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POSTED UNDER CoolSculpting REVIEWS

Shideler Dermatology - CoolSculpting in Indianapolis

ORIGINAL POST

I was really worried that I wouldn't be a good...

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IndyGirl84
WORTH IT$2,200

I was really worried that I wouldn't be a good candidate, because I honestly thought I was too heavy to have it done. I've been heavy my whole life, but I had recently lost about 40 pounds and realized that my stomach wasn't losing some of it's stubborn fat, despite the fact that I was losing every where else. After the consult, the doctor told me I was a good candidate, and as long as I kept up my diet and exercise, it should make a difference.

I was really nervous when they attached the "vacuum", as I like to call it. I will say this, the first 20 minutes is painful. I have a high pain tolerance and this was very painful for me. I took lots of deep breaths and tried to focus on something else. After about 20 minutes, the whole area become mostly numb and you just feel pressure. I brought my iPad with me and just watch movies during the hour. The doctor also turned down the lights to create a relaxing environment and offered me the remote to watch their television if I wanted to. They were very accommodating.

After the procedure was done, the area was very tender when they removed the vacuum. I wasn't in pain, but the area was tender and very red. That evening, I couldn't sleep on my belly due to the tenderness. As the days passed, the pain subsided. I did bruise a little bit, and every once in a while, the area would "ache". I would pop a few aspirin and I was okay. Sometimes, sitting for long periods of time would make the area sore, but nothing awful.

So far I'm happy with the procedure. It's only been a week, so I don't have any after pictures to share, but I will share the before! :)

My only advice for those considering this procedure is be prepared for some pain during the procedure and after. Also, I've heard lots of stories of people getting upset and claim it didn't work simply because they didn't maintain a healthy diet and exercise. Just because this kills off fat cells does not mean that the ones remaining can't grow!!

IndyGirl84's provider

Stephen J. Shideler, MD

Stephen J. Shideler, MD

Board Certified Dermatologist

IndyGirl84

IndyGirl84 rating for Dr. Shideler:

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Replies (13)

July 5, 2012

Hi IndyGirl,

Thanks so much for sharing your experience with us, I'm glad things have gone well for you so far. Hopefully you'll start to see some results in the next few weeks. Please do keep us updated on your progress.

July 5, 2012
I look just like you and am almost 2 weeks post of doing both my upper and lower abs. No real pain at all during or after. Still feel numb a bit here and there but that's about it. Haven't seen any changes but it's early yet. I lost 50 lbs and this was to help me look more porportional and less pregnant since my tummy was still a major issue. If I get a good result I am planning on another lower treatment but I'm feeling pretty defeated right now, esp after being VERY swollen. I'm going to buy a tape and start measuring in the morning. I didn't do any before or pics other than at the office. Thought it would make me more crazy. Now I'm regretting it so we will go from here and see if I get any results. For 2700.00 I really hope so. Stay in touch!
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July 12, 2012
Yes, please stay in touch!! This procedure really kicked my motivation into high gear. I have another lower and upper procedure scheduled for August. I will also take a one month after picture soon! Keep coming back for updates!
July 12, 2012
You made another appt already? You have faith lol! I'll decide in Sept.
July 6, 2012
Same story - I had lost over 40 lbs and same problem with stomach and love handles. I had two large applications a week ago today and didn't think to get pictures, but my doctor's office did. Perhaps they will provide me a copy on my follow-up visit in September. For the most part, I did not find the procedure painful, and the massage was bearable afterwards, but I noticed that my stomach felt strange and a little bit of pain when I tried to run the next day, but since then have been able to run and work out with no pain. However, my afternoons and evenings are opposite, and I find that its the most uncomfortable when I'm just sitting. Little twinges at first, but now its like an alien inside of me! How much longer until the numbness wears off completely and the pins/needles stops? Its been exactly one week today and am hoping that this feeling wears off SOON. Also hoping for good results, but I'm not likely to get another application again - I paid $2300. I was told I was a great candidate, but after seeing some of these people who only had a small pooch, I wonder if I made a costly mistake here.
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July 12, 2012
I don't think you made a mistake! Just keep eating well and exercising. I've been seeing a difference every week. I had the same issue with the pain, but it subsided...but the areas still feel numb to the touch to me...which is actually pretty funny to me. I love poking it. Haha. Keep me updated on your progress and check back here for my one month after photos soon!
August 26, 2012
I just had coolsculpting done on 4 parts of my stomach. It has been only 6 days, but the pain is very, very uncomfortable now that the numbness is wearing off. How long did the pain last for you?
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August 27, 2012
The pain lasted about a week. I just made sure to take lots of Advil and wear comfortable pants.
August 30, 2012
I had the treatment done a week ago and my doctor told me specifically to NOT take Advil. Advil is an anti-inflammatory and could compromise your results. Part of what makes CoolSculpting work is the body's reaction to infllammation. You have to let it do its thing. My doctor said to take Tylenol for pain, but nothing with an anti-inflammatory.
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August 30, 2012
Thanks for clarifyiing that, NoNameNS! :-)
September 2, 2012
well, I hope I didn't compromise my results, but I honestly could not take the pain. I ended up going to urgent care for a prescription iboprohen and oxycodone. I have had bunion surgery on both my feet, hand surgery, a breast reduction and I think the coolsculpting pain was by far the most uncomfortable. There was no way I could go to work without a little bit of help with something stronger. It has been a week now since the pain started, and now I only have a little pain at night, so I don't need to take the pills anymore!!
September 4, 2012
I'm glad to hear the pain is subsiding. I think I drew the lucky card; my pain was certainly uncomfortable, but not unbearable. I had read all of these reviews before I went was afraid the whole time that I'd have the same reaction. Here's hoping the worst is over for you and you get a great result!
July 6, 2012

