Cool Sculpting Uncertain Journey - Montclair, NJ

Hi. I am a 51 year old female, 5'4", 152 lbs. I was never an overweight person but even when I was in top shape in my early 20's I had a "belly". Genetically predisposed. My mother passed away in October and I decided that I wanted to rid myself of the unwanted "role" around my middle that seemed to grow during these menopause years despite daily activity and sit ups. My husband was COMPLETELY against any kind of "plastic enhancement" as he calls it but begrudgingly did not give me much of a hard time because it was not surgical. Once I had the consultation, I decided to go the whole way and get my love handles, upper and lower abdomen done twice. I was told it was not painful and two treatments to an area shows better results. So thanks to Mom, I am making the leap of faith.
January 27th - large paddles, lower abdomen. The overall procedure was uncomfortable but not unbearable for spending 2 hours freezing parts of your body off. The massage at the end was the most uncomfortable but I left feeling my skin numb and ok overall. Until day 4 when the electric shock part started. Only way to describe it was intermittent stabs of pain like bees stinging you from the inside out. Not all at once or necessarily in the same spot. By day 4 of this I was literally about to crawl out of my skin. I was wearing spandex tank top and underwear under my clothes 24 hours a day and only twice did I put an ice pack on. I took one Tylenol but found that didn't do anything. But by day 9 the stinging subsided and I felt someone relieved. But 2 days later I was scheduled for my "flanks". With great trepedation I went to the appointment wondering "why am I doing this to myself, I must be nuts". But I went ahead and this time there was no pain associated with the procedure at all. Not during or since and I am on day 5. I did experience bruising where the small paddles had been but nothing to cry about.
Now I look like a pregnant woman with huge love handles! I have not seen much decrease in swelling even in my lower abdomen, day 15. Because my swelling was so much they suggested I wait to have my upper abdomen done once the swelling goes down. So we wait and see before going through with this again.
All in all I should have 12 treated areas - 2 large paddles on my lower abdomen twice, 2 small paddles on my upper abdomen twice, 2 small paddles on my flanks twice. Hopefully by July I will be able to put on a pair of shorts and now feel like the circulation is being cut off from my legs!

I haven't felt ANY pain at all from the small paddles used on my flanks. Some swelling but no pain, this I can handle. My abdomen is still very swollen and I am wearing a spanx all day every day just so people don't think I got pregnant at 52! My abdomen itches but at least now the skin feels normal and the itching feels good! Waiting for some sort of "light at the end of the tunnel" in regards to looks, so far nothing except looking cubby!

Day 12 lower abdomend, day of "flanks" procedure