CoolSculpting®

This post is sponsored by CoolSculpting^® but all opinions are my own.

Before Cool Sculpting

In case you’re new around here, I wanted to give you a very brief explanation of who I am and some facts about me.

• I am a mother of 3 kids (I did not have a c-section on any of them). Their ages during my time of treatment were 6, 4, and 1.5 years.
• I am 32 years old and my height is 5’2”.
• I go through phases where I work out really hard and times I don’t work out at all. During the time of my treatment, I had been working out extremely hard (lots of running and light weightlifting).
• Although, I am considered very short – I do have long legs for my height, making my torso section very short and compact.

My backstory: After having Charli (my youngest), my baby weight fell off rather quickly. I was back to my pre-baby ‘weight’ within 4 months, but I just didn’t feel like anything looked the same. Any excess weight I would gain or couldn’t lose was being held in places I could not get to look smaller no matter how hard I tried! I didn’t necessarily want to lose any more weight, I just wanted my mid-section to look thinner – it seemed impossible, to be honest. I started researching all of these different exercises and treatments, etc, which is when I first learned about CoolSculpting®.

Why I decided to do CoolSculpting®:

Truthfully, I was hesitant and a little nervous to try CoolSculpting®. If you are feeling this way, trust me when I say that you are not alone. I hope that this blog post can either ease your fear or answer any questions you may be having.

The reason I chose to do CoolSculpting® became a ‘duh’ moment later on, but at first, I had thoughts of “Will this work?” “How many times will I have to do this to see a difference?” “Will this hurt?” “What if this doesn’t work, then what?” “What areas can I treat?” and many other questions.

Let’s start by answering a few of these questions!

• Is CoolSculpting® for everyone? Unfortunately, not everyone is a candidate. It’s important to schedule a consultation and have these discussions with your provider. From what I learned, eligible candidates are at or near their ideal body weight and are trying to further ‘sculpt’ parts of the body and ‘pockets of fat’ that they are struggling. 

 

• How many treatments will I need? Your doctor will help you determine how many treatment sessions you need based on your body contouring goals. A single CoolSculpting treatment can remove up to 20-25% of fat in the treated area. It’s important to schedule a consultation and have these discussions with your provider. Visit CoolSculpting.com to find a provider near you. 

 

• What areas can I treat? CoolSculpting® is FDA-cleared for the treatment of visible fat bulges in the submental (under the chin) and submandibular (under the jawline) areas, thigh, abdomen and flank, along with bra fat, back fat, underneath the buttocks (also known as banana roll) and upper arm.

 

• How much does it cost? This will depend on how many areas you are treating as well as how many sessions that area will need.

 

• Does the treatment hurt? Yes and no. For me, it was uncomfortable for the first 5 minutes, but then, honestly – I went numb and didn’t feel a thing. Post-treatment there is a 2-minute massage that felt uncomfortable on my flanks, but it actually felt good on my abdomen. So, I think it all depends on the person and your pain tolerance. It’s important to remember that every person is different, so treatment plans and experiences will differ. During the procedure you may experience sensations of pulling, tugging, mild pinching, intense cold, tingling, stinging, aching, and cramping at the treatment site. These sensations subside as the area becomes numb.

 

• How long does the procedure take? Good news is each treatment takes about 35 minutes, and depending on the areas you are treating and provider, you may be able to treat two areas at once!

 

• How long does it take to see results? You will start to see changes as soon as 1-3 months post-treatment. Final results may take 6 months or more.

This picture is right before we started treatment. Your healthcare provider will mark your body exactly where the targeted areas are to be treated.

CoolSculpting® Process

Obviously, every office is going to vary in exactly how they do the service! I had mine done at Divinity Day Spa in Spring Hill, Florida. My provider did everything she could to make me feel comfortable. I was provided with snacks, waters, and lunch as well! 

As I mentioned, the first 5 minutes are a little uncomfortable – to me it felt like a really bad period cramp (if you are a female, you may be able to relate). If you’re a male, ask your wife or sister what that feels like, lol! Every person is different, so it’s important to talk to your provider and keep them updated on symptoms during the treatment process. 

Post procedure you may be a little swollen and red. My redness went away within 20-30 minutes, but the swelling actually got worse for me within the first 2-3 days and then slowly started to fade away. Following the procedure, typical side effects include temporary redness, swelling, blanching, bruising, firmness, tingling, stinging, tenderness, cramping, aching, itching, or skin sensitivity, and sensation of fullness in the back of the throat after submental or submandibular area treatment. 

As the weeks passed, I was at the same weight as I was when I received the treatment, but my treated areas looked flatter and my clothes fit better.

I am happy with my results, but I am currently at the point where I can either go back in for another treatment or leave it the way it is! I am a little torn on which to do but will for sure keep you guys updated on my progress and decision!

As with any medical procedure, ask your physician if CoolSculpting® is right for you.

Individual results and patient experiences may vary.

See below for FDA-Cleared Uses and Important Safety Information:

Uses

The CoolSculpting^® procedure is FDA-cleared for the treatment of visible fat bulges in the submental (under the chin) and submandibular (under the jawline) areas, thigh, abdomen and flank, along with bra fat, back fat, underneath the buttocks (also known as banana roll) and upper arm. It is also FDA-cleared to affect the appearance of lax tissue with submental area treatments. The CoolSculpting^® procedure is not a treatment for weight loss.

Important Safety Information

The CoolSculpting^® procedure is not for everyone. You should not have the CoolSculpting^® procedure if you suffer from cryoglobulinemia, cold agglutinin disease, or paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria.

Tell your doctor if you have any medical conditions including recent surgery, pre-existing hernia, and any known sensitivities or allergies.

During the procedure you may experience sensations of pulling, tugging, mild pinching, intense cold, tingling, stinging, aching, and cramping at the treatment site. These sensations subside as the area becomes numb. Following the procedure, typical side effects include temporary redness, swelling, blanching, bruising, firmness, tingling, stinging, tenderness, cramping, aching, itching, or skin sensitivity, and sensation of fullness in the back of the throat after submental or submandibular area treatment. 

Rare side effects may also occur. CoolSculpting^® may cause a visible enlargement in the treated area which may develop two to five months after treatment and requires surgical intervention for correction.

Please see full Important Safety Information for additional information.