CoolSculpting: Stories

Write a Review

Great Doctor, Great Procedure - Alexandria, VA

  • posted 3 months ago
  • updated 1 month ago

About 5 years ago, I lost 50 pounds. When I did,...

  • 15 Feb 2013

About 5 years ago, I lost 50 pounds. When I did, the remaining fat I had went further south on my abdomen. I was left with these two small bulges of fullness right at my bikini line. When I started contemplating lipo, I asked my friend for an opinion. She said that her office has started doing this procedure, and that I was a perfect candidate. Due to my age, amount of fat, skin elasticity, my fitness level, etc. they believe I will have great results. I was also really excited when I found out how affordable this treatment was, which helped make my decision.

They did two small cups, with maximum suction, to maximize the results. I took pictures throughout the process, because when I researched I didn't see many photos/video of the process, and I wasn't sure exactly what to expect. I was actually pleasantly surprised by how minimal my discomfort was during the procedure- I wound up even falling asleep! The massage was not as bad as I had read (I was pretty numb, so there was little pain).

I will post more follow up photos over the next few weeks.

Day 4- Swelling was the worst on Day 2, but it...

  • 18 Feb 2013
Day 4- Swelling was the worst on Day 2, but it wasn't as bad as I expected. Basically I have just felt like I've been on my period- bloated and crampy, but very minimal. I haven't been to the gym yet, but plan on giving it a try tomorrow morning.

Update day 10- the pain was horrendous on day 8......

  • 24 Feb 2013
Update day 10- the pain was horrendous on day 8... I even contemplated not going to work. I had trouble finding an outfit that was comfortable to wear, and have been popping Advil like candy. I have some long ice packs that I have been sticking in my waistband when I'm around the house- this is the only thing that really provides any relief. The past few nights I have been waking up every 1 1/2 to 2 hours. This morning (day 10) some of the swelling has really gone down after a day on the couch. Most of the swelling is on my hip bones now, and isn't stinging quite as badly. I'm hoping that I'm beginning to rebound :)

Day 12- slept through the night for the first time...

  • 26 Feb 2013
Day 12- slept through the night for the first time in days! Swelling and pain is reduced greatly this morning- hopefully this is the end. Abs finally look like they are just about back to normal. Now I can't wait to hopefully start seeing results!
Great review?

My Doctor: Susan Buenaventura, MD

My rating:

Doctor's Bedside Manner
Answered My Questions
After Care Follow-Up
Time Spent With Me
Phone or Email Responsiveness
Staff Professionalism & Courtesy
Payment Process
Wait Times

Friend's recommendation.

Comments (10)

racs322 22 Apr 2013
UVAGirl, Was it $700 for one treatment at Susan Buenaventura, MD practice? Did you require any additional treatments? Are you happy with the results now? I am considering having it done at her office, and would love to know more about your experience. Thank you!
evac 12 Mar 2013
thanks for sharing your story, how long does it take to see final results typically for one treatment?
VAPoobi 25 Feb 2013
Hang in, UVAGirl; you're on the home stretch! I'm 2 days shy of the 3 week mark. No pain, though still minor numbness, and am starting to see a difference in my belly. The first 2 weeks aren't much fun, but It gets a lot better, pretty quickly - promise :)
VAPoobi 18 Feb 2013
Looking forward to hearing about your results! Dr. B did my Coolsculpting about a week before yours (upper and lower abs) and I am not very patiently waiting for the swelling to subside and the magic to begin! Hoping to end up looking like your "before" picture :). Keep us posted ...
uvagrl928 18 Feb 2013
VaPoobi- I totally understand not having patience! I get very obsessive about this area (even before, I was taking pics of my stomach every day to monitor). Mary, the surgical tech that does the procedure at Dr.B's office, is actually my next door neighbor... so she has been getting pictures of my stomach more than she would probably like (especially when I say I look pregnant and she's 37 weeks pregnant)! But she said the swelling is a good thing- that it means your body is sending macrophages to that area to destroy the dead cells. So if you are still really swollen, that must mean lots of dead cells :)
daughtersgirl 17 Feb 2013
uvagrl..can u pleeeeez tell me wat exactly wer u trying to rid yourself of missy? ur stomach was gorgeous! r u kidding me? u looked AMAZING before girl! well we all have our want. I can't wait to see your final results because you already looked fabulous!
uvagrl928 18 Feb 2013
Thanks daughtersgirl! They actually said I was a perfect candidate for the treatment because my area was small enough that it should make a difference, but large enough for the machine to grab. The more fat you have, the less noticeable the result (and you can see, I definitely had quite a bit when they pulled the machine off!). I primarily want that area at my bikini line to be smoothed out. Even if none of the fat goes away, if it lays flatter, I'll be happier. I hate seeing the shadow of those two little balls of fat! To me it's a daily reminder of when I was really heavy.
Kirsty at RealSelf (Community Manager) 16 Feb 2013

Hi there, welcome and thanks for sharing your experience with us!

Thanks so much for the photos, it's really interesting to see how it works and you're right, there aren't may photos of the actual procedure out there. When did you have the procedure done?

Please do keep us updated with your progress!

uvagrl928 16 Feb 2013
I just had it done yesterday (Feb. 15).... so I shouldn't see results for a few weeks, but I'll keep you posted with progress pictures. I had some friends that were interested in seeing what exactly happened during the procedure- I had been fascinated by this "lump of butter" that my friend was talking about, but couldn't find any pictures of it!
Kirsty at RealSelf (Community Manager) 16 Feb 2013

Ah yes, it will be a while for results if you just had it done yesterday. Rest up, heal well and do keep us updated. It's a very interesting process!

Happy Healing!

More CoolSculpting Reviews

Dr Tareq Saif - Dubai, AE 3 days ago

I exercise 6 days a week, I'm usually very lean all year around, about 3 years ago, I...

Just Did It - Atlanta, GA 4 days ago

I have been back and forth about even having this procedure done. I am just over 24, and...

So Far So Good - Jacksonville, FL 5 days ago

I am 40 years, active and thin. I have a tummy bulge or pooch and it drives me crazy...

View more CoolSculpting reviews

Welcome Back

Sign in with Facebook

Your information remains private and will not be posted without your permission.

Forgot your password?

Don't have an account? Create one now.

Join RealSelf

Join with Facebook

Your information remains private and will not be posted without your permission.

Please enter a valid email address
 Did you mean ?

By creating an account, you are indicating that you have read and accept the RealSelf Terms of Use.

Already a member? Sign In.

Retrieve your password

Enter your username or email address and we will send you a link to login.

Check your email

Check your email. We've sent you a link to reset your password.

Ok