What is CoolSculpting and Why Should You Consider It for Stubborn Spots?
(Disclaimer: I was provided with complimentary CoolSculpting treatment to be able to accurately write this review. I am not otherwise being compensated and, as always, my opinion remains my own. The shot above is of me before the procedure. That gut and those rolls are what I’m hoping to eliminate.)
Last summer while snorkeling in Costa Rica, an octopus latched on to my arm with his little suctions and wouldn’t let go until I peeled him off, dropping him back into the ocean. That’s exactly how the CoolSculpting suctions felt on my stomach during my recent fat-freezing procedure. Just like that octopus…holding on for dear life, to the point that it feels a bit like a vice, but not too painful. More agitating than anything else.
I’d only heard of this CoolSculpting a few weeks ago during a TV commercial. I called about it, but didn’t book an appointment. It appeals to me because I just haven’t liked the way my clothes are fitting lately. I want to fear no mirror and feel comfortable not just in the clothes I’m in, but the body I’m in. So, I was happily surprised when a PR company asked if I wanted to give it a try for an article review.
So, there I was, three days later, in a plastic surgeon’s office, connected to two machines at once, essentially freezing my fat, with the hope that in several weeks we will see my true waist again. I’m having six spots sculpted…four around my belly button and two on my flanks (love handles).
The point of the CoolSculpting machine is to help me whittle away my waist…to help me find my flanks again and make it not so embarrassing to show my midsection at the beach this summer.
Each section takes an hour on the machine, but we doubled up, so we ended up with three one-hour sessions.
Why would I sit through this procedure for so long?
Well, diet and exercise hasn’t helped my trouble spots. This is a medically cleared procedure by the FDA. It’s not designed for weight loss. It’s truly meant to help with small spots that haven’t responded to diet and exercise (for me, the thigh area is next). The CoolSculpting® procedure is the completely non-surgical, clinically proven, safe and effective way to freeze away stubborn fat for good without surgery or downtime. It is FDA cleared in the U.S. for three areas of the body – the abdomen, flanks (also known as love handles), and the thighs.
More than 1.5 million CoolSculpting treatments have been performed in 70 countries around the world.
The technology was developed by Harvard scientists and is based on science of Cryolipolysis®, a process demonstrating that when fat cells are exposed to extreme cold, they die, and are naturally eliminated from the body for good.
Results can start to show up in about a month, though the best results sometimes take 12 weeks to appear.
Check out the results from other people who’ve given it a try.
It’s different from liposuction because it’s non-invasive. There’s no surgery and you can truly have it done on your lunch hour if that’s what works for you. You don’t have to take it easy the rest of the day…and you can honestly work right through the procedure. That’s what I did, though I was tempted to take a nap.
It was painful (as in ‘wowza, that’s some serious suction’, but not ‘get-this-contraption-off-of-me-now’ kind of hurt) when they put the suctions on at first, but that went away within a minute the first time. The second time it took two or three minutes. The third time it didn’t hurt at all (that was on my flanks).
You sit very still for the 60 minutes that the machine is attached to you.
At the end of those 60 minutes, the CoolSculpting specialist massages your frozen area for two full minutes. They say that’s critical.
The machine doesn’t feel cold when it’s on you, but once the suction is off and the massaging starts, you feel a bit out of body…like you know it should hurt a little, but it’s more like someone is putting pressure on your body and in all honesty, that feels good after the suction feeling.
The part that was suctioned will look really red, like a bad sunburn, for a few minutes. In my case, it was less than ten, though it’s possible there can be some bruising.
Overall, the entire procedure wasn’t what I’d call fun, or a day at the beach, but it should make that day at the beach in about a month a whole lot more fun since I won’t be focused on my mid-section so much. At least that’s what I hope. Maybe I won’t need to wear that one-piece Spanx brand suit that I broke down and bought on my trip to Mexico last month. Two pieces are my pal, or at least they used to be.
I’ll be posting a follow-up to this article in about a month, and again after 8 weeks and 12 weeks.
I’m more excited than anyone to see just how well it works.
If you want to try it to, here’s the link to use to get a free consultation. That part is free, and it’s truly the only way they can tell you how many treatments you’ll need, and that will determine what the procedure costs. You’ll want to be sure the person you work with is certified by the CoolSculpting University. There are few side effects listed, but why take any chances?
Here’s the link to the Consultation Request Page: http://bit.ly/1Hwserl
You can also see more examples of CoolSculpting procedures and get information on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/coolsculpting.
Let me know if you end up trying it…I’d love to see your results, too!
**Follow up note: It is about 24 hours since the procedure and I’m noticing some bruising on my sides near my love handles. I was told that was to be expected, but feel it should be mentioned. The sides hurt to the touch this morning, but most of the ache is gone away now at the 24 hour mark.
If you are near Atlanta, I highly recommend you work with Beaty Plastic Surgery. Cherylyn Woody, their Advanced Certified CoolSculptor University graduate, helped me with my procedure. They are based in Alpharetta.
