At one point or another many of us have heard of the term CoolSculpting, the non-invasive, non-surgical fat freezing phenomenon that is taking the beauty industry by storm. While we may think we have a basic understanding behind the concept, going through the actual experience itself is eye opening.
I visited SKINNEY MedSpa’s gorgeous Flatiron location to learn about the procedure hands on. Before scheduling a treatment appointment, a consultation is necessary. During this free consult you will speak with a specialist about your physical concerns and where they believe you will achieve the best results. Despite what people may think there are areas of a person’s body that are resistant to diet and exercise and that’s exactly where CoolSculpting comes into play. As someone who is a frequent exerciser and relatively around my goal weight, we settled upon the upper arm area which has always been a problem area for me as well as a lot of women.
When I came back for my treatment the staff could not have been more attentive and answered any new questions or concerns I had. Once all of that was squared away I was given a paper outfit (shorts and a strapless bra) to change into, settled into a beyond comfortable reclining chair, handed a remote, turned on re-runs of Grey’s Anatomy on Netflix, and relaxed as my first arm was hooked up to the machine for the first of two 35 minute treatments.
As “uncomfortable” as the procedure may seem, I was pretty damn comfortable. I mean I was basically doing the same thing I’d be doing at home after work except now I was having fat permanently destroyed from my upper arms. Doesn’t sound like too bad of a way to spend the evening does it? The staff has fruit smoothies and juice boxes ready and waiting incase any feeling of nauseous presents itself, which is something that apparently only happens with this part of the body.
When it came time to strap in the other arm, I was basically a pro. Sure it’s an odd sensation to have your arm hooked up to a suction machine but in another 35 minutes I’d be heading home to finish that episode of Grey’s Anatomy on my couch.
Prior to coming in for the appointment, I discussed the treatment with friends and co-workers and we all seemed to have similar questions: Does it hurt? Is it permanent? What does it feel like? And so on. Below you will find the answers to those questions and more.
Does it hurt?
You need to adjust your level of expectation of pain when going in for a voluntary procedure. Sure this isn’t the most pleasant experience since you are literally destroying things that are inside your body, but the staff and environment at SKINNEY MedSpa could not make you feel more at ease.
The actual procedure itself I would say is uncomfortable at moments and you may experience some tingling and numbing sensation but it is not painful in the way most people are wondering. The most uncomfortable part is the two minute massage that happens after the procedure which helps to destroy any remaining fat cells in the area. This is also the most important part since it moves everything in the area around where it needs to be. Applicators range in time from 35 minutes to 75 minutes depending on the size and treated area.
Is it permanent?
After speaking with numerous people about this very concern it seems the misconception lies in the understanding of what a fat cell is. You are born with a certain number of fat cells in your body and these fat cells can either shrink or expand if you lose or gain weight. Unless you are suffering from obesity it is extremely rare that the body will produce new fat cells.
This is what makes CoolSculpting a permanent solution- you are killing the fat cells you were born with that will not grow back. This is also a reason why certain areas of the body are more problematic and resistant to diet and exercise- it’s genetic.
When will you see results?
Good things take time and that is most certainly the case when it comes to CoolSculpting. You will most likely start to see results in 3-4 weeks but it will take approximately 3 months before you will see the final result. The fat that was destroyed will exit your body naturally through your lymphatic system.
Who is the ideal candidate?
To see dramatic results the ideal candidate is any person who is about 20 pounds away from their goal weight. This isn’t to say that someone within their goal weight will not benefit, they just will see less dramatic results when comparing a before and after photo.
What is the recovery like?
You will experience some soreness and tenderness but there is minimal to no downtime. Sure I didn’t go out and take a boxing class after the appointment but I was back at the gym the very next day and I was lifting light weights.
What areas can you get treated?
There are currently two types of applicators: small and large.The different sized applicators are set up to treat different sized areas for different areas of the body. Thee can include the thighs, arms, abdomen, and even the chin area. Which applicators you use for which area are entirely dependent on the individual. Figuring out which applicator is right for you is something that is determined during the initial free consultation. SKINNEY Medspa carries over a dozen different sized applicators. The most common sized applicators are the small, large, and mini sized applicators.
Would you recommend it?
While I may have not hit my 3 month mark yet I would highly recommend this to anyone who is unhappy with certain parts of their body and looking to make a change. From a “pain” perspective, it’s nothing more than an odd sensation that at points can be uncomfortable for a minute or so. The staff was super attentive and could not have made my experience more pleasurable.
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