POSTED UNDER CoolSculpting REVIEWS
Getting CoolSculpting Done Today - Updates to Follow. Ontario, CA
ORIGINAL POST
I've always been pretty active as a kid. Now that...
teeeksFebruary 10, 2016
$1,000
I've always been pretty active as a kid. Now that I'm older, it's so much easier to gain that extra weight! I've been eating A LOT healthier and go to the gym 2-4 times per week. I'm happy with my progress EXCEPT this belly "pooch" that I have. Even at my lightest (115lbs) I still had a little bit of that stubborn belly fat that wouldn't go away.
I have a few really nice vacations this up coming summer and I want to finally be able to be completely satisfied with my body in a bikini! I'm 5'3, 130lbs and 65% of that is muscle. Imagine how discouraged I feel looking in the mirror and see all the muscle tone and definition and then looking that that pocket of fat in my belly. Let me tell you...it does not look great! In fact...I think it looks unnatural...like someone with my build should not have a belly like I do...
Anyway, I thought I was going to be stuck with this belly fat and was worried it would just get worse as the years went by! I heard about CoolSculpting on TV and thought, why not look into it? So this is where the Googling started. So basically I found out that they freeze the fat cells and that they died off over the course of three months. Fat freezes at a higher temperature than skin cells and all the other stuff, so that ensures that only the fat gets frozen. After the procedure, those dead fat cells are flushed out of the body through the lymphatic system. They also market it as a "lunch-time procedure" with "zero downtime". I'm not so sure how much I believe that...after all you are FREEZING and KILLING cells...
So I thought I might try it out. I went on the CoolSculpting website and looked at possible locations I could get the procedure done at. I suggest only going to locations listed on the CoolScultping website...they are recognized as suitable places to get the procedure done. Considering any old Joe can buy the machine on DHL for $2000...I want to make sure I'm going to a legitimate source.
Most places offer free consultations where they see if you are a suitable candidate for the procedure. You have to have at least an inch of pinch-able fat in the area of concern and must be at least 30lbs away from desired weight. It's also very helpful if you are already living a healthy lifestyle or plan on living one after the procedure. This is not a weight loss procedure...it just sculpts your troublesome areas. If you eat whatever you want after the procedure then you'll just end up gaining the fat back and wasting money.
Back to the consultation...I went to a few places to see which place looked nicer, which doctors/nurses I connected with and which had a better deal. Zeltiq (the company that owns CS) gives a set price and only discounts when you buy more treatments. Be wary of places that give steep discounts! I decided on a place with a women who is an RN and used to work in neurology. She seemed very knowledgeable of the procedure. She marked me up and decided I needed two treatments with and overlap area in the middle of my lower abdomen.
After booking my procedure I started Googling the hell out of CS. I landed on this website and saw all the comments on the excruciating pain a lot of people are going through. I know people are more likely to comment if they have a negative experience so I'm still going through with it. But I am not naive...I'm still preparing myself as much as I can. After reading hundred of reviews, these are the steps I am taking to make the recovery more smooth:
- Wearing compression garments - many people reported relief with compression
- Using Bio Freeze (menthol) - most report relief with cold, ice packs may work as well
- Sleeping on my tummy - same compression idea
- Taking Naproxen (anti - inflammatory/pain reliever) - some say the excruciating pain is from when your nerves "wake up" after being frozen/numb for so long and that nothing can stop nerve pain except a nerve blocker...I'll see how it goes and I'll grab the prescription as soon as I need to! (Hopefully I wont).
I know everyone has their own pain tolerance and it's going to affect everyone differently...I'm hoping I'll be one of the lucky ones.
My appointment is tonight at 5pm. I got my laptop and a book ready so those two hours fly by *crosses fingers*. I'm excited to get it done and also a bit nervous about the recovery.I will provide an update later - possibly as it is happening :O!
I have a few really nice vacations this up coming summer and I want to finally be able to be completely satisfied with my body in a bikini! I'm 5'3, 130lbs and 65% of that is muscle. Imagine how discouraged I feel looking in the mirror and see all the muscle tone and definition and then looking that that pocket of fat in my belly. Let me tell you...it does not look great! In fact...I think it looks unnatural...like someone with my build should not have a belly like I do...
