I don’t obsess over it, but child birth, age, knee surgery and life stress have all taken their toll on my physique. Lately I have been inundated with ads for CoolSculpting. Facebook ads, magazines and tv commercials promoting it are everywhere. I have actually had this procedure once, so I will share my experience.
Oddly, CoolSculpting was developed after doctors discovered children were losing facial fat from frequent popsicle eating! Apparently parents were concerned when their kids looked like this.
The Science
Location, location, location
These are the body parts that can be contoured.
Inner calf? Really? I did lower abdomen.
Reality Check
All the websites and commercials tout the no surgery, no needles, no recovery, pain free aspects of this procedure. I take issue with the no recovery, no pain part. All the smiling happy patients depicted are liers. Having done it myself, I’d say clearly this woman is drunk.
The Procedure
When you start, the chosen area to be cooled is forcefully suctioned into the machine.
It is shocking and a little horrifying. I remember thinking, “This cannot be good for my internal organs.” Then it gets really cold.
When the aesthetician is pretty sure you won’t pass out from shock, she leaves. You stay suctioned for about 30 to 40 min, but the first 10-15 are the worst. You know, before you start to lose feeling in your skin.
The Big Finish
When they finally take your body part(s) out of the freezing vacuum device, your skin has conformed to the shape of the nozzle and must be massaged back into place. The skin is red, bruised and cold, but the aesthetician is going to push it and smoosh it. Try not to smack her.
Generally it’s going to take several treatments to get the best result, but it does actually work; if you have the money and pain tolerance for several treatments. Like I said, I did it once. Depending on where you live, how many treatments you get, and the size of the machine used, it can cost between $500.00 and $4,500.00. I actually paid less, yay me.
More Reality
So yes, CoolSculpting does work, but it is expensive and really uncomfortable if not painful. It also takes about 6-8 weeks to see the effect of each treatment so plan accordingly. And about that no down time, for four days after it felt like I had been repeatedly kicked in the stomach. It is also important to note, that although those fat cells are dead and gone, if you gain future weight, it has to come back somewhere else. Arms, back, face, it’s a crap shoot really. Yes I have experienced this as well.
Recommendation
CoolSculpting is not a weight loss procedure, but if you have one or two stubborn areas that drive you nuts and just won’t seem to shrink even after committing to a healthier lifestyle, Coolsculpting might be right for you.
Written by Leanne
Current Obsessions: Leanne is a wife, mother of 2 and currently unemployed. Her writing has been featured at GirlBodyPride.com and The Huffington Post. She is currently avoiding writing a memoir of her summer as an exchange student. Follow her nowhere, because that would be stalking, as she does not tweet, blog or insta. She doesn’t even own a smartphone!
