What is the correct way to do the massage after Coolsculpting treatment? (Photos)

Great question! Once the applicator is removed along with the gel pad the area is massaged in a circular then kneading motion for a total of 2 minutes.  You will notice redness in the treated area that will typically last 30-60 minutes.  I encourage you to research other CoolSculpt certified practices before seeking any additional treatments from this provider. Good luck! 

Yes, this isn't typical after a massage treatment. I recommend treating this silicone gel with growth factors. Keep in mind, it will take several months with for your results with Coolsculpting and it works best when combined with other treatments like Vanquish. See an expert. Best, Dr. Emer

Thank you for your question and sorry to hear about your bad experience. The massage should be done 2 minutes after the applicators are removed. The timing of the massage is important because the treated fat cells are still crystallized and more vulnerable to breakage. Studies have shown that this massage improves the efficacy of the Coolsculpting treatment by up to 68%. The proper way to do the massage is with gloved hands and not with any objects. The massage should be strong enough to break the fat cells. Sometimes this can be very uncomfortable and can leave bruising. However, the massage should not be painful or leave scratch marks as shown in your pictures. I hope these heal quickly for you.

So sorry to hear about your unfortunate experience with improper post treatment massage. What should have happened is that a 2 minute massage should be performed immediately following the removal of the Coolsculpting applicators.  The massage itself would definitely not be done in a scratching manner. Instead, the proper way is to kneed with the fingers in a circular motion.  This breaks up and causes further damage to the crystallized fat cells.  Clinical studies have shown that results from Coolsculpting were 68% better with the massage than without. Any reputable and corporate trained Coolsculpting facility should have medical staff that know how to do this correctly.  All of our  Coolsculpting specialists are registered nurses and nurse practitioners who have been thoroughly trained and certified by Zeltique. If you choose to have future treatments with Coolsculpting, please make sure that the office is doctor owned and operated, and that the medical staff have proper certification. 

I am so sorry you had a bad experience! The massage is always done in a circular kneading motion with the fingers (not the finger nails...ouch). This 2 minute massage is pivotal to your outcome. Breaking up the crystalized fat cells and spreading them around is shown to give a 68% better reduction than not doing the massage at all. It also gives you the nice smooth appearance in the long run. I would urge you or anyone you know to do your research on a facility prior to getting body contouring done!

Thank you for your question and sorry to hear about your bad experience. The massage should be done 2 minutes after the applicators are removed. The timing of the massage is important because the treated fat cells are still crystallized and more vulnerable to breakage. Studies have shown that this massage improves the efficacy of the Coolsculpting treatment by up to 68%. The proper way to do the massage is with gloved hands and not with any objects. The massage should be strong enough to break the fat cells. Sometimes this can be very uncomfortable and can leave bruising. However, the massage should not be painful or leave scratch marks as shown in your pictures. I hope these heal quickly for you

After the Coolsculpting applicator is removed a firm massage of the treatment area is done either manually (with the hands, not finger nails) or the use of a Zimmer Z-Wave device.  Both types of massage serve the same purpose-- to break up the crystallized fat cells as well as to warm the area by reestablishing normal blood flow.  Not certain what you Coolsculpting provider was hoping to achieve with their particular technique.  You may consider a different provider for any further treatments.

Massage should be performed immediately after Cool Sculpting by the nurse or technician who performed the procedure. It is manual massage using both hands and kneading the skin and fat like you would knead dough when baking bread. By doing massage immediately after the Cool Sculpting procedure we increase the amount of fat damaged from the  treatment and achieve even better results than Cool Sculpting without the massage.

The massage is highly recommended immediately following the treatment because it can help give a 68% better result.  The massage is uncomfortable for a lot of people, but should not leave any "scratch" marks.  Make sure to see a certified CoolSculpting specialist for any further CoolSculpting treatments. 

The massage that follows all Coolsculpt treatment should be done within the 2 minutes that follows the removal of the applicators. The timing of the massage is very important as it is when the treated fat cells are still crystallized and most vulnerable to further breakage. Early comparative studies have demonstrated that performing a good vigorous massage within this 2 minute window improves the efficacy of Coolsculpting treatment by up to 68%. So, really, it is actually part of the treatment. The recommended proper technique is to do the massage with gloved hands, not with any objects or rollers. It should be strong enough to break the fat cells and is typically somewhat uncomfortable and in some instances can leave superficial bruising but it should not be painful not leave scratches as are shown on your pictures. 

I hope that your scratches healed well and that your Coolsculpting results were up to your expectations. 

Sincerely, 

Caroline Tosoni MD