I Got CoolSculpting For the First Time – Here's Everything You Need to Know

Going into any beauty treatment blind can be risky business. When it comes to any procedure — be it minimally invasive or not — arriving at the appointment with a stack of questions can make a huge difference in your experience. After all, luck favors the prepared.

Cleared by the Food and Drug Administration to treat nine different areas of the body – the most common and requested areas are love handles/flanks and upper/lower abdomen — CoolSculpting® is a popular treatment for non-surgical fat reduction, and when Patti Roberts, a content creator known for defying ageism norms, first considered trying CoolSculpting®, she was understandably curious. So, this treatment freezes away fat, but what else? Is there downtime involved? How much is it actually going to cost?

Before her first treatment, Roberts had a consultation with Michelle Welch. Registered nurse (RN) at Coolspa by Aethos in New York City and educator and clinical trainer for Allergan Medical Institute, Welch has been practicing for nearly 15 years and has administered over 15,000 CoolSculpting® treatments, so she fielded all of Roberts' pressing questions. Now, with her treatments behind her and results in the foreground, Roberts has all her answers, but just in case anyone else is inquiring, you have full permission to use her pre-treatment FAQs for your own CoolSculpting® consultation, below.

How exactly does CoolSculpting® work?
CoolSculpting® targets areas of stubborn fat that are resistant to diet and exercise by freezing and eliminating treated fat cells through a process called cryolipolysis (also known as fat freezing). It's non-invasive — meaning there is no need for surgery or anesthesia — so it can be a great option for people looking to contour the body and reshape the silhouette of the treated areas with little to no down time.

What happens to the fat cells? Do they ever grow back?
Fat cells begin to break down and die following treatment, which can result in up to 20 to 25 percent reduction* of stubborn fat in the targeted area. Then the patient's lymphatic system processes the fat cells, and they're expelled naturally. Once the treated fat cells are eliminated, they won't be regenerated by the body.

Who is a good candidate for CoolSculpting®?
For people who are experiencing stubborn pockets of fat that refuse to budge, even with regular exercise and a healthy diet, CoolSculpting® may be a good option. Be sure to talk to a CoolSculpting® provider to learn if you're a candidate.

When can I expect to see results?
You may begin to see changes as early as four weeks after your first treatment visit, while your body naturally eliminates the treated fat cells. Final results are typically seen three to six months after your personalized treatment plan is complete. We track the progress during our office visits and photo sessions throughout your CoolSculpting® journey.

How many visits will I really need to get the results I'm looking for?
Most patients need two or more visits to achieve their desired results, however we recommend a complimentary consultation to discuss what's right for each patient. Patti, as you know, your treatment plan initially included two visits for the flanks, abdomen and inner thighs, and ultimately, we recommended a third visit on the abdomen and flanks to achieve the look we discussed in your consultation.

Is there a need for retreatment down the line, years after receiving my last treatment?
Once the patient's personalized treatment plan is completed, maintenance may not be needed since the results are long-lasting**. I also recommend patients continue to maintain their usual diet and exercise routine. Typically, patients are so pleased with their results, they're inspired to invest and treat additional areas.

What does the treatment feel like — will it hurt?
As treatment begins, you'll feel a light vacuum-like suction, light pressure, and intense cold. For most clients, after approximately 10 minutes, the area being treated will become temporarily numb. Many of my patients use the treatment time to catch up on email, read, watch TV, or even sleep! For more information on the procedure and what to expect, I recommend talking to a provider or visiting CoolSculpting.com.

What is the recovery process like and what are some common side effects?
You may feel some discomfort, numbness, or swelling in the treated area, which is normal and temporary. CoolSculpting® requires little to no downtime, and most patients can return to their normal activities after treatment.

I heard about a rare side effect called paradoxical hyperplasia — what is it?
Like all treatments, rare side effects may occur, such as paradoxical hyperplasia. Paradoxical hyperplasia (also known as PH) is a rare adverse event with the reported rate of about one out of 3,000 treatments sold, or 0.033 percent. PH is the gradual development of a visibly enlarged tissue volume, of varying size and shape; it can show up in the treatment area two to five months after the treatment. Usually, it's distinguished from temporary swelling and will not resolve on its own — surgery may be required.

Have you had any patients experience this side effect?
I have performed over 15,000 treatments and I have had three patients develop PH. To put this number into context, 0.02 percent of my patients experienced this side effect. Should a patient experience PH, I recommend consulting with David P. Rapaport, MD, FACS, board-certified plastic surgeon, for guidance, along with details about CoolSculpting®'s CoolConfidence financial assistance program.

