CoolTone
The applicator is strapped over the muscle and sets off strong contractions.
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Cooltone vs CoolSculpting
CoolTone builds muscle. Magnetic pulses make the muscle contract hard, over and over, and it does nothing to fat. CoolSculpting removes fat. It freezes a pinched fold of fat and does nothing to muscle. The names look like two versions of one treatment, but they are two different jobs, and many people are sold both.
At a glance
| The difference | CoolTone | CoolSculpting |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Contracts the muscle underneath | Kills fat cells in a fold |
| What it feels like | Deep, involuntary clenching | A hard pull, then deep cold |
| Cost | Priced per session, sold as a course | Priced per cycle, and plans use several |
CoolSculpting
The applicator sits on the treatment area and cools the fat beneath it. The skin surface is protected.
Side by side
The differences that matter
What it does
CoolTone
Contracts the muscle underneath
Magnetic energy makes the muscle clench far harder than you can on purpose. Used on the stomach, buttocks and thighs.
CoolSculpting
Kills fat cells in a fold
A cup suctions the fat and chills it. Your body clears the damaged cells over weeks.
What it feels like
CoolTone
Deep, involuntary clenching
The muscle tightens and lets go, again and again. Strange rather than painful. You are sore the next day.
CoolSculpting
A hard pull, then deep cold
The cold fades to numbness within about ten minutes. The massage at the end is the part people remember.
A session
CoolTone
About 30 minutes
CoolSculpting
About 35 to 45 minutes per area
How many visits
CoolTone
Four to six, over a few weeks
Then top-ups every few months to hold the result.
CoolSculpting
Usually two rounds per area
Spaced four to eight weeks apart. No maintenance after that.
How long until you see it
CoolTone
A few weeks after the course
CoolSculpting
Six to twelve weeks
How long it lasts
CoolTone
It fades without upkeep
Muscle behaves like muscle. Stop training it and it softens again over months.
CoolSculpting
The treated fat cells are gone
Destroyed fat cells do not return. The ones left can still enlarge if you gain weight.
The main downside
CoolTone
It does nothing to fat
If there is a fat layer over the muscle, a stronger muscle underneath will barely show.
CoolSculpting
Fat can rarely grow instead
Paradoxical adipose hyperplasia: months later the treated area becomes firmer and larger rather than smaller. It affects about 0.22% of people, roughly 1 in 455, and liposuction corrects it.
Cost
CoolTone
Priced per session, sold as a course
Budget for the top-ups as well.
CoolSculpting
Priced per cycle, and plans use several
Ask for the price of the whole plan.
The at-home or drugstore version
CoolTone
Ab belts are much weaker
A drugstore stimulator belt does twitch the muscle. It is far below the strength of a clinic contraction, which is the whole point of the treatment.
CoolSculpting
Freezer wraps are a different thing
A gel pack starts cold and warms up as you wear it. The clinic device holds one set temperature for a whole session, and that steady cold is what damages the fat cell.
Who each suits
CoolTone
- Best for — A fairly lean stomach or a flat backside that you want firmer.
- The mindset — You already train, and you will keep coming back.
CoolSculpting
- Best for — A roll you can pinch and lift, like flanks or a lower belly.
- The mindset — You want one area smaller, then you want to be done.
Same brand family, different problem
CoolTone
CoolTone only works on the muscle below. If a layer of fat sits over that muscle, a stronger muscle will not change how the area looks from the outside.
CoolSculpting
CoolSculpting only works on fat you can pinch. The applicator has to draw a fold into the cup. If there is nothing to grab, there is nothing to treat.
Common questions
Questions Patients Ask
Is CoolTone the same as CoolSculpting?
No. CoolTone contracts muscle with magnetic pulses and does nothing to fat. CoolSculpting freezes fat and does nothing to muscle. They share a brand family, not a job.
Does CoolTone burn fat?
No. It only strengthens the muscle underneath. If a fat layer sits on top, the firmer muscle will not show through it.
Can I have both?
Yes. Clinics usually reduce the fat first, then build the muscle, so the change underneath is visible.
Which one do I need?
Pinch the area. A thick fold points to CoolSculpting. A thin fold on an area that just looks soft points to CoolTone.
Do CoolTone results last?
Not on their own. Muscle softens again over months without top-up sessions or training. CoolSculpting removes fat cells permanently, though the remaining ones can still enlarge.
How many sessions will I need?
CoolTone is usually four to six sessions over a few weeks, then top-ups. CoolSculpting is usually two rounds per area, four to eight weeks apart.