CoolSculpting can be a very attractive procedure for those looking for a simple and effective way to remove localized excess subcutaneous fat. It’s both safe and noninvasive and is rapidly growing in popularity as more people become aware of how easy it is to eliminate excess fat deposits in many parts of the body.
Is CoolSculpting Painful?
However, as the procedure involves pinching the unwanted fat between refrigerated pads, potential patients are often concerned with just what the procedure feels like, and whether it’s uncomfortable or even painful.
The first thing to know is that individual CoolSculpting sessions can take up to several hours, and as each session can remove up to 25% of the fat cells in the treatment area, more than one treatment may sometimes be needed.
During the CoolSculpting Procedure
The pads used to squeeze the treatment area are cooled to an exact temperature, and suction is also applied to ensure the fat cells are cooled as effectively as possible. The suction mostly feels like a gentle pinch to the skin. Generally, this is easily tolerated and doesn’t cause significant discomfort. Once the cooling pads start to chill down the skin and fat, you’ll notice the temperature drop, and some people are certainly more sensitive to this process than others.
Generally, however, this part of the process is only mildly uncomfortable, you’ll probably tolerate the cold fairly easily, and even in cases where the cold temperature causes more pronounced discomfort, it’s mitigated by the numbness that comes with the exposure to low temperatures. Generally, the process feels quite similar to that of holding an ice pack to your body for several minutes – something that we can nearly all tolerate quite easily.
Once the cooling session is over, and the pads removed, the practitioner will massage the treated area, to stimulate and even out the removal of fat cells, and restore any feeling that may have been numbed by the cold. This part of the process may also be perceived differently – some patients find being manipulated somewhat uncomfortable, while others are not bothered by it.
If you’re particularly sensitive, or just worried about how you’ll react to the procedure, we encourage you to make your concerns known to your practitioner. They may be able to modify the process to minimize discomfort, or to avoid areas that you find particularly sensitive.
After the Procedure
Results are not seen immediately after a CoolSculpting session but become apparent in the weeks after treatment. Some discomfort can accompany the actual loss of fat cells – around 10 percent of patients experience some minimal pain or soreness during this period, which can include unusually sensitive skin. These symptoms will soon dissipate, although it may be wise to avoid wearing tight clothing around the treated area until any tenderness has subsided.
Interested in CoolSculpting? Contact Your Laser Skin Care
We’ll be happy to answer any questions you have about CoolSculpting treatments and can show you how best to make use of CoolSculpting to achieve your cosmetic goals. Call us at (323) 525-1516 to schedule a free consultation. We have extensive experience with this and many other types of cosmetic procedures.