I'm having the same concern.... time will tell. I have mine done on June 24 so it hasn't been a full 2 weeks yet. I don't feel any numbness unless I rub my stomach, so you should bee feeling much different soon I would think. Then it's an odd sensation. From everything I have read I had a much easier time (used an icepack here and there when I had to sit at work or was laying in bed but I could've easily been ok without it) but I think that's because I had so much more to lose. I never really had a pins and needles thing, it just felt weird. I don't run but I do hit a treadmill and walk at 4 mph and I thing doing that each day really helped. Activity was key to healing much easier after my second section so I applied thatr thought process to this. MY doc was straight with me and said it will not help the loose skin and since it reduces fat usually by about 20% a second treatment may be my preference but we will see where I am at in Sept or October.

UPDATED FROM IndyGirl84

About three weeks after my procedure and I am...

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IndyGirl84
About three weeks after my procedure and I am seeing small improvements. However, I will say the procedure motivated me to kick up my cardio and really watch what I eat. I mean, what's the point of getting this done if you're just going to backslide? This isn't a permanent fix, but something you have to maintain. Don't gain the fat back!!!

The areas where I had the CoolSculpting done still feel numb. You can tell it really "killed" those fat cells. Now it's just waiting for my body to eliminate them over the next few months. I had some weird pain in the areas over the past few weeks. Nothing unbearable and nothing Advil couldn't help...but some nights it was uncomfortable to sit up for long periods of time...but that passed after about a week. I'll keep you all updated and take picture next update.

Replies (18)

