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CoolSculpting
Physician's Asst Wouldn't do CoolSculpting on me Because she Thought I had a Hernias, How Can she Tell?
A hernia can be detected upon palpation during examination. She's feeling for a bulge or weakness in the abdominal wall, something that often becomes more noticeable when you cough, bear down, or tighten your muscles. Unfortunately, CoolSculpting cannot be done over an area with a hernia due to potentially injuring the already compromised area. The applicator uses suction to pull tissue in along with cooling, and that pulling force on a weakened area can worsen the bulge or make it harder to catch a problem that actually needs surgical repair, not fat reduction.
You may treat other areas such as your flanks, arms, thighs, and back. If you're unsure whether what she felt is truly a hernia, that's worth raising at a consultation with a general surgeon, who can confirm the diagnosis and let you know if repair is needed before considering any body contouring nearby.
Clinical Context
Hernias are usually found by feeling for a bulge or soft spot in the abdominal wall, which can become more obvious when you cough or tighten your muscles. Because CoolSculpting uses suction and cooling to target fat, applying it directly over a hernia could worsen the bulge or make it harder to notice a problem that actually needs surgical repair. This is why treatment is safely redirected to other areas.
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