If you’ve never experienced CoolSculpting before, you might not know what to expect. At Tondue Medical Spa in Bay City, MI, we love this treatment because it’s simple for our patients and requires minimal downtime. We’re here to guide you through every step, so you know exactly what to expect, from preparation to treatment and any after-effects.
Basics About CoolSculpting
CoolSculpting is a method of non-surgical body contouring that uses controlled cooling to target fat cells beneath the skin. Fat cells are more sensitive to cold than other cells, so when we cool the treatment area to a precise temperature, those fat cells begin to break down. Your body then processes and eliminates the fat cells over the following weeks and months.
CoolSculpting involves a process called cryolipolysis, which simply means fat destruction by cooling. When we apply the cooling technology to the targeted area, it affects the fat cells directly. These cells freeze, and over time, they undergo apoptosis or programmed cell death. This process won’t harm your skin, muscles, or surrounding tissues because they aren’t as sensitive to the cold as fat cells are. We use CoolSculpting Elite® which offers a better fit and more effective results.
CoolSculpting can offer changes in many areas including:
- Abdomen Sculpting
- Love Handles (Flanks) Reduction
- Inner and Outer Thigh Contouring
- Double Chin Treatment
- Upper Arms Slimming
- Back and Bra Fat Reduction
- Lower Buttocks (Banana Roll) Treatment
What You Need to Know About CoolSculpting Preparation
You’ll Start With a Consultation
Before your CoolSculpting treatment, we always begin with a consultation. This is where we’ll discuss your goals and assess the areas you want to target. We’ll also talk about your health history and make sure this treatment is a good fit for you. We will also take the first round of CoolSculpting before and after photos so you have a reference for later.
Realistic Expectations Lead to Better Satisfaction
Having realistic expectations is one of the best ways to be satisfied with your CoolSculpting treatment. While this treatment can help reduce fat in specific areas, it’s not a weight loss solution. Keep in mind that it takes several weeks for your body to naturally eliminate the treated fat cells, so results appear gradually.
You’ll Want to Wear Comfortable Clothing for Your Session
On the day of your CoolSculpting session, we recommend wearing loose, comfortable clothing. Loose clothing allows us to easily access the areas we’re treating, and it’ll also make you feel more relaxed throughout the session. After the treatment, you’ll be able to return to your usual activities, and wearing something comfortable helps make that transition smoother.
Hydration Is Important for Your Body’s Recovery
Staying hydrated is always beneficial, but it’s particularly helpful before and after CoolSculpting. Water supports your body as it works to eliminate the treated fat cells. We’ll remind you to keep drinking water regularly after your session so your body stays in the best condition to handle recovery.
What You Need to Know About the CoolSculpting Treatment
Treatments Can Be a Little Uncomfortable
When your CoolSculpting session starts, you might feel some mild discomfort as the area begins to be treated. It feels like intense cold with some possible cramping sensations which is followed by numbness. The good news is that this feeling typically subsides within the first 10 minutes of treatment. We’ll monitor you throughout the process to make sure you’re as comfortable as possible. Many patients find they can relax or even read during the session once the numbness sets in. CoolSculpting Elite is more comfortable because the applicators fit the curves of your body better.
Multiple Areas Can Be Treated at Once
One of the advantages of CoolSculpting is that we can treat multiple areas in a single session. If you’re targeting more than one area for stubborn fat removal, we can map out a treatment plan that addresses them efficiently. It’s common to treat areas like the abdomen and thighs during the same visit.
Treatment Time Varies by Area
The length of your CoolSculpting session depends on the size and number of areas being treated. Smaller areas, like under the chin, can take as little as 30 minutes, while larger areas, like the abdomen, may take closer to an hour or more. We’ll walk you through how long each session will take based on your personalized treatment plan. We often encourage patients to bring something to read or work on during their appointments.
Massage Enhances Your Results
After we complete the cooling portion of your treatment, we’ll massage the treated area. This helps break down the frozen fat cells and improves the overall results. The massage only takes a few minutes, but it’s an important part of helping your body process and eliminate those fat cells more effectively.
What You Need to Know About Recovery and Results
You May Need More Than One Treatment
While CoolSculpting is an effective form of non-invasive fat reduction, some patients may need more than one treatment to see the results they want. This can depend on the size of the treatment area and the amount of fat being targeted. During your consultation, we can let you know how many appointments you can expect to have for your treatment area.
You Can Expect Some Redness and Numbness After Treatment
It’s common to experience CoolSculpting side effects such as redness, swelling, or numbness in the treated area after your session. These effects are typically mild and temporary, fading over the next few hours or days. As your body adjusts, normal sensation returns.
Results Develop Over Time
One thing to keep in mind is that CoolSculpting results don’t happen overnight. Your body gradually processes and eliminates the fat cells over several weeks, so it can take a few months to see the full effect of your treatment. This slow and steady process is what makes the results look natural. We’ll monitor your progress and adjust your treatment plan so you can be satisfied with the outcome.
Fat Reduction Is Permanent But Results Require Maintenance
Once the fat cells are treated, they are gone, meaning CoolSculpting does freeze fat for good. However, maintaining your results requires a healthy lifestyle. While the treated fat cells won’t return, fat cells can still form and expand if there’s weight gain. Regular exercise and mindful eating habits are the best ways to keep your results looking great over the long term.
Learn Everything You Need to Know About CoolSculpting With a Consultation!
At Tondue Medical Spa, we offer CoolSculpting as an effective way to target stubborn fat without surgery or downtime. With the cooling technology of CoolSculpting, you can achieve long-lasting fat reduction while enjoying the comfort and convenience of a medical spa setting in Bay City, MI. If you’re ready to take the next step, reach out to us through our online form or call (989) 598-8001 to schedule your consultation. We serve patients from all over including Midland, Mount Pleasant, Frankenmuth, Flint, Saginaw, and more.