Anyway, I thought I was going to be stuck with this belly fat and was worried it would just get worse as the years went by! I heard about CoolSculpting on TV and thought, why not look into it? So this is where the Googling started. So basically I found out that they freeze the fat cells and that they died off over the course of three months. Fat freezes at a higher temperature than skin cells and all the other stuff, so that ensures that only the fat gets frozen. After the procedure, those dead fat cells are flushed out of the body through the lymphatic system. They also market it as a "lunch-time procedure" with "zero downtime". I'm not so sure how much I believe that...after all you are FREEZING and KILLING cells...
So I thought I might try it out. I went on the CoolSculpting website and looked at possible locations I could get the procedure done at. I suggest only going to locations listed on the CoolScultping website...they are recognized as suitable places to get the procedure done. Considering any old Joe can buy the machine on DHL for $2000...I want to make sure I'm going to a legitimate source.
Most places offer free consultations where they see if you are a suitable candidate for the procedure. You have to have at least an inch of pinch-able fat in the area of concern and must be at least 30lbs away from desired weight. It's also very helpful if you are already living a healthy lifestyle or plan on living one after the procedure. This is not a weight loss procedure...it just sculpts your troublesome areas. If you eat whatever you want after the procedure then you'll just end up gaining the fat back and wasting money.
Back to the consultation...I went to a few places to see which place looked nicer, which doctors/nurses I connected with and which had a better deal. Zeltiq (the company that owns CS) gives a set price and only discounts when you buy more treatments. Be wary of places that give steep discounts! I decided on a place with a women who is an RN and used to work in neurology. She seemed very knowledgeable of the procedure. She marked me up and decided I needed two treatments with and overlap area in the middle of my lower abdomen.
After booking my procedure I started Googling the hell out of CS. I landed on this website and saw all the comments on the excruciating pain a lot of people are going through. I know people are more likely to comment if they have a negative experience so I'm still going through with it. But I am not naive...I'm still preparing myself as much as I can. After reading hundred of reviews, these are the steps I am taking to make the recovery more smooth:
- Wearing compression garments - many people reported relief with compression
- Using Bio Freeze (menthol) - most report relief with cold, ice packs may work as well
- Sleeping on my tummy - same compression idea
- Taking Naproxen (anti - inflammatory/pain reliever) - some say the excruciating pain is from when your nerves "wake up" after being frozen/numb for so long and that nothing can stop nerve pain except a nerve blocker...I'll see how it goes and I'll grab the prescription as soon as I need to! (Hopefully I wont).
I know everyone has their own pain tolerance and it's going to affect everyone differently...I'm hoping I'll be one of the lucky ones.
My appointment is tonight at 5pm. I got my laptop and a book ready so those two hours fly by *crosses fingers*. I'm excited to get it done and also a bit nervous about the recovery.I will provide an update later - possibly as it is happening :O!
UPDATED FROM teeeks
During the procedure
teeeksFebruary 11, 2016
I went in for the procedure more excited than nervous. My measurements and pictures where taken. Above my belly button was 29" and below my belly button at my largest areas ('peaks' she called them), it was measured at 33." So I'm hoping for 4" of fat loss!
I removed my shirt and sat on the edge of the bed because it made my fat stick out more so the machine would get a good grasp on it. My nurse was a bit worried that I wouldn't have enough fat on the edge of the treatment area and the machine wouldn't start. Turns out, I was fatter than she thought :P. She applied the barrier one my treatment area and the purpose of that was to protect my skin from the cold. It felt a bit cool and slimy. Then she put the applicator right up to my belly. I took a deep breath expecting pain because some people have said it was quite painful. She turn on the suction and it wasn't as bad as I thought. It was definitely a STRONG pulling sensation. I think you're more thrown off than in pain because it's such an odd feeling. She then turned on the cooling. I didn't really feel cold per se, it was more of a slight coolness. I will admit, the first 10 minutes of suction where not comfortable, but was not painful. After that 10 minuter period I was numb and totally fine. No discomfort...checked my social media, emails and anything that kept myself preoccupied (planned on watching a movie but the machine was so loud I couldn't hear anything - bring earphones if you want to watch something!). The hour passed quickly and it was time to remove the applicator and get the massage. I braced myself for the removal because some people have said that was the worst part - for me? No pain at all. The the massage came...it was very uncomfortable...painful even...but nothing you can't handle. But right after the massage was done...HOLY HELL!!! The pain was HORRIBLE! It felt like my abdomen was on fire!!! I was debating on leaving and not continuing but I didn't think that would be a good outcome. So I decided to stay and get the next side done. After a few minutes of deep breaths, I let the nurse but the second applicator on. Keep in mind I have an area (right under the belly button) that will be treated twice because of the overlap. So that area ended up being a lot more tender. She put on the applicator and within 10 minutes I was numb and the burning-of-a-thousand-splendid-suns pain subsided. I spent the whole next hour worried about the pain I was going to feel after the massage. When it was time to get the massage...I braced myself. It was very painful in the overlap area. After the massage was over, I started feeling that horrible burning sensation again. But this time it was more manageable because I knew what to expect, that it would disappear soon and I wasn't dying.
