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“Pain After Cool Sculpting”

princess34

Not Sure
Spent: $1,500 in usa

Comments (230)

Posted 27 Jan 2011

I had my lower stomach bulge cool sculpted 8 days ago. The procedure itself was pretty simple, however, once the head of the machine is suctioned off of my skin...this frost bitten peircing pain lasted for ten minutes. Wasnt sure if i was hot/cold or going to vomit. After ten minutes, i felt completely fine. The only thing I am curious of now, is the pain that started in the numbed sensation part of my lower stomach two days after the procedure. It is now day 8 and the pain is intolerable...is this to be expected??

This review is the subjective opinion of a RealSelf member and not of RealSelf, Inc.

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Comments (230)

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Sharon at RealSelf (Community Manager) 28 Jan 2011

Hi princess34 -- Welcome to RealSelf. I'm really sorry to hear about how much pain you're having. How are you feeling today?

You may also want to post your question on our Doctor Q&A Forum for some professional advice.

Good luck and please keep us posted on your progress! I hope it works out well for you.

Pufferpunk 10 Nov 2011

I was prescribed Neurontin for this.

beautydebbie 28 Jan 2012

Is thatb a pain med? Werte you able to go back to work the next day?

Pufferpunk 28 Jan 2012

It is not a pain med, it's a nerve-blocker & will not affect your ability to work. I never was not able to work after this procedure.

kapsolutions 7 Mar 2012

Hi pufferpunk,

I'm on day 6 on having coolsculpting done on my lower abdomen and am in tremdous pain. I called the doc 2 days ago regarding the pain and she prescribed a hydrocodone mixed drug. It did nothing to help and I mentioned to her the Neurontin. She called this in yesterday and I have taken 2 so far. Feeling so deperate right now and can't get anything done due to this pain and just wondering how long it took for you to get relief from the Neurontin? I would have NEVER had this procedure done knowing the pain I am feeling now : ( Thanks for sharing!

C.B. 7 Mar 2012

Kapsolutions, I was in the same boat. The intense pain stopped for me at Day 12 (yesterday). I also got Neurontin and a LipoDerm patch based on others' reviews, but neither of them completely took the pain away. They took the edge off, but that was it. My doctor also recommended that I take 400mg of Advil 3 times a day in addition to the Neurontin or LipoDerm. That may work for you? I am on day 13 now, and luckily the shooting pains/razor blades/electrocution feelings are gone. :))))) There is still numbness and it still feels bruised under the skin, but that is all very manageable in comparison to the torture I felt previously. Hang in there!

rileydog 7 Mar 2012

Id ask for the Lidoderm patches. Its lidocaine in a patch so you get continual relief. For me it took the pain from a 9 out of 10 to a 3.

Lovemydog 7 Mar 2012

It takes about 2 weeks.for the bad pain to go away

kapsolutions 13 Mar 2012

Update: I'm now on day 11 and yesterday was the first day I didn't need anything for pain. It was the longest week and a half I've ever had. Today the swelling seems to be going down as well. I am still left with the darker skin on my abdomen that looks like a bad sunburn that is gradually peeling off in small pieces...yuck. It is still sensitive and I have occasional pain but nothing like before. I'm hoping to start seeing some improvement soon! I advised my doctor that they should make future patients more aware that this can happen. My doctor also made me feel like I was the only one that had this type of pain. The Zeltiq company needs to inform to a better degree when it comes to the pain, especially if you are treating your abdomen area. I was not expecting to be so debilitated during this time and it really put me in a bad spot with work. I don't care how good the results are...I will NEVER do that again! Good luck to those who are still suffering, hope it ends very soon.

NS Mom 27 Apr 2012

Me Too. On day 3 and starting to experience extreme pain and now the Dr's office is closed until tomorrow morning. Almost cannot walk!

