Have you ever had an area of stubborn fat on your body that no matter what you do, it just won’t go away? If you answered yes, then you and I are very similar. I came across CoolSculpting and was immediately intrigued. This treatment promised to “freeze away stubborn fat that isn’t responsive to diet and exercise, FOREVER.” Of course, I had my suspicions about these claims, so I decided to do a little more research.
What is CoolSculpting?
CoolSculpting uses a form of fat reduction technology called “Cryolipolysis,” in other words, it uses cold temperatures to freeze and destroy fat cells forever. This technology gives long-term results that make those trouble spots a lot less troubling. (Fat cells don’t like the cold and at a certain temperature they will freeze and die). Once that happens, your body naturally eliminates the dead fat cells in 1-3 months or more, and the result is up to 20-25% fat reduction in the treated area.
About me
I have been an athlete my entire life and always prided myself on staying active, eating well, and having an overall healthy lifestyle. However, I suffered a debilitating back injury about 2 years ago and had to undergo surgery to help manage the daily pain. Even though the surgery was over a year ago, I still find myself unable to do the activities I used to. This includes certain vigorous exercise classes and sports. As you can imagine, for an athlete this has been the hardest reality to accept! Although I changed my diet and exercise routine, I still had a belly that just wouldn’t go away. In the past, I could’ve run a little longer or worked out a little harder, but with my body’s new limitations, I knew CoolSculpting would be a wonderful treatment to compliment my new lifestyle.
As I did my research about CoolSculpting, I quickly knew this was the treatment for me.
I wondered if I was an ideal candidate because I wasn’t too far from ideal body weight. But during my consultation at Revive Med Spa in San Diego, Master CoolSculpting Technician Michelle answered that question with, “if you can pinch an inch, you’re a good candidate.” Perfect! Sign me up!
The treatment day
Master CoolSculpting Technician Michelle Raby was thorough in her process, and I felt like I was in good hands the entire time. She had me change into the standard top and shorts, and then measure and draw on the areas of my stomach we were going to treat. This was her guide for where to attach the handpiece. We snapped a few pictures and I headed to the cozy treatment chair. Once I was comfortably laying down, Michelle cleaned the area on my abdomen and laid a gel pad on top. I learned this gel pad creates a barrier between my skin, the handpiece, and a big reason the nerves and organs are protected, while the fat cells can be targeted and destroyed.
Once everything was ready, Michelle took the handpiece and attached it to my stomach. It was a strong vacuum type feeling, and a solid suction is key for the machine to treat properly. Once we were set, she started the machine and made sure I was comfortable. She even brought me water and set up an iPad for me to watch Netflix! The actual treatment only took 35 minutes, and I was almost sad it wasn’t longer because I could’ve chilled there a lot longer!
What does CoolSculpting feel like?
One of the top two questions I am asked the most is, ‘Does it hurt?’ I can say it wasn’t painful at all. It’s important to note that I do have a high pain tolerance (thanks back surgery), but most agree that it isn’t a painful treatment. There were a few times that I felt more of an uncomfortable feeling, but I never felt actual pain. When the treatment begins, you feel your skin being sucked into the handpiece, and it starts to get very cold, (that’s how it works, after all). Once your skin reaches a certain temperature, it’s just a numb feeling.
The only part that I wouldn’t look forward to again is when the treatment is over and the handpiece has been removed, the provider must massage the treated area to break up the frozen fat cells. I can equate this feeling to being really cold from playing in the snow, and as you come inside your limbs start warming up and the blood is slowly coming back to that area, and it’s very tingly and uncomfortable. Keep in mind, this part is only about 2 minutes so it’s very tolerable and the results are definitely worth it!
Does CoolSculpting work?
I saw amazing results, so yes, CoolSculpting does work! The best way to achieve amazing results from CoolSculpting is to remember that this treatment is not a one-and-done deal. Yes, the fat cells are frozen away forever, but you still have to maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle in order to maintain the results. If you’re anything like me, after my CoolSculpting treatment I was actually more inspired to get myself moving and to keep the amazing results coming!
How do you prepare for your CoolSculpting treatment?
There isn’t much preparation you have to do prior to your first treatment. A few things I realized after my treatment that were very helpful in making the treatment day more comfortable:
- Wear comfortable clothes or bring a change of clothes. The treatment uses gel pads and the gel may get on your skin and clothes, although it easily washes out.
- Avoid any NSAIDs and alcohol the day before if you’re concerned about bruising.
- The big one is if you are doing a treatment before a big day (like a wedding, etc.) make sure to schedule your treatment early! CoolSculpting takes up to 3 months to see full results, and if you’re anything like me, you’ll want to treat more areas because you loved your first results!
What should you do after your CoolSculpting treatment?
The most amazing part of this treatment is that you can continue on with your day right after! There is virtually no downtime, and that was a huge plus for me. Side effects are very minimal as well. Normal side effects are swelling, redness, bruising, numbness, and tenderness at the treated areas.
I had a wonderful CoolSculpting experience at Revive Med Spa and am so happy with my results. If you’re still on the fence about this treatment or have more questions, I suggest scheduling a complimentary consultation with Revive Med Spa. The whole team is amazing – from the front desk to the providers. I am very happy with my results and I look forward to hearing about the positive results from many other happy clients!
