I tried Coolsculpting and Here's What Happened
Muffin top, love handles, tank-top fat, bat wings – call them what you want, but to me, they all represent one thing: an inevitable “hangover.”
Now, of course I’m not talking about the kind of hangover you get when you drank too much the night before. What I am talking about is the dreaded amount of stubborn fat that seems to double weekly for me, no matter what I do. You know, the kind of fat that ends up hanging over (and out!) in ways that you simply cannot bear – or bare, for that matter.
I never had a problem with my weight until I became middle-aged. I think the magic number for me was 45, when I started to see a shift in my weight – especially around the middle. I felt like I had grown a spare tire overnight! So, I started eating better, but still, I felt like nothing I could do would get rid of the excess flab.
The truth is, everyone’s body changes as they get older, and I was no exception. Remember those old TV commercials for Special K cereal? They advertised that if you could “pinch an inch”, you should buy their product. I could pinch way more than an inch.
I started to look for alternative ways to lose the weight other than becoming a gym rat, and I did some research into liposuction. I really didn’t want to have surgery, but I knew I had to do something to fit into my clothes again.
I first heard about Coolsculpting when it burst onto the scene a few years back. I was skeptical because it was new, and seemed too easy. Shed the unwanted pounds in a matter of a few hours? I had a lot of questions.
I turned to the health care providers at Allure Medical. skilled, caring people whom I’ve gotten to know personally over the last few years. I’m known for getting the facts, and I wanted to make sure I knew everything there was to know before trying the procedure.
Sandra at Allure was more than happy to answer all my questions. She was very thorough, and made me feel extremely comfortable.
Q: Can you really freeze fat?
A: Yes! It sounds so space age, but today’s technology gives us many medical options we didn’t have even five years ago. I really like the fact that Coolsculpting is non-invasive, non-surgical, and safe. More than 6 million people have had the procedure since it was approved by the FDA in 2010.
Q: How many sessions will I need?
A: It depends how much fat there is, and how significant the desired result is. In my case, I had the classic pear shape. (thanks, Mom!), where I looked like Humpty Dumpty – round around the middle, with skinny chicken legs. Turns out I was a perfect candidate!
Q: What areas of the body can you do Coolsculpting on?
A: Most people don’t realize all the different areas that can be treated. In addition to my muffin top, I was very interested in reducing the fat around my back. Coolsculpting can also target other problem areas, like the inner thighs and upper arms.
Q: Will Coolsculpting make me lose weight?
A: Technically, no. Fat cells don’t weigh very much, so after Coolsculpting you might not notice the difference on the scale. It subtracts inches, not pounds. And I’m ok with that. What I’ve learned is the better I think I look, the more motivated I’ll be to drop a few pounds with diet and exercise.
Q: How long does the treatment take?
A: Typically, each treatment can take anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour. All told, that’s nothing! And there’s no downtime, so you can go about your normal routine through the day.
Q: Does Coolsculpting get rid of cellulite?
A: In a nutshell, no. There are just some areas of the body that are tougher than others to control regarding cellulite.
Q: What does Coolsculpting feel like during the treatment?
A: There’s a vacuum-like device that’s placed on the area being treated, and it feels like a suction cup against your skin. Once the applicator is in place and the treatment is underway, there’s a mildly uncomfortable sensation like an ice cube being placed on the skin. It quickly warms up, though, to just a chilly feeling that’s tolerable. And the room is filled with blankets, and there’s a flat screen TV, so patients can literally watch Netflix and chill!
I should add that if you look at older videos on YouTube, you might see treatment results that aren’t pretty. After the treatments, they show what looks like a big, fat stick of butter on the patient’s stomach. However, advances in Coolsculpting technology have made it possible to reduce the appearance of the treated area to look more like a slight rash rather than a red, shiny block of Crisco.
Q: What is the recovery time after Coolsculpting?
A: Because it’s a non-surgical procedure, there’s no anesthesia, and no time away from work. Some bruising may occur, but it may look worse than it feels. “Raspberry” like marks are common, and should clear up in a few days. Some patients may need to take an over-the-counter pain reliever.
I understand it can take up to three months to see results, but many patients see a difference after the first treatment. One to two sessions are recommended for the best outcome. While most people who get Coolsculpting won’t reduce 100 percent of the fat from treated areas, research I’ve seen shows patients report a significant difference when they see their before and after photos.
I’ve decided Coolsculpting is a great remedy for my “hangover.” In fact, this is a no brainer for me. As the temperatures get chilly and everyone is thinking about Thanksgiving and the holidays, I want to get a jump-start on the seasonal feeding frenzy!
Come in to see Sandra and the Coolsculpting team at Allure Medical. You can learn more by clicking here or call (866) 212-8690.