Taffy81 10 May 2012

Omg...I am hopeful reading your comments...I am in so much pain and I agree with you 1000% this company and idiots or docs should be more informative when it comes to the after effects, I think we pay enough to deserve the right to be aware or this and at least not be scared...cuz I was on the verge of seeing my primary doc for this pain being so bad..I thought something was wrong...I called twice and the first call I got that crappy med for nerve pain and it ain't done squat in the 4 days I've been on it!!! The only instant relief I get is by putting an ice or coldpack on my tummy and leave it there....it's very inconvenient being in the armed forces as its bulging from my uniform but it's provides immediate relief to anyone that's suffering....the minute I take it off...I'm in tears....so I won't until the pain is gone...if anyone is interested, I put a gurdle over the ice/coldpack to hold it in place...this is the only way I have functioned/slept or worked...and I agree with you I will NEVER have this crap done again!!!

rileydog 10 May 2012

If you can get lidoderm
Rx patches it works better than the ice and they are super thin!

Naive 11 May 2012

Dear Taffy81,
The pain will subside after day 11, but the numbness will continue for quite awhile. Life does get better. I used a girdle also. Mine was done March 20th and I'm no longer numb. Also the swelling will go down as well. I just wish that they had let me know what to expect. They were not honest with me from that respect. Good Luck.

Steven F. Weiner, MD 29 Jan 2011

This type of pain had been described in some patients. As far as I know, about 10. You must have your physician exam you to be sure there is nothing else going on. My understanding is that it can last a couple weeks.

View answers from Steven F. Weiner, MD

Hawk30 29 Nov 2011

Dr Weiner:
You should acknowledge that by now you have seen a lot of people complaining of mod-severe pain like on this post, on-line. Its not just 'some' patients any more.

beautydebbie 28 Jan 2012

I am suppose to getr this procedure done on Tuesday, but I cannot seem to get a clear answer on how much pain I will be in the next day. I need to know if I can go to work the next day.

Pufferpunk 28 Jan 2012

The pain doesn't happen until you "defrost". That'll take a couple of days. Be sure you have a filled prescription for Neurontin(Gabapentin)& take it at the 1st tingle.

Lovemydog 28 Jan 2012

Yes you will be able to go to work. It will be about a week later. When the pain will begin. Mine lasted for almost two weeks. Good luck. My opinion says save your money.good luck

cwjiggs 28 Jan 2012

I agree. SAVE YOUR MONEY.

Lovemydog 28 Jan 2012

It's a different kind of pain.to me it feels like knives are in the inside scrapping the walls of were I had it done at.they did not offer no pain meds.I didn't even know then it was going to be so bad.good luck

Soniak 15 Feb 2012

count me as the 11th!

Soniak 15 Feb 2012

agree SAVE your money. I am literally dying here

danielle in florida 15 Feb 2012

I would say much more than 10..
I actually still have a physical issue on my stomach where I think they did too much..
Nd I was in assiv pain..
My husband is an attorney and he was pissed..
Did it work? I'd say parts ..but the muscle bulge that I have is questionable an the ct nobody contacted me after I told them about the pain is bothersome..

ThatGirlAtTheParty 24 Mar 2012

Dr. Weiner this is far more common that you and Zeltiq are claiming. Just tell the patient the truth and prescribe Gabapentin at the first inkling of pain and the patients will be fine. It is so awful as a patient to be told that this doesn't happen to many people. It makes us scared that we are some rare case that might not get better!

Steven F. Weiner, MD 24 Mar 2012

I was robably one of the first, if not the first to have A patient with these symptoms after coolsculpting. During clinical trials for FDA approval, there were no reports of this. I was an early user and when I called about this to the company, they stated they hadn't seen this before. At a conference in late 2010, the medical advisors stated there were about 11 cases. Obviously there are more now. My experience has been only 2 patients since I stated using it in late 2009. I would say over 1000 applications. So my experience is that this is a very low occurance. I tell everyone now it can occur, but it is self limited and low risk.

View answers from Steven F. Weiner, MD