The idea of freezing away stubborn areas of fat that has accumulated and refuses to go away regardless of how perfect your diet was that week or how many targeted repetitions of an exercise you did, sounds too good to be true. There has to be some kind of catch.
A common question patients ask when they visit Zochowski Plastic, and Reconstructive Surgery in Columbus for their CoolSculpting treatment is, does freezing away fat hurt? Is the procedure painful? The short answer is everybody tolerates pain differently. Most patients reported no discomfort, while others noted how cold the treatment made them feel.
CoolSculpting treatments aren’t known for being painful, but just like any fat elimination treatment, there may be some discomfort. In this blog, we’ll discuss how CoolSculpting works and what to expect from treatment.
How Does CoolSculpting Work?
CoolSculpting uses a specialized non-surgical fat reduction process called cryolipolysis. Through research in the early 2000s, a team of scientists found that fat cells respond to the application of intense cold differently than other cells in the body. This intense cold causes the lipids inside fat cells to break down while other tissues in the surrounding areas remain undisturbed.
Once the fat cells are damaged, the body will naturally remove them through the liver and lymphatic system—essentially, you’ll flush them down the toilet. Then, over the next two to four months, the treated areas will gradually become slimmer as fat cells leave your body.
What to Expect from a CoolSculpting Treatment
CoolSculpting appointments with Dr. Zochowski usually require one to three hours, depending on the size of the area being treated. During your treatment, you’ll be awake and can choose to read a book or watch your favorite show while you wait. Then, Dr. Zochowski will apply the special applicator device to the treatment area.
When this device activates, you’ll feel a suction or pulling sensation followed by intense cold. The device was created to keep your skin at a comfortable temperature while the treatment is working. Once your CoolSculpting treatment is complete, you can resume your normal activities, including going to work, the gym, or straight home to your family.
Is CoolSculpting Painful?
CoolSculpting treatments are faster, more comfortable, and more convenient than the newest line of technology. This popular non-invasive treatment is patient-approved for being highly tolerable. Most patients report experiencing no pain during their treatment.
However, it’s not uncommon to experience mild discomfort during the first five minutes of the procedure when the CoolSculpting machine first activates. During this time, you may experience a slight pulling or tugging sensation and cold at the application site. This discomfort quickly goes away as the skin goes numb, allowing you to relax and enjoy the remainder of your treatment.
Schedule Your CoolSculpting Treatment with Zochowski Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
You can rest assured that during the duration of your CoolSculpting treatment, our team at Zochowski Plastic Surgery will keep you as comfortable and relaxed as possible while our CoolSculpting system chills away unwanted, stubborn pockets of fat. Contact us today by calling (614) 490-7500 or filling out our online contact form.