Loose fat and wrinkled skin after weight loss
Losing a significant amount of weight is a great achievement, whether you have lost weight through diet and exercise, weight loss medications such as Mounjaro or Wegovy, or following bariatric surgery.
However, many men and women find that even after reaching their target weight, certain areas of the body do not look or feel quite how they expected.
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You may have lost several stone but still have a stubborn pouch of fat on your lower stomach. You might notice loose, fatty areas around your upper arms, back or inner thighs. For men, excess fat around the chest can remain even after considerable weight loss.
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These areas can be particularly frustrating when you have already put so much effort into losing weight.
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Fat freezing, also known as cryolipolysis or lipo freeze, can be an effective non-surgical treatment for reducing the remaining pockets of stubborn and loose fat after weight loss.
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At The Body Renew Clinic we offer targeted fat reduction treatments to help men and women improve their body shape without surgery or lengthy recovery times.​
Why do stubborn areas of fat remain after losing weight?
Weight loss and body shape
When you lose weight, your body generally reduces the amount of fat stored within existing fat cells. However, fat is not necessarily lost evenly across the body, and the amount of fat cells remain.
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Some areas naturally store more fat than others, and genetics, hormones, age and individual body composition all influence where fat remains.​
This means that even after significant weight loss, you may still have pockets of loose fat around your:
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Lower stomach and belly
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Back, waist and bra line
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Chest, particularly in men
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Upper arms and underarms
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Inner and outer thighs
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Skin elasticity
Another important factor is skin elasticity.
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When you gain weight, your skin stretches to accommodate the additional body fat. Following significant weight loss, the skin may not fully return to its previous shape. The skin may also have become damaged and stretch marks have permanently altered the way the skin looks.
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As a result, what appears to be loose or sagging fat can sometimes be a combination of remaining fatty tissue and excess crepe-like skin.
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This distinction is important because it will influence what treatment plan is best. Where fat freezing helps reduce the remaining fat deposits that cause rolls and loose saggy fat pockets, radiofrequency skin tightening helps to tighten and improve skin. Most people start with fat freezing treatment to treat the residual fat, and then move to radiofrequency to tighten and improve the parts of the skin that remain problematic after fat reduction.
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Often people think the issue is loose skin, where the problem is more likely still excess fat. When you can pinch an area and you are grabbing a centimetre or more, there is still residual fat. By reducing that fat the skin often still further tightens.
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Fat freezing after Mounjaro and other weight loss injections
Weight loss medications such as Mounjaro (tirzepatide) and Wegovy (semaglutide) have helped many people achieve significant weight reduction. At the clinic we often see those whom have lost amounts exceeding 6 stone.
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However, losing weight with medication does not necessarily mean that all areas of the body will become equally slim or defined.
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Some people who have lost weight using Mounjaro notice that their stomach has become smaller but still has a pouch of fat below the belly button or flanks. Others find that their upper arms, thighs or back appear softer or less defined following weight loss. In cases where people have lost over 4 stone people can end up with very loose hanging folds of fat that become problematic as skin conditions can develop within the creases and folds.​
Can you have fat freezing after Mounjaro?
Yes, fat freezing may be suitable for some people who have lost weight using Mounjaro or other weight loss injections.
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Fat freezing works completely differently from weight loss medication.
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Mounjaro helps people lose overall body weight, whereas cryolipolysis targets a specific pocket of fat in a selected treatment area. Fat freezing then reduces the total amount of fat cells in the area, where weight loss doesn't reduce fat cells at all.
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For example, if you have lost several stone using Mounjaro but still have a stubborn lower belly pouch, fat freezing may help reduce the thickness of the remaining stubborn fatty tissue.​
Who treatment is best for and when to have it
The treatment is particularly worth considering once your weight has become relatively stable and you are close to your intended target weight.​ However, it is also possible to start treating stubborn areas during your weight loss journey.
Many people have treatment as they are on their ongoing weight loss journey to treat areas that are becoming frustrating. For example when areas become loose and the movement impedes exercise. It can also be that certain areas are just not budging at all even when you are half way through and you just want to get started on reducing the total amount of fat in these specific areas. This is very common on specific areas such as the male chest, the mons pubis for both men and women, and areas such as the centre of the stomach and outer hips.
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Furthermore, when weight loss journeys stagnate, which they often do for most people, fat freezing the most disliked areas can give a real confidence and motivation boost. Seeing faster positive results on areas that matter can reinvigorate the motivation to commit further to healthy lifestyle changes and overall wellbeing.
Fat freezing after gastric sleeve, gastric bypass or bariatric surgery
People who have undergone bariatric surgery, including gastric sleeve and gastric bypass procedures, can experience substantial weight loss.
