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I tried coolsculpting after getting fed up with my...
I tried coolsculpting after getting fed up with my abdominal and back fat. I'm within 10 pounds of my goal weight and a curvy size 4. This isn't my first spin on the merry go round - I had liposuction 7 years ago. Lipo is GREAT, but the recovery isn't, and it left a weird bumpy surface on my stomach (that didn't go away even when stretched by a 9 month pregnant belly). I still have a pudgy abdomen and back fat (even though the lipo helped quite a lot)...
So Coolsculpting. Well I read all about the horrible pain and recoveries that people experienced and I took notes - making special notation for the steps people took who had great recoveries. Here's what I did:
1. First of all - the experience. I had it on my back and my abdomen. The back (for me) was a breeze. Sure it's a serious pinch, followed by cold fire, but then it turns numb and you just read a book. No big deal. The tummy - well...that pinch felt like someone was vacuuming the air straight out of my lungs. I panicked at first and the technician told me just to breathe. I survived. ;) But the massage afterwards was excruciating. The good news is that the serious pain you feel during the massage goes away in 10 minutes and you can continue on with your day. Easy. Please note: I did several small applicators, not the big one! I did upper back, lower back, upper abdomen, lower abdomen.
2. The next day I woke up and my stomach was puffy, swollen, hot to the touch. And SORE. Seriously sore. So I immediately put on a compression tank top (which I had read worked for other people - and which I also had to do post-lipo), similar to a Spanx top - but extra tight. I wore it 24 hours a day. A lot of people noted sensitivity to fabric touching their skin, etc - well, because my skin was protected and compressed, I never noticed any sensitivity. I only noticed it when the compression tank was being washed or I was showering. I also want to note that I was EXHAUSTED. Several people noted exhaustion, but I was really overwhelmed with it. I guess my body was putting alot of energy into healing the assault that it had just endured.
3. I visited an exercise studio that offers Whole Vibration technology - similar to a Power Plate. I did that on day 1, for 10 minutes, then followed up with 10 minutes in an infrared sauna. Honestly, within an hour of leaving, my swelling had decreased a bit, and I regained some of my core mobility (with all of the swelling, you can't twist,move, and reach as easily). I wasn't back to normal, not at all - but I felt BETTER. Encouraged by how much better I felt, I repeated the vibration and infrared sauna on day 2, 3, and 4, 7 and 8. I think the vibration helps gently reawaken the nerves and loosens the dead fat for easier release (that's what one coolsculpting facility said anyway - well, I tried it and I liked it, so maybe they're right). The infrared sauna is supposed to help with healing and inflammation. I think they did!
4. Every evening I massaged my stomach for 5 minutes with an Arnica cream that I found at Whole Foods.
I can tell you this - I had itching, mild shooting pains (nothing noteworthy), no agony. The numbness slowly came back to life after 7-10 days. I did have serious exhaustion and a hot, swollen abdomen for 5 days. I really think the recovery was down to using small applicators, compression tops, infrared saunas, power plates, and arnica massage. I think the compression is key.
I can also add - ever wonder how you get rid of the fat? Well...you get rid of it through your stool. And yes, I noticed. Around day 5 I had to go to the bathroom quite urgently - and it's very obvious that your body is removing fat. I'll leave the rest to your imagination. Some people noted they had diarrhea, but I just had a stronger urgency to "go" - and much more than usual. Graphic, but important to point out I think!!
So Coolsculpting. Well I read all about the horrible pain and recoveries that people experienced and I took notes - making special notation for the steps people took who had great recoveries. Here's what I did:
1. First of all - the experience. I had it on my back and my abdomen. The back (for me) was a breeze. Sure it's a serious pinch, followed by cold fire, but then it turns numb and you just read a book. No big deal. The tummy - well...that pinch felt like someone was vacuuming the air straight out of my lungs. I panicked at first and the technician told me just to breathe. I survived. ;) But the massage afterwards was excruciating. The good news is that the serious pain you feel during the massage goes away in 10 minutes and you can continue on with your day. Easy. Please note: I did several small applicators, not the big one! I did upper back, lower back, upper abdomen, lower abdomen.
2. The next day I woke up and my stomach was puffy, swollen, hot to the touch. And SORE. Seriously sore. So I immediately put on a compression tank top (which I had read worked for other people - and which I also had to do post-lipo), similar to a Spanx top - but extra tight. I wore it 24 hours a day. A lot of people noted sensitivity to fabric touching their skin, etc - well, because my skin was protected and compressed, I never noticed any sensitivity. I only noticed it when the compression tank was being washed or I was showering. I also want to note that I was EXHAUSTED. Several people noted exhaustion, but I was really overwhelmed with it. I guess my body was putting alot of energy into healing the assault that it had just endured.
3. I visited an exercise studio that offers Whole Vibration technology - similar to a Power Plate. I did that on day 1, for 10 minutes, then followed up with 10 minutes in an infrared sauna. Honestly, within an hour of leaving, my swelling had decreased a bit, and I regained some of my core mobility (with all of the swelling, you can't twist,move, and reach as easily). I wasn't back to normal, not at all - but I felt BETTER. Encouraged by how much better I felt, I repeated the vibration and infrared sauna on day 2, 3, and 4, 7 and 8. I think the vibration helps gently reawaken the nerves and loosens the dead fat for easier release (that's what one coolsculpting facility said anyway - well, I tried it and I liked it, so maybe they're right). The infrared sauna is supposed to help with healing and inflammation. I think they did!
4. Every evening I massaged my stomach for 5 minutes with an Arnica cream that I found at Whole Foods.
I can tell you this - I had itching, mild shooting pains (nothing noteworthy), no agony. The numbness slowly came back to life after 7-10 days. I did have serious exhaustion and a hot, swollen abdomen for 5 days. I really think the recovery was down to using small applicators, compression tops, infrared saunas, power plates, and arnica massage. I think the compression is key.
I can also add - ever wonder how you get rid of the fat? Well...you get rid of it through your stool. And yes, I noticed. Around day 5 I had to go to the bathroom quite urgently - and it's very obvious that your body is removing fat. I'll leave the rest to your imagination. Some people noted they had diarrhea, but I just had a stronger urgency to "go" - and much more than usual. Graphic, but important to point out I think!!
Provider Review
Suzanne Bruce and Associates