**UPDATE: As of October 2024, Vujevich Dermatology Associates is no longer providing Coolsculpting services. Please visit our main Cosmetic Dermatology page to see a full list of the current cosmetic services we provide.
We get a lot of questions surrounding a CoolSculpting® procedure such as what to expect, if it’s effective, what the procedure is like, and more. We’ve talked with real patients from our office to provide four unexpected things about a CoolSculpting® procedure that patients should know. Check out our list below.
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A CoolSculpting® procedure is generally comfortable for most patients.
“The one thing I did not expect is how comfortable I would be during the treatment. It was slightly cold for several minutes but after that I fell asleep for the rest of the session.” -Amber
On the day of your treatment, no surgery or anesthesia is needed. Pre-procedure photos are taken at various angles to be able to track your improvement. Dr. Christie Regula will determine the size and number of applicators needed for your treatment. The first applicator is placed on the treatment area, a vacuum is initiated to draw the fat into the applicator, and the cooling mechanism is started. During the first few minutes of the treatment you may feel cold and/or a minor tingling sensation. However, this resolves after several minutes and you are able to rest comfortably for the rest of the session. Most patients read, work, or even nap during the remainder of the procedure.
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The treatment area may be numb and red right after your CoolSculpting® procedure.
“I wasn’t sure the treatment would really work but I could see results after 6 weeks. I was also a bit numb in the area for a week (which I knew to expect), but it still felt a bit strange.” -Stephanie
It’s worth knowing that the treated area may be red and swollen right after the CoolSculpting® applicator is removed. This typically improves within one to two days. Bruising of the treatment area is not common but may occur, especially if you are taking medications that thin the blood. There will be some numbness in the treatment area. This usually resolves within several days but in some cases may take several weeks. It does not affect your daily activities but may feel a bit odd.
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Patients may feel sore in the treatment area after a CoolSculpting® session, but the soreness will eventually fade.
“My treatment area was a little sore for 2-3 days. It wasn’t painful but felt like it does after a hard workout.” -Kristen
CoolSculpting® is a non-surgical procedure. You will experience little to no downtime and most patients can resume their normal activities immediately following the treatment. However, some patients will experience side effects after a CoolSculpting® procedure, as described above. Typical side effects include temporary redness, swelling, bruising, firmness, tingling, stinging, tenderness, cramping, aching, itching, or skin sensitivity. However, these effects are temporary and generally resolve within days or weeks.
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It is possible, but not common, to see results after the first treatment.
“I didn’t expect CoolSculpting® to be effective so quickly and without pain.” -Victoria
Your CoolSculpting® treatment is typically two sessions, spaced eight weeks apart. There are cases, however, when patients need more or fewer sessions than this. When you complete the number of sessions recommended by your physician most can expect a 25% reduction of pinchable fat. Each Coolsculpting® session varies in its length depending on the area to be treated. For example, treatment of fat under the chin takes an hour to an hour and a half while treatment of the abdomen takes almost three hours.
Vujevich Dermatology Associates offers medical, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology from some of the most highly trained physicians and clinicians in the greater Pittsburgh area. You can reach our team at 412-429-2570 or visit our contact page to see all of our locations. You can also follow us on Facebook to see what’s new in the world of dermatology.