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POSTED UNDER CoolSculpting REVIEWS

Don't Do It! You Can't Predict How Your Body Will React. First Go Around Was Ok, Second Time Botched

ORIGINAL POST

I am of normal weight. My fat just likes to hang...

Bananaramalama
$1,800
I am of normal weight. My fat just likes to hang out right around my belly button. First time I had it done I did notice a bit of a difference, but not enough to merit the money spent. But please heed, the second time I had it done in the exact same way and my body did not react the same, I ended up with two kiwi-sized second degree burns that blistered and healed as hyperpigmentation scars.. it's ugly and noticeable, does not look like a birth mark, the kind of thing someone would ask what happened when they see it. Very embarrassing. The blisters scabbed over and took over a month to heal into the dark patches. And it's also odd because None of my scars have ever behaved in this way. Even very deep ones, keloids then fade to white but these look like dirt or cancer. Google cryolipolysis second degree burns and there is a woman who ended up far worse than me, I was lucky... poor girl :( Did I mention I did it soon before my wedding night? I can't deny that it put a damper on the mood, my husband was not happy to see what I did to myself and every time he sees me naked it's a reminder. For months I've been using top notch scar therapy, tried everything to get it to fade, tea tree oil, silicone patches you name it... I asked my PS who did my *fantastic* breast augmentation what I could do about it... he suggested skin bleaching cream, seemed to feel very sorry for me and relieved that I have a pale complexion so the skin may bleach back ok. He also added that had I had a darker complexion there would be little to no hope for me. Then he launched into this speech about how they've been trying to sell him a Coolsculpting machine for years and that the science behind it is just not sound... in my doctor's words you cannot say for certain that your body will actually rid itself of the fat cells that were killed. It's a big risk to the skin and surrounding tissues as well, and he stated that he has met four other patients who had complications from it, one who he had to give a tummy tuck to fix the damage it caused. You cannot predict how your body will react to it, just save your money up and go for liposuction instead, it's more effective and better studied. They're both painful either way. Love your body and be safe.

Bananaramalama's provider

Technicican

Overall rating

Replies (6)

September 23, 2016
I am so sorry this happened. I hope it gets better. I had it done twice for my double chin. I didnt have the same problem you have. But with mine the second cool mini on the same spot took too much fat. Now I have a hideous saggy neck that I didnt have before. It's very upsetting when you go to one of these places, give them your money and you come out looking worse than you did to start. I am so so sorry.
September 23, 2016
Thank you, and I'm really sorry you had that experience too.... my PS mentioned that it was sagging skin he had to fix, and I hope that you won't have to live with your problem forever either
September 24, 2016
Thank you so much for sharing your story. I am convinced there are even mire people out there who might be feeling embarrassed to say anything ( or perhaps don't know of this site!)

For those who CS 'worked', wonderful. You were lucky. But i believe there are WAY too many that have had serious consequences.

It is people like you whose courage to tell it like it is that saved me. For those who think "how do you know CS would not work for you if you didn't try it" can save their breath. I read enough stories from those with similar size and body type of me to know there was simply too much risk. Zeltiq is definitely downplaying them and still calling it 'rare'

I was sucked into a 10-pt CS pkg for about $6000. I should have heeded the "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is". I should have researched the procedure and the particular business. But like buying a used car, i was easily tricked.

Procedure was to have been in August 2016. I backed out. Due to the deception and lies of the particular business, i'm also out $$ paid. Legal action still being looked into.

For right now, i am so appreciative of people like you who are trying to warn people. I keep reading various stories and each one reaffirms that i made the right decision-expensive lesson learned-but at least i still have my health and sanity intact. I'm learning to love my belly pooch.

I hope you are able to get your situation resolved and scarring less noticable. Take care.
September 27, 2016
Thank you I appreciate you as well and hope things work out for you in the end!
September 29, 2016
I have issues with hyper pigmentation. Try a cream called Triluma. It's the only thing that's helped me.
February 3, 2017
Second degree burns should not be possible with a CoolSculpting machine made by Zeltiq, there is a sensor in the cooling plates that monitors the patients temperature and automatically shuts it down if the tissue gets to an unsafe temperature, you should make sure you were being treated with a real machine and not a counterfeit one, and if it was a fake machine, sue.