Patients who undergo CoolSculpting report bruising in the area, swelling and redness, pain and stinging throughout the course of treatment, aching, skin sensitivity, and more. These side effects can last for up to two weeks after a treatment session, interfering with your daily quality of life.
People who suffer from certain chronic pain conditions, as well as people who are pregnant, should not have CoolSculpting.
Luckily, there are no negative long-term side effects.
CoolSculpting is an outpatient treatment and patients can return to normal activities immediately. The positive long-term side effect is that the fat cells continue to expel for about 12 weeks, gradually slimming the treatment area.
RealSelf members who said CoolSculpting is “Worth It” saw a significant improvement. Results can be permanent, if you don't gain weight later. Reducing excess body fat can be a strong motivator to kick-start a healthy lifestyle that includes a wholesome diet and exercise.
Rarely, cryolipolysis can cause mild or moderate pain afterward. You're also at a slight risk of nerve pain. Sometimes your skin can look less smooth afterward. Less than 1% of people who get it done have a complication called paradoxical fat hyperplasia.
The effects of CoolSculpting are intended to last a lifetime. The stomach region is the only exception, which could take two or three sessions to achieve optimal results. Consult your provider on how many sessions you'll need in the end.
Since the treated fat cells are permanently removed during this process, the fat will not come back after getting CoolSculpting®.
The main difference between the two procedures is the type of lipolysis technology they use to dissolve and break up fat tissues. Sculpsure uses laser heat technology to melt away fat cells, while CoolSculpting freezes them away using its advanced cryolipolysis (or fat freezing) procedure.
CoolSculpting is a less invasive procedure with a quicker recovery time and a lower risk of complications, but its results aren't generally as dramatic. Liposuction can remove a greater amount of fat, but it is a more invasive procedure that comes with a longer recovery time and more potential complications.
This treatment can potentially help you get rid of 25% of body fat in any one treatment area. If this treatment is used on the belly area, for example, you can reduce the amount of fat there by at least 20% to 30%, which translates to several inches off your waistline.
Answer: No Damage to Organs
CoolSculpting will not cause damage to your internal organs. The technology was actually developed after scientists studied several cases that showed that our fat cells are hypersensitive to cold, much more so than our skin, nerves, muscle, or organs.
Since CoolSculpting® reduces fat gradually for a moderate change, it's unlikely to cause sagging skin or make loose skin look worse. The fat cells that are broken down after the treatment are expelled by the body over months of time. The skin typically retracts around the new slimmer body contours.
STAY COOL. There's typically minimal recovery time with Coolsculpting, but we recommend you avoid high, direct heat and activities that cause strain or increase your body temperature such as heavy lifting or vigorous exercise 24 hours following your treatment.
Coolsculpting is extremely safe and there is no risk of blood clots or fat clots associated with it. The only side effect you might experience is slight numbness and bruising which is temporary.
CoolSculpting is only a treatment
Since this treatment is non-invasive and no downtime is required, you can start exercising within a couple of days. Besides the obvious health benefits, exercising can greatly improve and maintain your overall results from CoolSculpting.
Some providers recommend two treatments for the stomach area. Each treatment takes between 35 and 60 minutes. Results are permanent, but some people choose to have additional sessions to remove even more fat cells.
To be clear, CoolSculpting is a body contouring treatment and is not intended to help with weight loss, so it's very unlikely that you will lose a significant amount of weight when you use this treatment. However, most patients will be able to lose at least two to five pounds of body fat when they use the treatment.
SculpSure Cost: SculpSure provides similar results as CoolSculpting, but at a more affordable price per treatment. Treatment Areas: SculpSure can treat up to four different treatment areas at one time. In contrast, CoolSculpting can treat only one treat one area at a time.
Liposuction is particularly effective at removing fat in the legs, abdomen, back, arms, face, and neck. It provides more dramatic results than other noninvasive fat reduction procedures, however, it has a longer recovery period (up to six weeks) and typically costs more than its nonsurgical counterparts.
You will see noticeable results between one and three months after your first treatment session. The fat cells are slowly removed from the body, and it may take as many as four to six months after your final treatment to see the results of your treatment.
Because not everyone can afford CoolSculpting and it isn't covered by insurance, some people have tried to copy the procedure at home using ice and other frozen products. This is definitely not recommended. Attempting CoolSculpting at home is not only ineffective, but also potentially dangerous.
Water Retention After CoolSculpting®
One of the first things that many patients experience is bloating or swelling in the treated area, particularly common in the abdominal region. This bloating is the result of water retention and is completely normal.
Many more celebrities, such as Jennifer Aniston, Lindsey Lohan, and Mariah Carrey have also taken part in this unique non-invasive fat freezing technology. CoolSculpting is becoming extremely popular due to its highly effective way of getting rid of excess fat without going under the knife.
Fat cells compromised by CoolSculpting become a waste product and then are processed by the lymphatic system and eliminated from the body permanently. These fat cells will not be regenerated by the body.