What's the estimated cost of a CoolSculpting® treatment?
There are a variety of factors that contribute to the estimated cost, like the treatment area(s) and the number of visits needed. Since CoolSculpting® is tailored to each patient, I recommend scheduling a consultation with a specialist. That way we can develop a personalized treatment plan and provide an estimate based on your specific body contouring goals. Patients can consider utilizing a payment plan with Allē, CoolSculpting®'s loyalty program (apply here).

I also received CoolTone®. Can you briefly explain what it is?
CoolTone® is a noninvasive treatment that uses Active Magnetic Pulse (AMP) Technology. The magnetic muscle stimulation is designed to induce powerful muscle contractions that the body cannot produce on its own in order to tone, firm, and strengthen muscles in the treatment areas. CoolTone® is FDA cleared to target the abdomen, buttocks, and thighs.

How long does it take to see results with CoolTone®?
Our clinical protocol recommends four to eight CoolTone® treatments over two to four weeks as a starting point.

Any advice for someone currently on the fence about CoolSculpting® or CoolTone®?
Do your research and choose the right provider. It's important to remember this is a journey, and you have to trust your provider will help get you there.

*In a clinical study of 10 subjects, up to 20-25% of fat layer reduction was seen at 2 and 6 months (n=6).

**Data based on two case reports, results evident at 6 and 9 years post-treatment.

CoolSculpting® and CoolSculpting® Elite Uses and Important Safety Information

Uses

CoolSculpting® and CoolSculpting® Elite are 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. CoolSculpting® and CoolSculpting® Elite are not treatments for weight loss.

Important Safety Information

This procedure is not for everyone. You should not be treated with CoolSculpting® or CoolSculpting® Elite if you suffer from cryoglobulinemia, cold agglutinin disease, or paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or 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, cramping and discomfort at the treatment site. These sensations lessen as the area becomes numb. Following the procedure, typical side effects include temporary redness, swelling, blanching, bruising, firmness, stinging, tenderness, cramping, skin inflammation and aching. Sensory alteration (itching, skin sensitivity, tingling, and numbness) can persist up to several weeks after treatment. You may also experience throat discomfort/soreness and sensation of fullness in the back of the throat after submental or submandibular area treatment.

Rare side effects may happen in 1 to 10 out of 10,000 CoolSculpting® and CoolSculpting® Elite treatments (between 0.01% to 0.1%). One such rare side effect is a visible enlargement in the treated area, which may develop 2 to 5 months after treatment, will not resolve on its own, and may require surgical intervention for correction.

Please see full Important Safety Information for CoolSculpting® and CoolSculpting® Eliteon CoolSculpting.com.

CoolTone® Uses and Important Safety Information

Uses

The CoolTone® device is FDA-cleared for improvement of abdominal tone, strengthening of the abdominal muscles, and development for firmer abdomen. CoolTone® is also FDA-cleared for strengthening, toning, and firming of buttocks and thighs.

Important Safety Information

The CoolTone® procedure is not for everyone. You should not have the CoolTone® treatment in areas with metal, electrical, or electronic implants/devices like cardiac pacemakers, implanted hearing devices, implanted defibrillators, implanted neurostimulators, drug pumps, or hearing aids.

Tell your doctor if you have any medical conditions as CoolTone® should not be used over a menstruating uterus, over areas of the skin that lack normal sensation, in patients with fever, malignant tumor, hemorrhagic conditions, epilepsy, recent surgical procedure, pulmonary insufficiency, or pregnancy.

CoolTone® should be used with caution in patients with Graves' disease (an autoimmune disorder that causes overactive thyroid), active bleeding disorders, or seizure disorders.

Women who are close to menstruation may find that it comes sooner, or cramping is increased or intensified with CoolTone® treatments, therefore, it is recommended to not undergo treatment during this time of the month.

CoolTone® should not be used in the heart or head areas, areas of new bone growth, over the carotid sinus nerves, or over the neck or mouth. CoolTone® should not be applied over swollen, infected, inflamed areas or skin eruptions. Caution should be used for patients with suspected or diagnosed heart problems.

Common side effects may include, but may not be limited to, muscular pain, temporary muscle spasm, temporary joint or tendon pain, and redness at or near the treatment site.

Ask your Healthcare Provider if CoolTone® is right for you.

Please see full Important Safety Information for additional information at coolsculpting.com/cooltone.

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