Red Light Therapy vs CoolSculpting vs Cryotherapy

Atlas Rising
Nov 18, 2025
6 min read

What really helps with body contouring in Westerville

This is one of the most common consultations we have at Atlas Rising. People come in asking whether they should choose red light therapy or CoolSculpting. Some have already tried CoolSculpting, had mixed results, and want to know if red light can help. Others have heard about cryotherapy and wonder if it does the same thing.

Let’s walk you through the real differences, the overlaps, and how we approach body contouring so you can make a confident, informed choice.

Quick definitions

CoolSculpting

An FDA cleared procedure that uses intense cold to trigger fat cell death. The device applies suction to pull tissue into an applicator, freezes the area, and the body later clears the dead cells through lymphatic drainage and normal elimination pathways.

Cryotherapy for fat loss

Exposes the whole body to very cold temperatures to encourage thermogenesis. The idea is that your body burns energy to rewarm itself. This is global, not targeted, and does not directly offload the contents of fat cells in a focused way.

Red Light Therapy

Uses specific red and near infrared wavelengths applied directly to the skin. The light makes fat cells more permeable so they release stored contents. We then support your lymphatic system to move those byproducts out of the body. Skin often looks tighter because red light can stimulate collagen and elastin.

What it feels like

CoolSculpting

Expect suction, cold, and post session soreness, numbness, or swelling in the treated spot. You treat one zone per session. Results can take up to six months to fully declare because your body is clearing crystallized cells.

Cryotherapy

You feel very cold for a short time. Any fat loss effect is indirect. It does not target a specific area, and it is not a substitute for a dedicated body contouring protocol.

Red Light Therapy

Comfortable and calm. Pads or panels rest on your skin, then you stand on a vibration plate to stimulate lymphatic flow. Most clients see visible inch changes within 24 to 48 hours in the treated regions, and we document progress with 3D body scans.

Results and risks

CoolSculpting benefits and risks

Because the goal is apoptosis, you are destroying fat cells. That can seem appealing, but it comes with tradeoffs.

There is a known risk of paradoxical adipose hyperplasia. Instead of shrinking, a treated area can harden and enlarge. People sometimes describe this as a firm, raised brick under the skin. Historically the fix was surgical. We have helped many clients soften and smooth those areas by layering in targeted red light and lymphatic support.
Removing fat cells in a patch can create a contour issue later. Your body still needs somewhere to store toxins and lipids. If that zone no longer has many fat cells, surrounding areas can take the hit, which may lead to an uneven look if lifestyle and detox pathways are not addressed.

Cryotherapy benefits and limits

Great for recovery and overall wellness. For fat loss, the effects are general and modest. It does not replace a targeted approach if your goal is reshaping a particular region.

Red Light Therapy benefits and cautions

Red light does not destroy fat cells. It helps them release stored contents and then shrink. That matters, because fat cells are part of your detox and immune safety net. Preserving the cell while offloading what it is holding can look smoother and more natural, and it supports skin quality.

As with any detox forward process, you want good hydration, mineral support, and a plan for the liver and lymph. We design for that from day one.

Time and cost

CoolSculpting treats one area at a time and is often two to four times more expensive than a complete red light program for multiple areas. Full results can take months.
Red light sessions are quick and comfortable. We usually recommend a focused series, often twice weekly over several weeks. Most people see early changes on the very first pre and post 3D scans.
Cryotherapy is usually sold in packages for general recovery. It is not an apples to apples substitute if your primary goal is inch loss in a targeted zone.

Permanence, maintenance, and the truth about keeping results

The number one question we hear is whether any of these options are permanent. Here is the honest answer.

Nothing is permanent if the same internal stressors remain. Your body follows your biology. Hormones, stress chemistry, sleep, nutrition, and the way your nervous system is regulating will decide whether you maintain results.

That is why our red light programs are paired with coaching, meal strategy, and accountability. We are not handing you a device and hoping for the best. We are helping your body become a place where fat release is safer and easier to maintain.

If you have a surgical history or no gallbladder, or you struggle digesting fats, we account for that with extra liver and bile support. If you are moving through a high stress season, we consider cortisol and nervous system tools. If you hit a stall for more than a couple of days, we troubleshoot quickly so momentum returns.

Can red light help after CoolSculpting

Often, yes. We regularly see clients who had CoolSculpting elsewhere and want a smoother, more global look or need help with lingering firmness from paradoxical adipose hyperplasia. By pairing targeted red light with lymphatic stimulation, hydration, and gentle compression, we can help soften and mobilize tissue so your body can clear it.

What about GLP medications and quick fixes

We get it. The appeal is clear. Our stance is simple. Any tool that changes your physiology needs a plan around it. If you choose a GLP medication, pair it with nutrient density, protein adequacy, and a strategy to preserve lean mass and hormone balance. If you choose a body contouring device, support your liver and lymph, and address stress patterns so your body no longer clings to what it was storing.

How we do body contouring differently at Atlas Rising

We start with a 3D body scan so you can see exactly where you are starting and how you change over time.
Sessions include red and near infrared light applied to the areas you care about, followed by vibration plate work to move the lymph.
You get meal strategy that fits your life. This is not a crash diet. It is a short, smart plan that reduces inflammatory load while your body is releasing stored contents.
You get accountability and messaging access, because small questions answered fast keep you moving.
If you have already done CoolSculpting, we can design a complementary plan to improve comfort and contour.
If testing or deeper hormone work would serve you, we can layer that in.

Frequently asked questions

Is there downtime with red light therapy

No. You can go right back to your day.

How many sessions will I need

That depends on your goals and biology. Most people do best with a short series. We decide together after your 3D scan.

Will the fat come back

Your fat cells will always do what your chemistry tells them to do. Our job is to change the signals so maintenance is realistic. That is why coaching, simple nutrition, hydration, minerals, and lymphatic habits are built in.

Can I do cryotherapy with red light

You can. If you add sauna or cold exposure, we will coach you on timing, hydration, electrolytes, and protein so your body has what it needs to handle the extra load.

Does red light tighten skin

Many clients notice their skin looks firmer and smoother. Red light can stimulate collagen and elastin, which supports tone as inches reduce.

The bottom line

CoolSculpting destroys fat cells in a spot. That can work, but it can also create contour challenges or rare complications that take months to sort out. Cryotherapy is global and not targeted for reshaping. Red light therapy releases and shrinks fat cells while supporting skin quality and lymphatic clearance, and it pairs beautifully with a whole person plan that respects hormones, stress, and real life.

If you want a thoughtful, comfortable, body positive path to reshaping, we would love to show you how our red light programs work here in Westerville. Bring your questions, bring your timeline, and we will walk you through a plan that fits your body and your goals.