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CLAIM YOUR PROFILESome patients like to space out treatments of multiple areas to allow for time or budget management. Because CoolSculpting is so patient driven, you can opt to have one area treated or multiple areas, all in the same day!
I do recommend to my tummy patients that if they are planning to treat both the upper and lower abdomen, they may want to treat both within a month of each other to keep the result time frame consistent, but again, it is personal choice.
Board Certified Emergency Medicine Physician
A good way to understand the CoolSculpting procedure is that it only affects tissues above the muscles (specifically targeting the subcutaneous fat). So the procedure cannot treat fatty liver or visceral fat.
We all have subcutaneous fat (underneath the skin) and visceral fat (fat within the abdominal cavity that surrounds internal organs). We are happy to CoolSculpt subcutaneous fat to give your body a more "sculpted" look by eliminating stubborn fat in the diet and exercise resistant areas, but visceral fat (a precursor to heart disease and diabetes) is diet and exercise dependent. Often fatty liver disease can be reduced through diet and exercise as well.
Board Certified Emergency Medicine Physician
What I tell my patients is that CoolSculpting is a physical process...meaning, when we do a CoolSculpting treatment, we present trauma to the area, fatal trauma to the fat cell itself, and the body responds accordingly. You are correct that you likely are feeling added puffiness in the area from the treatment.
Because of the trauma and the fat cells that have been killed, white blood cell armies come in and transport the dead cells away from the area. So for the first week or so, you very well may feel puffy because initially there is some inflammation and there are actually many more cells in the area by volume but be assured this physical process is temporary.
By the third or fourth week following your treatment, those armies will have been tapering off and fat cells will have started to leave the area and you should start seeing the beginning of the changes from your treatments.
Board Certified Emergency Medicine Physician
Though only 10-15% of patients experience the discomfort you describe, it is real and it is uncomfortable. Tylenol is usually effective in combating the discomfort. Of the few patients of ours who have described the "late onset pain" that you are experiencing, we have found that prescribed Neurontin is very effective in alleviating discomfort caused by the nerves rebounding from the CoolSculpting procedure.
Our practitioner has performed close to 1000 treatments and has discovered that of those patients who experience this pain, it is from treatments with the very effective and great surface area large treatment applicator. It is possible the small applicators could produce the discomfort, but in our experience we educate our patients on the possibility of late onset pain especially with the large applicator.
Rest assured that those nerves are not damaged, they are just angry and they will return to normal. It is a very temporary experience. Contact your CoolSculpting provider for options.
For comfort, some patients prefer looser fitting clothes and some prefer more snug compression clothing (like exercise pants or Spanx). See what helps you to feel most comfortable. Either icing the area or warm therapy can be beneficial (protecting the skin with a towel as barrier) - again - one or the other with likely feel more preferable to you.
A trained and experienced CoolSculpting practitioner would not place the applicator directly over the navel, but even treatments around the navel can make it feel hypersensitive because it is involved in the treatment area. If you have any concern about the area or possible hernia, do contact your provider for evaluation and peace of mind.
A few more weeks and you should start seeing some change, but remember, the elimination of fat cells naturally is a gradual process, so the most dramatic results are a few months down the road. Good luck to you and thank you for asking this question. I hope the information is helpful to you.
Board Certified Emergency Medicine Physician
Great question! In our practice, we have seen amazing results with CoolSculpting of the arms. The arm tissue is very responsive to the procedure and we have seen up to an inch loss per arm per treatment. From review of your pictures you included, it would appear that you would be a very good candidate for the arm CoolSculpting procedure.
Our CoolSculpting practitioner has even had her arms treated with CoolSculpting, twice on one arm and only once on the other, and had a measurable inch difference in circumference between her left and right arms. She has since treated the other arm with a second treatment to even out. With no surgery, no downtime and no scars, CoolSculpting provides a great opportunity to eliminate stubborn pockets of fat in various areas of the body, including the arms. Find a certified and experienced CoolSculpting practitioner to evaluate your arm tissue and put together an individualized Treatment-to-Transformation plan just for you. Best of luck!
Board Certified Emergency Medicine Physician
Yes, CoolSculpting is safe and very effective. The CoolSmooth applicator is ideal for treating the outer thigh because there is not pliable tissue that can effectively be drawn up into an applicator. It is important to ensure that there is ample tissue to be treated for best results. I would encourage you to consult with an experienced CoolSculpting practitioner who will put together a Treatment-to-Transformation plan for you. Happy freezing!
Board Certified Emergency Medicine Physician
Great question! CoolSculpting is a fat reduction procedure and not necessarily effective for cellulite. You don't want to go into CoolSculpting with the intention of the elimination of cellulite, but rather to reduce the circumference of the area to be treated through fat reduction.
We do offer Endermologie to our patients who want to stimulate their lymphatic system pre or post CoolSculpting as Endermologie is the first non-invasive device approved by the FDA specifically designed to reduce the appearance of cellulite. Endermologie also assists with stimulating circulation and toning the skin surface. Good luck to you.
Board Certified Emergency Medicine Physician
The upper arms are very responsive to the CoolSculpting procedure. The area you show just above the elbow would be untreated fat. Though without seeing you in person I cannot be definite, it is likely possible to successfully treat the localized deposits with the CoolMini applicator for the smaller areas. The CoolMini was designed for small fat deposits (such as the chin or knees for example of other areas) and between the prior arm treatment(s) and CoolMini treatments, you should be able to have effectively treat the entire surface. You should consult with an experienced CoolSculpting practitioner about the possibility of treatment.
Board Certified Emergency Medicine Physician
Mild tenderness and soreness are common following the treatments, as your tissues have gone through a series of events from the vacuum of the treatment applicator, the freezing, and the massage of the area. The bruising tends to be quite superficial and should go away in a few days to a week on average.
If you received your treatment with the new CoolADVantage applicators, these treatments tend to be up to 40% more comfortable during and after the CoolSculpting treatment and therefore, could potentially lessen the likelihood of post-procedure discomfort. The smaller applicators in general are less likely to present pain issues in comparison to the larger applicators that cover more broad surface area.
In the event of discomfort or annoyance from nerve discomfort, Tylenol or ibuprofen should be able to provide relief (as instructed by your CoolSculpting practitioner). If for any reason you do not feel relief from these over-the-counter medications, be sure to to contact your CoolSculpting practitioner for advice and follow up.
Board Certified Emergency Medicine Physician
Upon review of your photo, it would appear that you have adequate tissue for CoolSculpting treatments and you are well within the weight requirement for obtaining optimal results. CoolSculpting is ideal for treating targeted pockets of tissue like you are inquiring about.
To be certain of your candidacy though, you would have to visit with a CoolSculpting practitioner to ensure that you are a good physical candidate (as well as having adequate tissue). During your consultation, your CoolSculpting practitioner will assess many factors regarding your tissue structure and directionality and determine what Treatment-to-Transformation plan would benefit you the most. We have several treatment applicators to choose from for treatments and again, your CoolSculpting practitioner will assess the area and determine which applicator or applicators would provide you with the best results.
Most patients do desire at least two treatments to treatment areas to ensure adequate fat loss, but with CoolSculpting, you the patient, can determine how much or how little fat loss you desire to obtain to look better, feel better and fit better in your clothes. .
Board Certified Emergency Medicine Physician
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