I had cool sculpting one week ago, my abdomen almost feels hard to the touch?

Question

I had cool sculpting one week ago, my abdomin is swollen and the area feels like the area is almost getting a hardness to the touch. Painful, swollen, hard, not red however. When I lay on my side I can feel the swelling and the hardness within the swelling. Painfull while sitting at a desk all day. Is this normal?? It is so tender that keeping spanks on almost hurts more after a while.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

I have seen this in many patients who have gotten fibrosis/scarring or reactive hyperplasia. This may need VASER liposuction for improvement.  This also could be post procedural swelling and will take weeks to a few months to resolve.  I suggest a formal consultation with a dermatalogical surgeon to accurately diagnose your issue.  Try Exilis and cellutone to speed up the healing. Best, Dr. Emer

Robert Heck, MD, FACS · Answer

Swelling can be normal but if you're feeling "hardness" it can't hurt to have your provider take a look at you. You don't mention what kind of applicator or how many on the abdomen you had but regardless, swelling, tenderness is normal, but not hardness. I'm sure it's probably fine but can't hurt to place a call to be seen. Best of Luck.

Edward Stokes, MD · Answer

It sounds as though you are having a very typical post CoolSculpting treatment experience.  We always inform our  CoolSculpting patients about what to expect after the treatment.  Each person will have their own variations on the degree to which they experience these feelings, but there are some very consistent and expected physical stages that can be counted on.  
Here is how it goes:  First there will be mild discomfort, numbness and itching.  Then, the area will become swollen, and this swelling may very well appear to feel hard,  due to the accumulation of fluid and the numbness.  This swelling is a normal and natural part of the healing process.  It is important to let this process take its coarse and not to take anti-inflammatory medications. The body is doing it's job to remove the dead fat cells from the area treated with CoolSculpting.  
After a few days, or possibly a week, the swollen area may begin to experience greater discomfort and even pain, sometimes sharp.  As I mentioned earlier, each person experiences this discomfort to differing degrees.  However, there are some patients who find that the discomfort is very difficult to tolerate. We recommend alternating with ice and heat, using arnica gel, taking Tylenol, and wearing compression garments.  Of coarse, there are those who require stronger pain relief, and occasionally a Rx is required.   The period of greatest discomfort usually only lasts a few days.  For most patients, the pain has subsided by around the 11th day post treatment.  There those who have a longer, more drawn out experience with the pain, but these cases are less frequent.
For the majority of patients, this greater degree of discomfort is experienced when treating the lower abdomen with the original CoolMax deep suction applicator.  We now highly favor using the new CoolMax Advantage Plus applicator.  Our experience has been that the results are better, the treatment itself is infinitely more comfortable,taking only 45 minutes as opposed to an hour, and the post treatment discomfort is minimal.

Hardik Soni, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. A small amount of patients feel pain after Coolsculpting treatment. The pain is caused by the nerves being bruised. This will get better with time. You can use topical lidocaine to relieve the pain. You do not mention what handpiece was used. However, the new CoolAdvantage can help prevent this. Having firmness is not normal and I suggest you have it evaluated. Best of Luck!

Michelle Ellern, DO · Answer

If you are having pain and swelling that you feel out of proportion or unmanageable I would speak to your treating physician and schedule an in person follow up.  Swelling and discomfort immediately following treatment are seen in many patients, but are generally manageable.

Jill C. Fichtel, MD · Answer

Many patients experience mild swelling and tenderness after getting CoolSclupting to the abdominal area.  If your abdomen feels hard to touch, I would call the Dermatologist who performed your procedure and seek their recommendation.  Typically, swelling and pain will resolve on its own after several days.

Steven F. Weiner, MD · Answer

There is a small percentage of patients who experience pain after the Coolsculpting procedure. This can be relieved with topical lidocaine in most cases. It is caused by the nerves being bruised in the area and happens during their recovery. It always get betters. Measures which help prevent this are using the new CoolAdvantage handpieces and the Zimmer Z wave after the procedure. Firmness is not normal and needs evaluation.

I had cool sculpting one week ago, my abdomen almost feels hard to the touch?

Answers (7)

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