Day 14 after CoolSculpting and still swollen/sore? When is it a concern?

Swelling and soreness is very normal following a CoolSculpting treatment, even after a few weeks. It takes a few weeks to months for the fat cells to die after being frozen by the treatment. Exercise helps the circulation, but if you are noticing it aggravates the swelling, just reduce your activity to low-impact cardio or walking. If you still experience soreness 3-4 weeks after your treatment, consult with a board-certified dermatologist.

While most people see their swelling go down just a few days after CoolSculpting, it’s not unusual for it to last several weeks. Everybody reacts differently to the procedure. You are still in a normal recovery time-frame. It takes 14 days for the fat cells to actually die after being frozen by the treatment, so you are definitely still in the thick of the healing process.
If exercising aggravates the swelling, reduce the activity to shorter, easier walks. However, don’t stop completely, as low-impact cardio exercise helps the circulation and you will heal faster. I often tell patients to wear compression garments like Spanx for comfort. You may also want to take a non-steroidal agent twice a day, like Advil or Alleve, to help you through this phase. If the problem doesn’t improve, or even worsens, by next week, then go back to the board-certified dermatologist who treated you for a check-up. 

Thanks for your question!  It is normal to still have some swelling and soreness at 2 weeks post-procedure.  It can last even longer depending on the patient, their normal recovery, etc.  I would just keep an eye on it.  As long as it is getting better and not worse, you should be fine.  If it persists for another week or so, I would reach out to the office that did your treatment to see what they recommend. Good luck!

Hello,Thank you for your question. It is common to experience discomfort up to a month after your treatment. The symptoms you describe are all common. It is good that they are lessening with time. If the discomfort is still prominent after a month, please consult with your treatment provider. Good luck and congratulations on your treatment.

casjen
Following CoolSculpting it is considered normal to experience transient numbness, bruising, soreness, and tingling in the treated area. In general, these symptoms will gradually improve over time but can persist for several weeks. If you have any concerns regarding your post treatment course I would recommend you follow up with your CoolSculpting provider.
Be Well

The abdomen is the typical treatment area where patients are most swollen. It can be quite uncomfortable because the waist band on your pants can rest right on the swelling. This feeling can last for a few more weeks. If you find that the pain and swelling is affecting your daily activities then follow up with your CoolSculpting provider. 

This is normal and certain interventions can help mitigate this discomfort.  The soreness can be alleviated with ibuprofen, wearing compression garments over the abdomen, or applying heat or cold.  Itching, tingling and numbness are normal side effects of Coolsculpting.  These sensations should gradually dissipate over time and can take up to 4 weeks to completely disappear.  I recommend also contacting the office where you were treated to get their recommendations.

I often tell my patients that swelling and tenderness should start to improve significantly at 2 weeks and resolve by 4 weeks. Occasionally a medication called gabapentin may be prescribed to help alleviate some of the discomfort. Please consider discussing this with your provider should symptoms persist. 
Best wishes,
Dr. Sawyer 

All of what you are describing sound within the range of normal. If at any point you are getting more concerned regarding symptoms or their lack of resolution please speak with your treating physician. Good luck with your recovery.

although 2 weeks is a little longer than most, depending on the area/number of cycles/type of applicator etc this is not out of the ordinary. Try compression garments to see if interested helps. Itching is a good sign