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In the same way as explained above, such significant fat reduction can cause people to be left with excess skin and remaining pockets of fat, especially around the abdomen, back, arms and thighs. Whether you loose weight through exercise and diet, weight loss injections or bariatric surgery, the fat is reduced inside the fat cells, but the amount of fat cells remain.
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With fat freezing we can treat those remaining pockets of fat an reduce the overall amount of fat stored in these areas permanently, by reducing the amount of fat cells in the treated areas. ​
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Is fat freezing suitable after bariatric surgery?
Fat freezing can be considered after bariatric surgery, but suitability depends on your individual circumstances.
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Your surgical wounds must be fully healed, your weight should ideally be stable, and your bariatric team or treating clinician should confirm that there are no medical reasons to avoid treatment.
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Fat freezing should not be performed over an unhealed surgical area, and any concerns about hernias, scarring or abdominal complications need to be assessed beforehand. This is specifically due to how fat freezing applicators are applied. The applicators use suction to draw in the fat we want to treat, and that suction is strong enough to cause damage in areas where there are unhealed wounds or existing hernias or other underlying issues in the treatment area.
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Limitations of non-surgical options
Where there is a significant amount of hanging or excess skin, fat freezing and/or radiofrequency may not achieve the desired result. Surgical skin removal may be more appropriate. As these are non-surgical solutions, there are limits to what is possible and what can be achieved.
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With fat freezing, we can reduce the targeted fat - the fat that fits inside the applicators - by 20 to 40% within a single session. After 6 weeks from your last treatment you can treat the same area again and reach another similar fat reduction with each session. You can continue this process until you are at the point where you are happy. However, if the shape is severely altered, such as due to scarring or folding, the fat might be reduced significantly but the shape may never fully return to what it was before.
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How does fat freezing reduce stubborn fat after weight loss?
Fat freezing is a non-invasive cosmetic treatment that uses controlled cooling to target fat cells beneath the skin.
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Fat cells are more sensitive to cold temperatures than many of the surrounding tissues.
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During treatment, a specialist applicator is positioned over the area of stubborn fat. The applicator cools the fatty tissue, triggering a process that causes some of the treated fat cells to break down (this is called apoptosis).
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Over the following weeks and months, the body gradually clears the affected cells.​ This results in a reduction in the thickness of the fat layer in the treated area.
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The main advantage of fat freezing after weight loss is that it targets specific fat deposits rather than attempting to reduce your overall body weight further.
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Cryolipolysis does not require surgical incisions, general anaesthesia or liposuction.
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The fat cells successfully eliminated through treatment do not return, although remaining fat cells can increase in size if you gain weight in the future.
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Results develop gradually, and some people require more than one treatment to achieve their desired reduction. This is often the case for those using non-surgical body contouring following significant weight loss such as discussed in this article.
Which areas can be treated after significant weight loss?
1. Stubborn belly fat and the lower stomach pouch
The stomach is one of the most common areas where men and women notice stubborn fat after weight loss.
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You may have lost weight across your waist and upper abdomen but still have a small pouch of fat below your belly button.
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This is sometimes referred to as a lower belly pouch or lower belly pooch.
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Fat freezing can be particularly suitable for reducing localised subcutaneous fat around the lower stomach, upper abdomen and flanks.
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By reducing the thickness of the fatty tissue, treatment can help create a flatter and more defined abdominal contour.
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However, if the stomach hangs primarily because of excess skin, fat freezing will not remove the hanging skin. Reducing fat underneath very loose skin may sometimes make the skin appear looser.
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More on fat freezing the stomach
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2. Back fat and bra bulges after weight loss
Back fat can be difficult to reduce, even when you have lost a considerable amount of weight.
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Some women find that they continue to have soft bulges around the bra line, while both men and women may have remaining pockets of fat around the lower back and flanks.​ These deposits can become more noticeable and problematic when wearing fitted clothing.
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Fat freezing allows us to target individual areas of back fat using applicators positioned around the fatty tissue.​ The aim is to reduce the volume of the fat pocket and create a smoother body contour. These areas often respond extremely well to treatment, as there is often only a limited amount of fat causing the disliked body contours.
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For people who have lost weight but still have stubborn back rolls or bra bulges, this can be a useful non-surgical treatment option.
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3. Male chest fat after weight loss – reducing "moobs"
Many men lose weight from their stomach, face and waist but still notice excess fullness around their chest.​ This is often referred to as man boobs or moobs.
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In some cases, the fullness is caused by a remaining deposit of fatty tissue, known as pseudogynecomastia.​ Where this is the case, fat freezing may help reduce the amount of fat around the chest and improve its appearance.
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However, not all male chest fullness is caused by fat.​ Gynaecomastia involves an increase in glandular breast tissue, which cannot be treated effectively using fat freezing. Persistent, painful, one-sided or unexplained chest enlargement should be medically assessed.
