CoolSculpting: Stories

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Definitely had the bad side-effects- Superficial result..

BMS
posted 2 years ago
updated 1 year ago

Not Worth It
Cost: $1,400
Illinois

Like a majority of the people out there, I did it...

15 Apr 2011

Like a majority of the people out there, I did it in an attempt to rid some abdominal fat that came on quickly due to steroid injections for disc herniation (which also caused me to not be able to exercise like I usually do).

I've read a ton of reviews where the procedure itself is supposidly painless. I have a high pain tolerance and I will tell you that the largest device (I'm pretty small, so this may have been overkill for me) was quite painful when the suction first started. Like everyone else, 10 minutes into it and it was fine- Just a tight feeling. I wouldn't say removing the device was as painful as the 'massage' afterwards. That was pretty painful as well.

The problem I'm having (I'm 4 days post-procedure) is that I am EXTREMELY, bloated. No bruising, no redness, but EXTREME bloating. To the point where my pants just don't fit right now. Of course the area is numb and I'm having some random pinching, but I can handle that. The bloating is awful. I've been applying ice, drinking TONS of water (I do anyway) to no avail. Does anyone know why this is happening? Is it an indication of fat cell damage? Most importantly, how long until this goes down and what can I do to speed it up??

Update: I'm now 7 days post-procedure and I am...

18 Apr 2011

Update: I'm now 7 days post-procedure and I am still VERY, VERY swollen.. The pins and needles are super intense and my entire abdomen stings (with a strange itch) like severe sunburn being irritated even further with rough sandpaper. It's to the point where I am going to have to call the doctor's office and get something for this. It's pretty much unbearable. I've tried pain relievers, ice, topical creams.. Nothing is helping.

Has anyone else had experience with this? I'm going insane. I sure hope these nasty side effects are a good sign, but I suspect they are just the result of nerve damage and my body attempting to repair it.

18 Apr 2011

I'm now 8 days post-procedure. Went to the...

20 Apr 2011

I'm now 8 days post-procedure. Went to the doctor this morning as I haven't slept in 3 nights. The bee-sting pain is so pronounced that even after taking Advil PM I wake up with shooting, intermittent pain on various spots of my abdomen. The doctor said I am still very inflammed- even to the touch my stomach is 'hot'. She said this is the normal inflammatory response and she suspects my results may be more than the average 'favorable' fat loss. She prescribed 3 days of oral steroids for the pain and Vicodin (which I HATE). But I do have decreased pain as of this afternoon.

Do you think there's any truth to the overwhelming inflammatory response I'm having? It makes sense to me, but maybe she's just telling me what I want to hear?

So, just to update everyone, since there are some...

26 Apr 2011

So, just to update everyone, since there are some also some new posts here with people going through the painful experience I did.. I'm 14 days post and am finally starting to feel normal. I'm still pretty swollen, but the stinging pain is gone. It just feels like major sunburn now. The lidocaine cream I was prescribed helped the most, I think. Or, maybe it was just that things were settling down for me finally. Now, we wait..

I am officially one month post-procedure.....

10 May 2011

I am officially one month post-procedure.. Numbness is completely gone, swelling is very minimal, although still somewhat there. Obviously, it being one month post-procedure I am not expecting anything yet in terms of results. So, at this point, I continue waiting..

3.5 month update: I guess there's a bit of a...

25 Jul 2011

3.5 month update: I *guess* there's a bit of a difference with my abdomen, but it's VERY suttle. And, quite honestly, I don't know if I can absolutely attribute it to the procedure or more my diet change and the fact that I'm taking Proactol.

At this point, I don't think I'd do it again. My understanding is that the larger device does have the ability to cause bad side-effects... For me, it's just not worth going through that again for something that's really not noticeable. Not to mention the cost..

Great review?

Comments (74)

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HeatherH 20 Jun 2012

After speaking more in-depth with my doctor (board certified demonologist/plastic surgeon) she said that this procedure is better on upper arms and on the back. She says she has not seen the results she likes on the abdominal region and is not shying away from recommending this procedure for abdominal. I took her recommendation and opted out of the procedure. We are discussing other options now.

