When Does the Excrutiating Pain Subside After CoolSculpting?

Thank you for your question. It is not uncommon to have delayed onset of pain around 5 days after Coolsculpting.  The intermittent discomfort tends to subside within a week. It generally takes about 1 to 2  weeks for the swelling  subside. I do recommend compression for 3 weeks to help with these symptoms.  I recommend contacting your Coolsculpting  specialist as they can prescribe medications which can reduce the intensity of the discomfort.  Best regards.

It's very rare but the act of coolscultping can, in a very small percentage of patients, create intense pain due to nerve irritation that usually starts about 1-2 weeks after treatment.  This can be improved with compression devices, tylenol, and prescription nerve pain medicine that may be taken for about a week.  The pain resolves usually within 5-7 days.

Hello, it sounds like you are experiencing one of the more common side effects of CoolSculpting, Nerve Pain. Patients who experience nerve pain tend to experience the most days 3-10 post op.  Consult with your CoolSculpting clinic to see if they have a pain protocol in place. Tylenol can alleviate some pain, but the nerve pains will stop eventually.

The symptoms that are described were more common with the first generation of CoolSculpting machines. Now the applicators and machines have been developed to decrease post-procedural pain as well as taking less time for the actual treatment. Patients have reported that the pain or discomfort felt in the abdomen seems to be very different than those who have their inner or outer thighs treated. Most patients report mild to moderate discomfort which is easily treated with ibuprofen or Tylenol. In certain areas like the stomach, wearing a form fitting undergarment decreases the irritation against the skin if it feels sensitive.

Thanks for the question. Some discomfort after CoolSculpting is present for most patients. There is a small subset of people, most commonly those who have had the lower abdomen treated, who experience a more intense neuropathic pain.  Often, this more intense pain starts on day 5 and ends around day 10 post treatment.  Putting ice on the treated area is the best way to make the pain subside.  Compression garments or tight clothes also seem to dampen the pain.  Lastly, a medication can be prescribed to additionally help reduce the pain during this window.  Reach out to the treating provider to discuss your symptoms and create a plan to make your recovery as comfortable as possible.

Some degree of pain and discomfort is completely normal after a CoolSculpting treatment. Sometimes patients can experience nerve pain, which sounds like what you may be experiencing. This can last anywhere from 5-14 days. A conservative approach to manage your discomfort would be to wear some type of compression undergarment such as Spanx and/or taking over the counter pain relievers. If the discomfort is not manageable, you should contact your practitioner. A medication such as neurontin can be prescribed to reduce the nerve pain associated with the treatment. This medication can have some side effects, such as drowsiness, so check with your practitioner to make sure this would be an appropriate medication for you to take.