What to Expect During and After CoolSculpting®

You’re active. You eat right. But no matter how hard you try, you can’t seem to lose the little ring of fat around your waist. Some pockets of fat are harder to lose than others, but you can get rid of them.

Thanks to advancements in aesthetic technology, we can trim down those stubborn pockets of fat without surgery. Instead, we use freezing technology with CoolSculpting®, a body-contouring treatment.

Our board-certified dermatologists at Associated Skin Care Specialists are excited to provide CoolSculpting at our offices in Eden Prairie and Maple Grove, Minnesota. 

Freezing your fat may cause feelings of apprehension. But treatment is painless and effective.  Here, we explain what you can expect during and after CoolSculpting so you can decide if it is a good choice for you.

About CoolSculpting

CoolSculpting is a nonsurgical, noninvasive body-contouring treatment that uses freezing technology to get rid of unwanted pockets of fat under the skin. Your fat cells are more susceptible to cold than your skin, freezing at a higher temperature. When fat cells freeze, they die.

CoolSculpting uses a special device that cools the fat cells to the freezing point without harming the skin or muscle. When fat cells die, the body naturally removes them, reducing fat in the treated area by up to 25%.

We can treat many areas of the body with CoolSculpting, including:

• Jawline
• Under the chin
• Waist
• Abdomen
• Thighs
• Upper arm
• Back
• Buttocks

This nonsurgical body-contouring treatment is safe and effective and has helped many people improve the shape of their body. 

Preparing for CoolSculpting

If you’re not at your goal weight, then you’re not ready for CoolSculpting. Body-contouring treatments like CoolSculpting and liposuction aren’t weight-loss procedures. You get the best results when you’re at or close to your desired weight. 

We invite you to come in for a consultation to learn more about CoolSculpting and how it might benefit you. Our skilled team completes a thorough evaluation before making treatment recommendations. 

If we think CoolSculpting makes a good choice for you, all you need to do to prepare is maintain your healthy weight.

Getting treatment

Knowing what to expect during CoolSculpting can ease any anxiety you may have about the procedure. 

Once you settle into the treatment chair, we place a gel or gel pad and applicator on the part of the body undergoing treatment. You may feel some tugging or pressure and then an intense cold that may cause a tingling, aching, or burning sensation. All uncomfortable sensations go away once the area numbs soon after treatment starts. 

CoolSculpting sessions take anywhere from 35 to 75 minutes, depending on the part of the body we’re treating. Expect to spend an hour or more at the office for your body-contouring treatment. 

Once we complete the cooling, we remove the applicator and massage the skin to get rid of the frozen bulge. You can go back to your usual day when you leave the office. Redness and swelling at the site of treatment are common side effects, but they resolve quickly.   

The results

Don’t expect results right away. It takes time for your body to remove the dead fat cells from the area. You may notice improvements in your shape within a few weeks, but it usually takes up to 12 weeks to see the final results.

You may need two or more CoolSculpting sessions to get the look you want. We discuss your treatment plan in detail before starting so you know exactly what to expect. 

Once the fat is gone, it won’t come back. However, that doesn’t mean you can eat whatever you want and skip the gym. The fat cells that remain can grow in size if you consume more calories than you burn. We recommend continuing your healthy habits to maintain your shape. 

Do you want to learn more about CoolSculpting? Call our Eden Prairie or Maple Grove office and schedule an appointment with our cosmetic dermatology experts today. 

We provide general dermatology services at our offices in Blaine, Maple Grove, Coon Rapids, Eden Prairie, Fridley, and Minneapolis, Minnesota. We also have an office in New Brighton, Minnesota, that houses our dermatopathology department and dermatology research division.