I hoped this helped and good luck with your decision. I know it is a tough one. Why can’t fat be the new skinny LOL

SSY 19 Jun 2012

Hi Ladies, I am actally going to it next Friday, but after seeing all the comments, I am a little bit scared, specially with the size of a pea that appears in your stmache, it has been a while since everyone post. can anyone tell me how is the result turned out to everyone please?

cdd 20 Feb 2012

mamav, i would email the coolsculpting company directly, give them a detailed explanation of what happened to you and see if they respond. i hear they get back to customers quickly. good luck!

mamav 20 Feb 2012

the results of the cat scan showed nothing so i went back to the clinic where i had the proceedure done and they didn't know what it was either - they did an ultra sound and they said it looked like fat pockets but they were not sure - they had to check with the director and got back to me a few days later - apparently, this has happened to about 16 other people in the U.S and they do not know exactly why - i still have the lumps but they are going down and they are no longer painful, however, they feel very hard and when i pull my skin they look scary - i am happy that the bloating has gone away and i am hoping these lumps go away soon -- all in all, i am happy i had the procedure but it would have been so much easier if i had had all the facts up front and now, unfortunatelly, i have quite a few medical bills to pay for because of not knowing

cdd 20 Feb 2012

mamav,
what was the results of your cat-scan? if you don't mind me asking. hope everything was ok!

cdd 20 Feb 2012

ok, ladies, i got the procedure one week ago and 3 days later started feeling a stinging in my abdomen. well, the stinging grew more and more intense and by day 5, i was in extreme pain that advil was not touching. the only relief i've been able to get is by using ice. i think it is nerve damage and will heal on its own. STILL.....not happy about that! i am also very swollen. i just wish i was told of this bad side effect. but then again, if everyone was told, less people would opt to have this procedure. i will check back in a few days to let you know if i am still having the stinging. of course, i am hoping to have good results in 2-3 months!

mamav 15 Jan 2012

I had the procedure done in july of 2011 and i had pain for two weeks and i am happy with the results, however, suddenly my abdomen is going thru the same pain now and quite a bit of bloating, and when i press down on the sore spots, there are bumps about the size of a pea or a little larger - i am going for a cat-scan on tuesday and am concerned -------has anyone else experienced this ?

Cece52 8 Aug 2011

Well I am sorry I spent that much money, I did go down some inches and from dieting as well, but it is way to expensive for suttle results.

Also I think it is more for thinner people than someone who is overweight At 1800, it should be more like half. I have found other procedures that are immediate way to see an result someday that is what I want to do

Cece

iloveplastic 7 Aug 2011

hey BMS how's everything so far?

BMS 8 Aug 2011

Thanks for asking..

Well, nothing has changed since my last update and I really don't expect anything at this point anymore. Again, I think the changes were suttle, but definitely not worth spending anymore money to have it done again. If I wasn't watching my diet, I'd say maybe that's why there's not much difference, but I have been and I suspect what I did lose is from that, not from the procedure itself.

Cece52 1 Aug 2011

Hi

I had some bad times too so sore, it lasted about 3 weeks then it eased up I think the procedure was meant for someone closer to their ideal weight that
needed that little extra help, but I am overweight
and it helped a bit, but not the way I hoped. I really dont think it was worth the money I paid $1800

I wouldnot do it again if I had the choice, but I hope for those who have done it works much better for them

Cece

Cece52 23 May 2011

Well good for you if I lose an inch I am ahead of the game I will begin working out soon still have some numbness and a bit sore too.

