You have been dreaming of having that hourglass silhouette for the longest time, and you have done all the diet and exercise you can think of to achieve that shape, yet to no avail. What is Coolsculpting really about? Is it liposuction, is coolsculpting painful? Let us help you answer these questions.

What is coolsculpting?

Coolsculpting is a cosmetic brand that is FDA-approved to use cryolipolysis to remove stubborn fats in the body. Cryolipolysis is a procedure that freezes the fat cells, killing them, and excreting them out of the body through our lymphatic system. This is a non-invasive procedure, so to compare it at first glance with liposuction makes coolsculpting look good.

How does Coolsculpting work?

First, the doctor or cosmetic technician measures your target area, which may be the chin, jaw, thighs, belly, flanks, bra line, back, hip to buttocks, and upper arms. This will be the baseline measurement before the procedure. Then she lets you lie down and relax in a treatment bed as she places a gel pad or towel soaked with a cooling agent on your target body part. She will then let the Coolsculpting machine clamp and suck on to the towel for an hour. Afterward, the doctor or technician massages the area to facilitate the drainage of the dead fat cells. She will then apply the suction machine one more time, making the treatment last for at least 2 hours.

Is coolsculpting painful?

Well, it all depends on the patient’s pain tolerance, but although this is considered non-invasive, one can still feel some discomfort after. So, is coolsculpting painful? Yes, some patients claim to have experienced pain during and after the procedure, especially the massage. Also, they noted to have developed bruising and swelling after the procedure. Other side effects of the slimming procedure may be redness, numbness, nerve pain, cramps, and nausea. However, these symptoms typically subside after a few weeks. You can definitely see the difference after 2-3 weeks when the swelling and bruises subside.

Tips on how to lower the discomfort

Take the advice of your doctor. Discussing with your doctor your expectations about the procedure can help you understand and prepare beforehand. Knowing what will happen during and after the procedure somehow lowers down your anxiety and the anticipation of pain and discomfort may be reduced as well.

Pain meds. Because Coolsculpting is non-invasive, anesthesia and pain medication after the procedure is not really prescribed. However, if you tell your doctor that you have a low tolerance to pain or that you know someone who underwent the same procedure and developed discomfort, they may give you a prescription of over-the-counter meds like acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and paracetamol. These drugs may aid in the pain and swelling that you may experience after the procedure, however, there are some details about their intake that you need to clear with your doctor.

Pain relief methods. Your doctor may also recommend doing relaxation methods after the procedure to aid with the discomfort, deep breathing exercises, light exercise, massage, and warm compress application that can relax and loosen the muscles to avoid cramps and pain.