Zeltiq CoolSculpting - Pain, Bruising, Risks?

Great questions!  Coolsculpting is one of the few things on the body contouring market that actually works!  It's been around for a while and has proven results with many studies to back it up.  The procedure is easier than other nonsurgical procedures such as lasers and ultherapy.  The suction cup comes in different sizes depending on the person's body habitus.  I've had 11 cycles so far personally and I sat in front of the television and watched a movie.  There really isn't any pain except for the cold sensation right when the suction cup goes on.  Bruising is not common but I've had a few patients with thinner skin bruise some.  The hardest part about coolscultping is waiting the 3-12 weeks to see the results.  

Coolsculpting is a non-invasive procedure that is typically well tolerated and isn’t likely to cause any major safety concerns. The most common reports of discomfort often come after the procedure, when patients may feel some numbness from the cold and a pins and needles tingling as the area warms back up. The lower abdomen tends to be the most pain prone, and can cause some soreness or cramping in the days following the treatment. There should be little, if any, bruising, though patients with thinner skin are more sensitive

Thank you for your question. Every patient has a different experience when it comes to post treatment discomfort so it is hard to say without seeing you in person. With that being said, it may be comforting to know that typically the discomfort and irritation post treatment will go away usually after a couple of weeks. I recommend contacting your original treatment provider directly to see if they can recommend using a compress for three to five days or administer some anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medication to help alleviate discomfort. I have included a helpful video for more useful information regarding what to expect after receiving a CoolSculpting treatment below. Best of luck to you!

Although Coolsculpting is a non surgical procedure, it can cause the following side effects.
1. The suction accompanied by older applicators are much higher than the new applicators . Therefore the old applicators can cause bruising, can be more painful, and the post procedure neuropathic pain symptoms such as tingling, numbness is much higher compared to Cool-advantage applicators. The degree of discomfort depends upon the area, total number of treatments and the individual pain tolerance.
2. The discomfort with large applicators are much more than smaller applicators.
3. The risk of long term nerve damage is unknown.
4. The incidence of Paradoxical Adipose Hyperplasia is extremely rare and can be treated by liposuction.

The most common side effect after a Coolsculpting procedure is mild swelling and numbness over the treated area.  This usually subsides after a few days and does not cause significant discomfort in the majority of patients.  Occasionally, a more sever type of pain can occur, which is neurogenic in nature, and can be treated with Neurontin if the pain persists.  With the introduction of the new Cool Advantage applicators we have seen much less of these type of post Coolsculpting reactions, because the new applicator works without putting as much suction on the tissue.  It does seem to occur more commonly with the larger applicator vs the smaller, but again it is very infrequent now with the new applicators.  There can also be some minimal bruising post Coolsculpting as there is suction being applied to the treatment area, but if you do not bruise easily you most probably will not bruise from a Coolscupting procedure.  Patients on Aspirin or other blood thinners would be at higher risk for bruising post Coolsculpting, so if possible it is best to stop those for a few days before getting Coolsculpting.
Thank you for the question.
Best,
Dr. Flashner