After 10 minutes, I put on my clothes and left the clinic. I showered, no effects from water hitting treatment area and put on my compression undergarments right away. Without the undergarments, my swollen belly would jiggly as a walked, causing a pins and needles sensation. The undergarments kept my belly in one place so I didn't feel that sensation while walking.
At this point...I can tell I had something done...but nothing to worry about in terms of pain.
I removed my shirt and sat on the edge of the bed because it made my fat stick out more so the machine would get a good grasp on it. My nurse was a bit worried that I wouldn't have enough fat on the edge of the treatment area and the machine wouldn't start. Turns out, I was fatter than she thought :P. She applied the barrier one my treatment area and the purpose of that was to protect my skin from the cold. It felt a bit cool and slimy. Then she put the applicator right up to my belly. I took a deep breath expecting pain because some people have said it was quite painful. She turn on the suction and it wasn't as bad as I thought. It was definitely a STRONG pulling sensation. I think you're more thrown off than in pain because it's such an odd feeling. She then turned on the cooling. I didn't really feel cold per se, it was more of a slight coolness. I will admit, the first 10 minutes of suction where not comfortable, but was not painful. After that 10 minuter period I was numb and totally fine. No discomfort...checked my social media, emails and anything that kept myself preoccupied (planned on watching a movie but the machine was so loud I couldn't hear anything - bring earphones if you want to watch something!). The hour passed quickly and it was time to remove the applicator and get the massage. I braced myself for the removal because some people have said that was the worst part - for me? No pain at all. The the massage came...it was very uncomfortable...painful even...but nothing you can't handle. But right after the massage was done...HOLY HELL!!! The pain was HORRIBLE! It felt like my abdomen was on fire!!! I was debating on leaving and not continuing but I didn't think that would be a good outcome. So I decided to stay and get the next side done. After a few minutes of deep breaths, I let the nurse but the second applicator on. Keep in mind I have an area (right under the belly button) that will be treated twice because of the overlap. So that area ended up being a lot more tender. She put on the applicator and within 10 minutes I was numb and the burning-of-a-thousand-splendid-suns pain subsided. I spent the whole next hour worried about the pain I was going to feel after the massage. When it was time to get the massage...I braced myself. It was very painful in the overlap area. After the massage was over, I started feeling that horrible burning sensation again. But this time it was more manageable because I knew what to expect, that it would disappear soon and I wasn't dying.
After 10 minutes, I put on my clothes and left the clinic. I showered, no effects from water hitting treatment area and put on my compression undergarments right away. Without the undergarments, my swollen belly would jiggly as a walked, causing a pins and needles sensation. The undergarments kept my belly in one place so I didn't feel that sensation while walking.
At this point...I can tell I had something done...but nothing to worry about in terms of pain.
Replies (0)
UPDATED FROM teeeks
Day 1 after the Procedure
teeeksFebruary 11, 2016
I woke up feeling fine, but when I got out of bed I got a strong sensation of pins and needles. I'm assuming that is because of gravity. I've been wearing my compression undergarments which my nurse told me to wear for at least a week. The feeling of clothes on my belly is fine. However any sort of touch with force behind it will get me to gasp a bit - more out of the surprise of being touched in such a tender area. Sneezing sucks. I'm still pretty swollen...I could probably pass for 3-4 months pregnant. So far so good. Not looking forward to day 5-14 which is when a lot of people complained of nerve pain. Maybe I'll be lucky and this will the be worst of it. Wishful thinking?
Replies (0)