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For men with localised chest fat rather than glandular tissue, cryolipolysis may be an option for improving chest definition and a more masculine shape following weight loss.
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More on male chest fat freezing
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4. Movement in upper arms and bingo wings after weight loss
The upper arms are another area where weight loss can leave noticeable changes in body shape.
Many women and some men find that after losing weight, particularly following rapid weight loss, the underside of their upper arms looks softer or begins to sag.​ This is often referred to as bingo wings.
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In some cases, the appearance is caused by loose skin. In others, there is still a substantial layer of fatty tissue underneath the skin.​ Where remaining fat contributes to the fullness of the upper arms, fat freezing may help reduce its volume. By reducing the fat, the feeling of movement is also reduced.
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This can make the arms appear slimmer, although the extent of improvement depends on the amount of fat present and the elasticity of the skin.
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For extreme hanging skin, fat freezing alone is unlikely to provide the desired improvement.
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5. Inner thigh fat and sagging thighs after weight loss
The inner thighs can be particularly difficult to reshape through weight loss alone.
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Some people find that even after reaching their target weight, they still have soft fatty deposits around the upper inner thighs.​ An enlargement in these areas can cause the thighs to rub together when walking or exercising, and slow down weight loss journeys.
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By reducing the amount of fatty tissue, treatment may help improve the shape of the upper legs and, in some cases, reduce fullness that contributes to thigh rubbing.
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However, the results vary and significant excess skin cannot be removed using cryolipolysis.
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6. Mons pubis
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The mons pubis is an area of concern for many men and women, particularly following significant weight loss. Fat in this area can be exceptionally stubborn and often remains even when you're close to reaching your target weight.
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This is a very common treatment area at The Body Renew Clinic. Although it is a delicate area, there are no additional risks of side effects. Results can often be significant, whether you're looking to reduce a small amount of excess fat or a more prominent, apron-like bulge.
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​Can fat freezing tighten loose skin after weight loss?
This is one of the most important questions for anyone considering fat freezing following significant weight loss.
Fat freezing is a fat reduction treatment, not a skin removal or skin tightening procedure.
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If an area appears loose because there is still a considerable amount of soft fat beneath the skin, reducing that fat will likely improve the overall body contour.
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However, where the skin has lost elasticity and is hanging without much fat underneath, often easily spotted when the skin is crepe-like and wrinkly, fat freezing will likely not correct the problem.
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Radiofrequency treatments are designed to improve skin firmness and may provide modest improvements in suitable cases of mild skin laxity.
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This is one of the most important questions for anyone considering fat freezing following significant weight loss.
Fat freezing is a fat reduction treatment, not a skin removal or skin tightening procedure.
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If an area appears loose because there is still a considerable amount of soft fat beneath the skin, reducing that fat will likely improve the overall body contour.
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However, where the skin has lost elasticity and is hanging without much fat underneath, often easily spotted when the skin is crepe-like and wrinkly, fat freezing will likely not correct the problem.
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Radiofrequency treatments are designed to improve skin firmness and may provide modest improvements in suitable cases of mild skin laxity.
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Why choose fat freezing after reaching your target weight?
One of the main advantages of fat freezing is that it is designed for localised fat reduction rather than overall weight loss.
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This makes it particularly relevant to people who have already lost weight but want to improve specific areas of their body.
Benefits of fat freezing after weight loss
Targeted fat reduction
Fat freezing allows us to focus on individual areas, including the stomach, mons pubis, back, arms, chest and thighs.
No surgery required
Cryolipolysis does not require surgical incisions or general anaesthesia, and treatments often only take 1 to 3 hours (depending on the amount of areas treated).
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Little or no downtime
Most people can return to their normal daily activities immediately following treatment.
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Long-lasting fat cell reduction
The fat cells successfully eliminated through treatment are permanently removed. Maintaining a stable weight helps preserve the visible results.
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Gradual improvements
The reduction develops over several weeks, with results often becoming more noticeable within approximately 6 to 12 weeks.
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Treatment plans tailored to your body
Different areas can be treated individually, depending on the amount of remaining fat and the shape you want to achieve.
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Results are not guaranteed, and not everyone will be a suitable candidate.
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How many fat freezing treatments are needed after weight loss?
The number of treatments required depends on the size of the area, the thickness of the fatty tissue and your individual response.
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Some clients may notice a worthwhile reduction following one treatment, while others may benefit from additional sessions.
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Results are gradual because the body needs time to clear the affected fat cells.
For this reason, it is important to allow sufficient time between treatment and assessment of the final result.
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Fat freezing is not intended to remove large quantities of fat or replace further weight loss where that is medically appropriate.
When is the best time to have fat freezing after Mounjaro or bariatric surgery?
Fat freezing is generally best considered when you are close to your target weight and your weight has become relatively stable.
