
- Jeffrey Viscomi | M.D.
How to Lose Love Handles
Slim & Contour with CoolSculpting Love Handle Treatments
The flanks, commonly known as the love handles, are some of the most stubborn areas to tone and slim. These persistent fat bulges spill over the waistband of pants, and even with proper diet and exercise habits, they can be tricky to eliminate.
Along with excess fat around the stomach, the love handles are some of the most sought-after treatment areas here at Dōcerē. CoolSculpting offers an effective solution for stubborn flank fat that doesn’t require surgery. If you’re ready to achieve a more sculpted figure, let’s explore how this solution can help you reach your body goals with lasting results.
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Why Are Love Handles So Hard to Lose?
Not all fat deposits are created equal. Just as some people struggle with stubborn thigh fat, certain body areas are more resistant to weight loss than others. Biology could be to blame if your love handles refuse to budge despite a healthy diet and regular exercise.
Love handles are notoriously tricky to slim down due to a combination of factors, including genetics, hormones, gender, and age. These elements influence how and where your body stores fat, making it incredibly challenging to use traditional weight-loss methods alone to target the flanks.
How Does Testosterone Impact Flank Fat in Men?
Due to their hormones, men are highly likely to store fat in their midsection. Testosterone plays a significant role in fat distribution. While it helps men build muscle, it also contributes to fat storage throughout the stomach and love handles. Testosterone levels naturally decline with age, making it even harder to shed stubborn fat.
How Does Estrogen Affect Love Handles For Women?
Unlike men, women often store fat in the hips, thighs, and buttocks. This is due to estrogen, progesterone, and insulin’s hormonal influence. These hormones regulate how and where the body stores fat, known as gynoid fat distribution.
Estrogen encourages fat storage in the lower body, which is typically more resistant to burning. Progesterone helps regulate fluid balance, often contributing to water retention or bloating, which can make unwanted fat more prominent. Insulin sensitivity means that women’s bodies store fat more efficiently, primarily in preparation for potential energy demands, such as pregnancy.
Does Fat Storage Change with Menopause?
Yes, after menopause, as estrogen levels drop, fat storage shifts to accumulate more around the stomach and waist. This is why many postmenopausal women notice an increase in belly fat and love handles. Fortunately, CoolSculpting’s advanced technology provides a non-invasive solution that freezes and eliminates unwanted fat.
How to Get Rid of Love Handles with CoolSculpting on the Flanks
You may not be able to get rid of your love handles on your own, but there are professional treatments that will significantly reduce flank fat. When weight loss methods fail, fat reduction treatments may help. See real results in these CoolSculpting love handles before and after images!
CoolSculpting uses cryolipolysis, which freezes and eliminates fat cells by exposing them to controlled cooling. Once frozen, the fat cells break down and are naturally flushed out by the body over the following weeks. Since fat cells do not regenerate, the results are long-lasting as long as you maintain a stable weight.
What to Expect During Your Treatment
With no needles, anesthesia, or incisions, CoolSculpting is easy to fit into most schedules. Here is what you can expect:
- Consultation–Your CoolSculpting provider will assess your stubborn fat areas, answer your questions, and address any concerns. This is when you will have a tailored treatment plan to help you reach your aesthetic goals.
- Freezing Fat with the CoolSculpting Device–Since this session targets love handles, your provider will place specialized flank applicators on the treatment area. It’s normal to feel a cold sensation during this time as the technology works, but it often numbs after a little while.
- CoolSculpting Recovery–There is no required downtime after treatment. You may feel as though you just finished an intense workout. Mild redness, swelling, or numbness are common but temporary.
Each session lasts around 35-45 minutes per side. Patients would have treated one side with the original device, and then the other. Fortunately, the advanced CoolSculpting Elite has dual applicators, letting you treat both sides simultaneously!
Who is a Good Candidate for Love Handle CoolSculpting?
CoolSculpting is best for those already close to their ideal weight but still struggle with flank fat accumulation. You should have enough unwanted fat that you can physically pinch it–this means the applicators will be able to target the area. It’s the ideal solution for those who want a non-surgical alternative to Liposuction and can maintain a stable lifestyle to keep your results long-term.
Liposuction vs CoolSculpting on Flanks
Treatments like CoolSculpting and Liposuction eliminate fat cells from the body, but in different ways. Liposuction is ideal for patients with extensive fat deposits. While highly effective, It is an invasive surgery. Some patients prefer to avoid general anesthesia, scars, and long periods of recovery. Liposuction is also more costly than CoolSculpting, which can deter people from choosing this option.
CoolSculpting is one of the best non-surgical alternatives to Liposuction for flank fullness. Nicknamed the “lunch lipo,” CoolSculpting is known for its convenient 30-minute treatment time and minimal-to-no downtime. Most clients can enjoy their cooling session during lunch and then return to work as usual. CoolSculpting does not manually remove fat cells like Liposuction. Instead, It triggers the body to excrete fat cells via the lymphatic system after being frozen with advanced cooling technology.
CoolSculpting Love Handles Near You: Get Rid of Flank Fat in Cleveland, OH
If you’re looking for a quick and easy solution to get rid of love handles, you’ve found it. See for yourself in these CoolSculpting reviews! You deserve to love your physique, so if unwanted fat is getting in your way, the team at Dōcerē is ready to help. Our Strongsville med spa serves people throughout Cleveland. We are here for you if you want to eliminate fat and contour your dream hips without surgery.
Call (440) 238-3331 to schedule your free consultation, or contact us online for your personalized love handles treatment.
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Important Safety Information
CoolSculpting® is FDA-cleared to treat visible fat bulges in 9 areas of the body. Some common side effects include temporary numbness, discomfort, and swelling.

Dr. Jeffrey Viscomi
Dr. Viscomi received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Dayton. He then went on to graduate from Wright State University School of Medicine in the top 10% of his class. Following residency at the Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Viscomi began his Family Practice in Strongsville and quickly became a nationally recognized leader in primary care for his unique practice model. Dr. Viscomi is a member of the Aesthetics Practice Association and has completed extensive training in the use of laser in aesthetic procedures.