I think that if you have a doc that decides not to do it I think your should get another opinion and that goes for all procedures

Cece

Cece52 23 May 2011

There has been many pics I saw of people with big tummies and they had good results with the procedure and diet exercise...then sometimes you just need something else to help. Lets be honest most women have kids and no matter what you think a little nip and tuck is needed dont think all the celebrities just fall into shape

You have to be realistic your age mine 59 I just want to look as nice as I can in my clothes with out my pooch....my hubby is happy with me the weigh I am not too much overweight but I will drop 20 lbs and do anything safe to make ME feel better if your are older we all cant look 24 all the time

I did this for me.....just be safe and being a little chubby it will help I saw the pics of other patients as all you see is there stomachs

CECE

Cece52 23 May 2011

Thx but I would never put any chemicals into my body I have Leukemia

CECE

Cece52 23 May 2011

give yourself time there is a long wait time and dif affects per each person......but sometimes a small tuck is it but most important to be at your perfect weight

Cece

HeatherH 23 May 2011

Wow!! THank you for all the input. I really appreciate it!! So I do Work out 4 days a week and watch what I eat it seems that I lose weight everywhere else but my tummy. I never had this problem before. The only thing I can think of is when pregnant with my daughter my stomach was so big it looked like I was having twins. Maybe a tummy tuck or lipo would be the right way to go. I thank all of you for your help :o)

Milw9966 23 May 2011

Also, be careful of some of the other fat loss options out there. One that is called dissolve lipo (or couture) is actually putting fluid into your body and no scientific studies have come out on its results. I had an assistant who did true lipo for her hips and it was very painful and long to heal...she was not satisfied with the final results. There is one called tickle lipo that sounds interesting with less downtime but they all have their side affects and varying success stories.

SoBe 11 Feb 2012

Oh PLEASE
Think about it....
YOU ARE 50
Dr.B's Cool-sculpting WORKS
If you have had children... as yourself, you should have spent your money on a tummy tuck!!!
My results,,,, at 50,,,,,
Perfection
Ask my 26 year old "mate" of the moment. Top model here in SoBe, LA & Europe. Sex in the City Hot Samatha guy!!
My stomach has always been flat, tho. 5'6" 133...size 29 skinny jean.
It is in my family.
: )
VERY PLEASED WITH DR.BITTAR & staff
CeCe
Get a tuck!
Never work out

whirly 23 May 2011

I ABSOLITELY agree with Milw9966 ... it is only good for people who are in very good shape and can not get their muffin top/tummy bump via excerise or diet. If you want more results than that, you might be very disappointed.

Milw9966 23 May 2011

I think too many doctors/clinics are doing this on patients who need to lose weight first or are not real candidates. My doctor says he turns away 2/3rds of those asking for the procedure. But I was an ideal candidate at 115 lbs and 5'4". Just had the tummy bump and muffin top but the rest of me is toned. However, I work out at least 6-7 days per week for an hour so mine really was stubborn fat and only lost 1 inch after 2.5 months.

Cece52 22 May 2011

I am actually just two week I still have some tenderness but never got to swollen maybe bloated but I was able to wear comfortable clothes. From what I can tell from others there is no real results per my doc as well that you see in maybe 3 weeks.

The real results are in 6-10 weeks depending on the person. But you do have to diet and you do need to exercise. From what I learned after sadly best if you need just some belly tightened. I still have hope and with diet and exercise I think I will see something. My doc said it works for all but everyones body works differently. good luck

Cece

HeatherH 22 May 2011

OK After having my second child in my late 30's it has been so hard to lose my belly.I work out about 4 times a week and try to watch what I eat but it just does not want to leave. I was looking into this instead of lipo but was not sure on the results. Any info from actual clients of this would be very helpful.

whirly 23 May 2011

HeatherH ... I've done this procedure twice on my lower abs and is currently 3 1/2 weeks into the second procedure. I got about 1 inch after 2 month the first time and only seen slight improve as of 3 1/2 weeks the second time. Hope that helps !! Good luck !!

whirly 15 May 2011

Cece .. SO HAPPY you are feeling better !! I really hated those bad days so I was feeling for you:)I just completed my third week so I'm just about back to normal but still itchy. My belly looks slightly flatter(not much), hoping to get more results in the next few weeks. Good luck !!

Montana108 16 May 2011

still waiting to hear what the fat drain process is called. Enjoy hearing about your time with Zeltiq, espec since you are about at the same point as I am.