Coolsculpting Pre + Post Care Instructions
BEFORE procedure
- Wear comfortable clothing that allows easy access to the treatment area.
- Avoid anti-inflammatory/blood thinning medications one week prior to the procedure. These include medications such as Aspirin and other NSAIDS, Vitamin E, Fish oil, Gingko Biloba, Ginseng, and St. John’s Wart.
- Your treatment could last a few hours, so please eat prior to your appointment.
- Consider taking Arnica tablets 1 week prior to the procedure to prevent bruising. You may purchase Arnica from health stores, and we also carry it at ENIC.
- Do not apply creams or lotions to treatment areas.
- We have a fully equipped room with a TV, Sonos music device, and headphones. You are welcome to bring your own entertainment such as a tablet and/or earphones to listen to during the procedure.
- We also have high-speed internet.
What to expect During PROCEDURE
- CoolSculpting is a non-surgical procedure that may take several hours, depending on your customized treatment plan.
- No general/topical anesthesia or pain medications are required for the procedure.
- As the procedure begins, a vacuum/suction applicator is initiated, and vacuum pressure draws tissue into an applicator between cooling panels or into the suction cup. The vacuum pressure may cause sensations of deep pulling, tugging, and pinching in the treated areas. A surface applicator may cause sensations of pressure.
- You also may experience intense stinging, tingling, aching, and cramping. These sensations generally subside as the areas become numb.
- There is some pain and discomfort when the applicator is removed, and there is warming of the tissue.
Recuperation + Healing
- Immediately after the procedure, your treated areas may look or feel stiff, and have transient blanching (temporary whitening of the skin) may occur.
- The treatment area may be red for up to a few hours after the applicator is removed. This is an expected but temporary effect after the CoolSculpting procedure.
- Bruising, swelling, and tenderness can occur in the treated areas. This typically resolves within a week or two.
- Having tingling, itching, stinging, and cramping in the treatment areas are common on the day of treatment.
- You may feel a temporary numbness and, dulling of sensation in the treated areas. This is normal and typically resolves within a few hours but can last for several weeks after your procedure.
- You may feel a sense of nausea or dizziness as your body naturally warms and sensation returns to your treatment areas. These are normal reactions that typically resolve within minutes.
- It is common for the treated areas to feel bloated and look swollen in the first few days and weeks after the procedure.
- At some point within the first two weeks following the procedure, you may experience one or more of the following sensations: deep itching. tingling, numbness, tenderness to the touch, pain in the treated areas, strong cramping, diarrhea, muscle spasms, aching, and/or soreness. Please contact our office if these conditions persist beyond two weeks or worsen over time.
- Following the procedure, a gradual reduction in the thickness of the fat layer will take place. You may start to see changes as early as three weeks after the CoolSculpting procedure, and you will experience the most dramatic results after one to three months. Your body will continue naturally to process the injured fat cells from your body for approximately four months after your procedure.
- There is typically minimal recovery time after the CoolSculpting procedure. Most patients can return to their daily routine immediately after the procedure.
- Following the procedure, some may experience “late-onset pain”. This typically occurs 5-7 days post-treatment and can last up to a few days. Some experience intense cramping and tingling in the area.
Follow-Up
- 1 month and 3 months after each treatment.