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If you are still losing weight rapidly, your body shape may continue to change.
Waiting until your weight stabilises makes it easier to identify which areas contain remaining fat and which are primarily affected by excess skin. However, where areas are remaining stubborn or are "in the way" of further weight loss efforts, it is worth considering treatment during your weight loss journey.
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We do not recommend starting with fat freezing prior to starting, or just as you have started your weight loss journey, when you are looking to loose significant amounts of fat.
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For people who have undergone bariatric surgery, it is particularly important to be in good general health and that you are fully healed from surgery. It is also important to note that we can not place applicators close to where hernias have formed or recently been treated, or where items such as ports have been placed internally as part of the weight loss surgery.
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There is no single waiting period that is appropriate for everyone.
Is fat freezing safe after significant weight loss?
Fat freezing is an established non-surgical fat reduction treatment, but like all cosmetic procedures, it has potential side effects and risks.
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Common temporary effects include redness, bruising, swelling, tenderness and numbness around the treated area. These side effects generally only last a matter of hours to days, but in some cases they can persist for weeks.
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There is also a rare complication called paradoxical adipose hyperplasia (PAH), where the treated fatty tissue becomes larger rather than smaller. This may require surgical correction.
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Fat freezing is not suitable for everyone, including some people with serious medical conditions or conditions that cause more extreme sensitivity to cold.
A suitability assessment is particularly important following major weight loss, when loose skin, nutritional changes, previous surgery or other health conditions may influence the choice of treatment. This will be carried out as part of your appointment.
Fat freezing after weight loss – frequently asked questions
Can fat freezing get rid of a hanging belly after weight loss?
Fat freezing can reduce a pocket of fat around the lower stomach, but it cannot remove hanging excess skin. If the hanging belly contains a significant amount of remaining fat, treatment may improve the fat contour, but a substantial skin fold may require a different approach.
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Does fat freezing work after Mounjaro?
Fat freezing can work on suitable pockets of remaining subcutaneous fat after weight loss with Mounjaro. The medication itself does not determine the effectiveness of the treatment. Your body composition, weight stability and medical suitability are more important. Mounjaro and other weight loss injections help you reduce weight overall. Fat freezing reduces fat cells in targeted areas.
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Can fat freezing help with bingo wings after weight loss?
If the upper arms still contain a layer of unwanted fat, cryolipolysis may reduce that fat. If the appearance is mainly caused by loose skin, fat freezing is unlikely to provide much improvement.
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Can you freeze fat after gastric sleeve surgery?
Fat freezing may be considered after gastric sleeve surgery once you have recovered fully and received appropriate medical clearance. The treatment must be suitable for your individual health and the area being treated.
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Will fat freezing help me lose more weight?
Fat freezing is not a weight loss treatment. It is designed to reduce localised fat deposits and improve body contours rather than significantly change the number on the scales. It can be motivational for your weight loss journey and it can help address issues that can impede exercise such as chasing thighs and movement in arms.
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Is fat freezing permanent?
Fat cells successfully eliminated through cryolipolysis do not return. However, the remaining fat cells can expand if you gain weight, so maintaining a stable weight is important for preserving results.
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What is the best treatment for loose fat after weight loss?
This depends on whether the area contains remaining fat, loose skin or a combination of both. Fat freezing can be effective for localised fat, while skin tightening treatments or surgical procedures may be more suitable for skin laxity.
Fat freezing after weight loss in Manchester
If you have lost a significant amount of weight but still have stubborn pockets of fat around your stomach, back, chest, arms or thighs, fat freezing may help you achieve a more defined body shape.
At The Body Renew Clinic we specialise in non-surgical fat reduction and body contouring treatments for men and women.
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Whether you have lost weight through Mounjaro, Wegovy, gastric sleeve surgery, gastric bypass or lifestyle changes, we can help you explore which body contouring treatments may be appropriate for your remaining areas of stubborn fat.​​
How to book your treatment
Phone and in-person consultations are available for anyone who has further questions before booking a treatment. However, a separate consultation is not required, and you are welcome to book your treatment straight away.
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We always carry out a consultation and medical questionnaire at the beginning of your treatment appointment to ensure the treatment is suitable and safe for you.
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For fat freezing treatments, please book the number of applicators you think you are likely to need. You don't need to be certain, as we can adjust the number of applicators used on the day of your appointment after discussing your options at the clinic.
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If you're unsure, we recommend booking the higher number of applicators you think you might need. This ensures we have enough time allocated for your treatment, even if you decide to use fewer applicators on the day.
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For fat freezing and radiofrequency combined treatments, book in your fat freezing treatment first and we can then assess the best timeline to introduce radiofrequency treatments. While fat freezing is typically carried out as a single treatment at a time, we recommend a course of radiofrequency treatments to achieve the desired results.
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