You’ve heard aboutCoolSculpting and its ability to freeze away stubborn fat without surgery or downtime. Perhaps you’ve even scheduled your first treatment. Now you’re wondering: how can I make sure I get the best possible results?
While CoolSculpting does the heavy lifting, there are several things you can do before and after your treatment to enhance and speed up your results.Visit Bella Tu Med Spa for a personalized CoolSculpting plan and expert guidance on getting the most out of your treatment.
How CoolSculpting Works
CoolSculpting uses cryolipolysis (literally “fat freezing”) to eliminate stubborn fat. Fat cells are surprisingly sensitive to cold—much more so than your skin or muscles. This little quirk of biology is what makes the whole treatment possible.
When the CoolSculpting applicator delivers controlled cooling into the treatment area, fat cells crystallize and die while your skin and other tissues remain unharmed. Over the weeks that follow, your body naturally eliminates the dead fat cells through your lymphatic system, revealing a more contoured appearance. Each session can reduce fat in the treated areaby 20-25%.
Before Your CoolSculpting Treatment
A satisfying result starts with proper preparation. Here’s how to set yourself up for success:
Make Sure You’re a Candidate
CoolSculpting is specifically designed for body contouring, not weight loss. The ideal candidate is within 30 pounds of their target weight with noticeable fat bulges in specific areas. If you can pinch an inch (or more) of fat in areas like your abdomen, flanks, thighs or under your chin, you’re likely a good candidate.
Maintain a Stable Weight
Try to be at or near your goal weight before beginning CoolSculpting. Significant weight fluctuations after treatment can affect your results. Ideally, your weight should be stable for at least a few months before you start.
Focus on Nutrition
Emphasize clean eating with plenty of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins and whole grains. This helps minimize inflammation in your body and supports overall health, creating an optimal environment for fat reduction.
Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate
Increase your water intake in the days before your procedure. Proper hydration helps your lymphatic system work efficiently, which will be important for eliminating those frozen fat cells after treatment.
Avoid Blood Thinners
Unless they’re medically necessary according to your doctor, avoid blood-thinning medications and supplements (like aspirin, ibuprofen and fish oil) for at least a week before treatment. These can increase your risk of bruising.
Skip the Alcohol
Limit alcohol consumption in the days before treatment. Alcohol can dehydrate you and affect blood flow, which may impact your comfort and results.
Consider Your Timing
Schedule your CoolSculpting sessions when you can take it easy afterward if needed. While there’s no downtime required, some people experience discomfort or sensitivity in the treated area for a few days.
Set Realistic Expectations
Most people require more than one session to achieve optimal results. And patience is key, because your body needs time to flush out the frozen fat cells. You may start noticing changes around the one-month mark and full results appear around 12 weeks. Setting appropriate expectations from the beginning helps you appreciate your progress as it unfolds.
After Your CoolSculpting Treatment
What you do after CoolSculpting can affect how quickly and effectively your body eliminates the frozen fat cells. Here’s your post-treatment roadmap:
Massage the Area
Your Bella Tu provider will perform a brief massage on the treated area after removing the CoolSculpting applicator. The massage helps break up the frozen fat cells so they’re easier for your body to eliminate. Studies show this can enhance fat reduction resultsby up to 68%. You can perform basic massage techniques at home to support this process.
Manage Discomfort
It’s normal to experience redness, swelling, bruising, tingling or numbness in the treated area. These sensations typically subside within a few days to a couple of weeks. If needed, take acetaminophen (Tylenol) to manage any discomfort, but avoid ibuprofen and aspirin as they may interfere with the inflammatory process that helps eliminate fat cells.
Consider Compression
In certain treatment areas, wearing compression garments may help minimize swelling and discomfort. Compression may also enhance your results by improving circulation and lymphatic drainage.
Continue Hydrating
Drinking plenty of water helps your lymphatic system process and eliminate the treated fat cells. Aim for at least eight 8-ounce glasses daily, but more is better during the elimination phase.
Long-Term Maintenance After CoolSculpting
Like all fat reduction procedures, CoolSculpting is not a permanent solution unless you maintain a healthy lifestyle. Here’s how to protect your investment:
Leverage Your Diet
You don’t have a free pass to endless ice cream sundaes (wouldn’t that be nice?). Now is the time to maintain a clean, anti-inflammatory diet rich in whole foods. Focus on:
- Leafy greens and colorful vegetables
- Fruits and other foods high in antioxidants
- Lean proteins
- Healthy fats like avocados and olive oil
- Plenty of fiber to support elimination
Move Your Body
Light exercise promotes circulation and lymphatic drainage, helping your body process the destroyed fat cells more efficiently. Activities like walking, cycling or yoga can be beneficial starting 24-48 hours after treatment. As your comfort level improves, you can gradually return to more intense workouts.
Get Adequate Sleep
Your body does much of its repair and regeneration work during sleep. Aim for seven to nine hours of quality sleep each night to support optimal results.
Complete the Treatment Protocol
The only way to enjoy the full benefits of CoolSculpting is to attend all of the recommended sessions. For most patients, maximum fat reduction requires two or more treatment sessions spaced at least four weeks apart. Stick to your treatment plan for the best outcome.
Consider Complementary Treatments
CoolSculpting is for fat reduction only; it cannot improve loose skin or cellulite. If skin laxity concerns you, you might want to discuss complementary treatments with your provider. We offerVivace radiofrequency microneedling for nonsurgical skin rejuvenation and tightening.
Smooth, Sculpt and Define — Start Today
CoolSculpting is a powerful technology for fat reduction, but it’s only one piece of the puzzle. How you prepare for and follow up after your treatment can significantly impact your results.
The good news? You don’t have to figure it out alone. At Bella Tu Med Spa, our expert providers are here to guide you from customizing your treatment plan to offering personalized post-care recommendations. We take the guesswork out of body contouring so you can focus on enjoying your results.
Schedule your CoolSculpting consultation at our Nyack or Goshen location today for your CoolSculpting sessions at our Nyack office, and let’s create a plan that brings your body goals to life.
