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*Treatment results may vary
I'm 5'4" and have always been curvy (that's why I...
I'm 5'4" and have always been curvy (that's why I got the BA, to balance out my hips!) - however - my hips have always bothered me, ever since college-age. I know I have "high hips" (or violin hips, or shelf hips... the few of us who have them have a lot of names for them) which means you can end up looking kind of square on the bottom, especially from behind.
Anyway, I didn't want to get lipo - that seemed extreme for someone who's has been at a healthy weight.
So, CoolSculpting has been out for a while, but a lot of things come out and aren't what they're cracked up to be, so I didn't go for it right away. But, a few years in and the reviews and it really does look like it could be something that would be worth a shot, and for much less than a surgical procedure with OR fees, etc.
I did CoolSculpting last Friday, so I'm 4 days out.
The treatment itself - you get some version of "clothing" to wear during the treatment. You take pre-op photos (which I didn't like, 2948098 photos of my most disliked area is not my idea of a great time! Haha).
Then, they put these big sticky sheets on the areas to be treated to help protect the skin and seal the vacuum. Then they place the vacuums on your treatment area and press some buttons on the machine. It was really odd being "sucked in" from the sides as the place I did it had two machines -- and it's a powerful suction. It was definitely tight against my stomach since your sides, on a dual treatment, are sucked into these vacuum things where they got frozen.
For me, it was "cool" as in cold, but not uncomfortably so - I think the temperature drops gradually or you'd feel that freezer burn type thing. What I noticed was a "bubbling" sensation under my skin, which was weird, but the tech said that's normal too. That faded after the "numbing" set it, which you don't even know is numbing at the time, you just gradually stop noticing it.
After about 10 minutes or so you get used to the feeling and go on your merry way doing whatever (playing with phone, reading, etc). With the "newer" attachments CoolSculpting came out with it's only a 35 minute treatment, so it was fairly quick. They did one side and then five minutes later started the other side.
I was warned at the start that most people say the massage at the end is the most painful part. For me, the left side wasn't painful per say but really uncomfortable, I wanted to "get away" from the massage but I did my best to stay still and go through it. The massage on the right side actually felt good, which I guess was odd, but that's how it was for me.
The evening of was uncomfortable - I couldn't find a way to get comfy, really, and my hips ached. That was the only time I thought "what did I do?!" - and of course I went on here and read post after post about really painful post-op, so scared myself that it was going to last a long time, haha. Fortunately, not yet -- hopefully, not at all.
I didn't really bruise - only a slight line on each hip that looked like a bruise. But, I can say I've definitely noticed ITCHING!!
The itch is kind of funny because it itches about a half inch to an inch BELOW your skin, so you can't scratch it. Or, you might want to try, but you can't really get to it. Instead, I end up massaging the area. I know itching is "healing" and the response to your body kicking out those frozen up fat cells, so I know it's a "good" thing and means the treatment did something. It's not like a super crazy itch, just an itch that you notice.
I haven't noticed any changes yet which is totally normal, especially because it takes 3-4 months to move into final outcome. Hence why I chose "Not Sure" but if this works it will 100% be worth it!
I did my procedure at an Ideal Image location, which seemed to be just fine.
The nurse did warn me that a small percentage of people do end up with a lot of pain, and if that happens to call and they have an Rx they can call in for you. She said this chance has lessened with the "new" paddles/attachments CoolSculpting literally just came out with. I'll take some pics later today to post here for progress, but unfortunately I won't have a "super before" image, not that much has happened yet.
The machines themselves are rather large - which I think is part of the intimidation factor - figure about the size of a kitchen fridge, but maybe 2/3rds as high. So when you do a double treatment you're sitting on a doctor's chair between two of them, which is strange.
Hope this helps someone considering it :) Pricing wasn't bad at all, it's $750 per area at Ideal Image where I was (for that area specifically) - and Ideal Image has its own financing that if you're approved for you can spread payments out.
Anyway, I didn't want to get lipo - that seemed extreme for someone who's has been at a healthy weight.
So, CoolSculpting has been out for a while, but a lot of things come out and aren't what they're cracked up to be, so I didn't go for it right away. But, a few years in and the reviews and it really does look like it could be something that would be worth a shot, and for much less than a surgical procedure with OR fees, etc.
I did CoolSculpting last Friday, so I'm 4 days out.
The treatment itself - you get some version of "clothing" to wear during the treatment. You take pre-op photos (which I didn't like, 2948098 photos of my most disliked area is not my idea of a great time! Haha).
Then, they put these big sticky sheets on the areas to be treated to help protect the skin and seal the vacuum. Then they place the vacuums on your treatment area and press some buttons on the machine. It was really odd being "sucked in" from the sides as the place I did it had two machines -- and it's a powerful suction. It was definitely tight against my stomach since your sides, on a dual treatment, are sucked into these vacuum things where they got frozen.
For me, it was "cool" as in cold, but not uncomfortably so - I think the temperature drops gradually or you'd feel that freezer burn type thing. What I noticed was a "bubbling" sensation under my skin, which was weird, but the tech said that's normal too. That faded after the "numbing" set it, which you don't even know is numbing at the time, you just gradually stop noticing it.
After about 10 minutes or so you get used to the feeling and go on your merry way doing whatever (playing with phone, reading, etc). With the "newer" attachments CoolSculpting came out with it's only a 35 minute treatment, so it was fairly quick. They did one side and then five minutes later started the other side.
I was warned at the start that most people say the massage at the end is the most painful part. For me, the left side wasn't painful per say but really uncomfortable, I wanted to "get away" from the massage but I did my best to stay still and go through it. The massage on the right side actually felt good, which I guess was odd, but that's how it was for me.
The evening of was uncomfortable - I couldn't find a way to get comfy, really, and my hips ached. That was the only time I thought "what did I do?!" - and of course I went on here and read post after post about really painful post-op, so scared myself that it was going to last a long time, haha. Fortunately, not yet -- hopefully, not at all.
I didn't really bruise - only a slight line on each hip that looked like a bruise. But, I can say I've definitely noticed ITCHING!!
The itch is kind of funny because it itches about a half inch to an inch BELOW your skin, so you can't scratch it. Or, you might want to try, but you can't really get to it. Instead, I end up massaging the area. I know itching is "healing" and the response to your body kicking out those frozen up fat cells, so I know it's a "good" thing and means the treatment did something. It's not like a super crazy itch, just an itch that you notice.
I haven't noticed any changes yet which is totally normal, especially because it takes 3-4 months to move into final outcome. Hence why I chose "Not Sure" but if this works it will 100% be worth it!
I did my procedure at an Ideal Image location, which seemed to be just fine.
The nurse did warn me that a small percentage of people do end up with a lot of pain, and if that happens to call and they have an Rx they can call in for you. She said this chance has lessened with the "new" paddles/attachments CoolSculpting literally just came out with. I'll take some pics later today to post here for progress, but unfortunately I won't have a "super before" image, not that much has happened yet.
The machines themselves are rather large - which I think is part of the intimidation factor - figure about the size of a kitchen fridge, but maybe 2/3rds as high. So when you do a double treatment you're sitting on a doctor's chair between two of them, which is strange.
Hope this helps someone considering it :) Pricing wasn't bad at all, it's $750 per area at Ideal Image where I was (for that area specifically) - and Ideal Image has its own financing that if you're approved for you can spread payments out.
Provider Review
I don't remember
Ideal Image