it up. At the free assessment we pinch and measure the area and tell you which of these you are, and we say no when fat freezing is the wrong answer, because sending you home costs you nothing and a treatment that does nothing costs you £350.

Why fat freezing works at some clinics and not at others

The treatment is only as good as the applicator and the person fitting it. A medical-grade 360 applicator cools the pocket from all sides at a controlled temperature; the cheap machines behind the £99 deals cool from one side, often not cold enough, and the result is a red patch and nothing else. The applicator has to be the right size and position for the pocket, or half of what you are paying for is cooling air. The assessment has to be honest about whether you are a candidate. The aftercare has to include the massage and a review. That is the list to check before you book anywhere, and it explains most of the "it didn't work for me" stories.

What our clients say

These are real reviews left on Reviews.io by verified clients, quoted as written. Results vary from person to person.

“Fat freezing has worked very well on my love handles and stomach. Pain free with results in just 3 weeks. I wanted to have the EMSculpt Neo but was advised it wasn't suitable for me, which is great to hear as this treatment costs more! This clinic is definitely client-focused above anything else.” Ian, Reviews.io, 2024.

“I had the 360 fat freezing treatment in September and since had 1 more treatment on my love handles. The treatment has worked well and I’ve been more then happy with my results (better than I imagined). The clinic is extremely caring and attentive and I’ve really enjoyed my experience” Anthony McGill, Reviews.io, 2022.

“I had the Fat Freezing treatment at RT Aesthetics, and I couldn't be happier with the results. It's a non-invasive way to target stubborn fat pockets. The procedure was painless, and I noticed a significant reduction in fat after just a few weeks. Highly recommended!” Nikki, Reviews.io, 2023.

What fat freezing costs and what it involves

Fat freezing at RT Aesthetics is £350 for one area, with a course of three at £899, and the full list is on our fat freezing in Newcastle page. A session is about an hour of cold and a little discomfort for the first ten minutes, then numbness; you drive home and go back to work. The side effects are redness, a numb patch for a few weeks and the odd bruise, and there is one rare risk we explain before you book, all of which is set out in our guide to fat freezing side effects. If you are weighing it against the alternatives, EMSculpt Neo reduces fat and builds muscle in the same session, the Emerald laser treats the whole waist rather than a pocket, and our CoolSculpting vs fat freezing guide explains why the branded version costs more for the same biology.

Questions people ask

How long does fat freezing take to work?

First change at three to four weeks, most of it by eight, the final result at twelve. A second session, if you need one, goes in at eight to twelve weeks.

Is fat freezing permanent?

The cells that are removed do not come back. The cells that remain can still grow if you gain weight, so the result lasts as long as your weight stays roughly steady.

How many sessions of fat freezing do I need?

One for a small, soft pocket. Two for most stomachs and flanks. Three where the pocket is large or you want the area as flat as it will go. We tell you which at the assessment, before you pay for any.

Does fat freezing work on belly fat?

On the soft, pinchable belly fat, yes, and it is the most treated area at the clinic. On the firm stomach that sits behind the muscle, no, and we will say so.

Does fat freezing hurt?

The first five to ten minutes are cold and uncomfortable, then the area goes numb. The massage afterwards is the part people wince at, and it lasts two minutes.

Fat freezing near me: where we are

Whether you searched for does fat freezing work, how fat freezing works or fat freezing near me, we are at The Knowles, Front Street, Whickham, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE16 4SN, about ten minutes from Newcastle city centre and the MetroCentre and about fifteen from Gateshead town centre, with free parking on Front Street and in the village car parks. RT Aesthetics is a medically led clinic, every treatment follows written clinical protocols, and a clinic medic and a qualified nurse practitioner are on the team. Call 0191 649 8699, text 07307 201681 or book a free assessment online, and you will get a straight answer on whether fat freezing will work for you before anything is booked.

More on fat freezing

• Fat freezing in Newcastle: prices and what to expect
• Fat freezing side effects and risks
• Stomach and belly fat freezing
• How much fat freezing costs in the UK
• CoolSculpting vs fat freezing
• The areas fat freezing treats best

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