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July 12, 2012
That's nice that the doc gave you that estimation of 20% fat reduction. I've never heard that before. I'm definitely getting a second treatment in about 2 months...hopefully I'll be 20lbs lighter by then!
July 12, 2012
What are you doing to lose the weight? I'm at a plateau and it's driving me nuts so I'm floating between 133 and 135. Goal is 125 so that I'd have that few pound swing zone and stay below 130 for good. I'm trying to figure it out since it's a lot harder at this lower weight than it was 50 lbs ago! I know I need to kick up the workouts to more than 30 min a day but life with my kiddos is crazier than ever. But I do know that I refuse to waste this money due to anything my fault so going to try and keep at it. Over the weekend it looked like I was seeing a great result already but the last few days it's like it back to normal. Hoping it's bloat or something, time will tell. Wish I had before pics but I was too nervous but I did take a couple on sat when I thought it was looking really good. Looking now it's kinda depressing though. Hasn't even been 3 weeks so we will see :-).
July 12, 2012
If you don't mind me asking what are you doing for your "lifestlye" (as I like to call it) change? Anythin special? I've done my own thing but used the mobil app and website fatsecret.com. It's FREE which is always good, great info, people and recipes for all kinds of plans.
July 12, 2012
reduce your calorie intake try to eat under 300 calories 5 times a day. It worked for me.
July 13, 2012
I eat a well balanced 1100 to 1200 a day, 3 meals around 300 and 2 snacks. That's how I dropped the 50 I have but now I'm stuck with the last 10 or so as so many of us are lol.
Thanks!
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July 12, 2012
I use Weight Watchers to track my food...mainly because it keeps me motivated to eat well AND exercise. I forget how much I pay each month...but it's worth it. I also do interval training. I sprint for 1 minute, walk for 2....repeat for 30 minutes. Also, weight lifting is a great way to bust through a plateau...and drinking TONS of water.
July 12, 2012
Thanks.... sound like we are on the same track other than the sprinting. Bad knees that can't take it lol. Fat secret is more of a online commiunity thing. Lots of WW people after they get it down use it to save the money lol. I use preyy much WW principals but use the cal tracker and log it all. YAY US!!!
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July 12, 2012
Keep working at it! :-)
July 13, 2012
You absolutely must increase your daily calorie burn to maximize fat loss. I personally favor 45-60 minutes of cardio at or about your target heart rate 3 to 5 times weekly. Measure more often than stepping on the scales. Muscle is much more dense than fat and will a great discouragement during this time of increased cardio.
July 13, 2012
...will be a great discouragement...
UPDATED FROM IndyGirl84

Almost 3 months later, and I am astonished with...

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IndyGirl84
Almost 3 months later, and I am astonished with the results. I drink lots of water, eat well, and try to exercise 3 times a week to help speed up the process and maintain my results. I've lost 2 inches around my lower belly, and went from a size 16 to a 14 (but those are starting to get big on me now!). My stomach is so much flatter than it ever has been my entire life. Even when I was 16 and weighed 130, I had a little pouch. That pouch is slowly disappearing.

It's important that if you have this procedure that you maintain a healthy lifestyle to help encourage the results. You can't get this done and then eat fatty foods. Although this does kill fat cells, the remaining fat cells can always get bigger.

Again, this procedure helped motivate me to continue on the path of a healthy lifestyle. It's definitely helped speed up the results I see from my efforts, and I would do it all over again. It's totally worth it.

I'll try to post pictures soon. Especially the side view pictures, those show the most difference.

Replies (7)

August 23, 2012
Did they use a large applicator that covered your while belly? Back in April I went to a consultation and only the little one (size of a softball...maybe a tad bigger) and they said I should wait for the large one.
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August 23, 2012
It was a very large applicator. It covered my entire lower stomach.
August 23, 2012
Wow, that's awesome! You had it done in Carmel? I'll give them a call. I'm in NWI.
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August 23, 2012
Yup! Had it done in Carmel. They've got really competitive pricing, too and the staff is so awesome. 317-846-2396. Tell 'em Sally sent you! :)
August 23, 2012
Great results! I didn't take a before or measurements and boy do I wish i had!!! Hoping they will give me mine when I go back in a month. It's been exactly 2 months and I CAN NOT BELIEVE the results, I am soooo happy! I will be doing one more on my upper at least. I had no idea how well it would work on my lower and now my upper is a bit bigger. I have dropped a pant size and just bought size 6 jeans! After losing over 50 pounds and still having a large belly I am so happy this seems to have helped. Like you I am still on my healthy lifestyle and working out to maintain the result. Seeing your pics makes me wish I had taken some. Have to wait 4 more weeks I guess.
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August 23, 2012
Thanks! I wish I had taken measurements before, too. However, I'm back into my college jeans, so YAY! I'm down another 10 pounds, and feeling awesome. I'll continue to post pictures, especially after my second treatment to my upper abdomen.
November 20, 2012
Hi question for IndyGirl I live in the area and wondered if your procedure included your stomache and your flanks or just your stomache. I am trying to compare prices with another practice in the Carmel area. Thanks so much!