The Noninvasive Treatment to Add to Your Wedding Prep List

As a full-time content creator who is also planning a wedding, prioritizing self-care is a must. Since I’ve been so stressed about the details (finding an amazing dress, researching vendors, etc), I’ve been really focused on finding opportunities to take care of myself—whether that’s having a smoothie for breakfast, spending less time on my phone, or scheduling regular waxes to help me feel my best. My latest pampering obsession? A noninvasive treatment for body contouring, CoolSculpting®.

In the months leading up to my wedding, I knew I wouldn’t want to stress about stubborn fat, so CoolSculpting® seemed like a great solution to help remove that stubborn fat and have my wedding dress fit my body the way I had hoped.

Once I did further research, I immediately knew CoolSculpting® was something I wanted to do. After the whirlwind that was 2020, I gained some extra fat under my chin and lower abdomen that I couldn’t lose through diet and exercise, so I figured it was the perfect time. 

I had a consultation with Laura Dyer, PA-C, at Dyer Dermatology in NYC, who was transparent and supportive and made me feel in control throughout the process. Because of this, leading up to my appointment, I felt more excited than anything. I even had a friend reveal to me that she had it done a few years ago! I’m a huge baby with a low pain tolerance, but I was looking forward to my results on my wedding day. 

On the day of the treatment, I felt a little nervous because I was intimidated by the vacuum-like extension (ie. the applicators) that would attach to the areas being treated. Once the applicators were placed, the temperature started dropping and things started to get chilly. Laura Dyer reassured me, saying it would only feel like this for a couple of minutes (of course, she was right). After both areas were numb, the machine went to work, spending 35 minutes on my lower abdomen and 45 on my chin. I spent the time playing games on my phone, texting friends, and checking emails. 

When the timer was up, that’s when things got interesting. An important step in CoolSculpting® is the vigorous massage at the end of your treatment to break down your frozen fat cells. Since both areas were being massaged at the same time, it kind of felt like I was being rubbed down with ice. I wore a pair of loose jeans to my appointment, but here's a pro tip—Wear sweats! Comfort is key here, and I definitely would’ve been a lot more comfortable if I’d saved my jeans for another day. 

As far as healing went, I experienced some swelling and sensitivity in the areas I treated (my lower abdomen recovered a little more quickly). After about four days, the swelling in both areas went down, but I was still experiencing sensitivity for about a week after my treatment. According to Laura Dyer, it can take anywhere between one to six months to see the full effects of the treatment and results may vary, so I’m really excited to see the changes. Despite the mild discomfort I felt, this is definitely something I'd do again and recommend, especially those who are prepping for a wedding.

Uses

CoolSculpting® is FDA-cleared for the treatment of visible fat bulges in the submental (under the chin) and submandibular (under the jawline) areas, thigh, abdomen, and flank, along with bra fat, back fat, underneath the buttocks (also known as banana roll), and upper arm. It is also FDA-cleared to affect the appearance of lax tissue with submental area treatments. CoolSculpting® is not a treatment for weight loss.

Important Safety Information

This procedure is not for everyone. You should not be treated with CoolSculpting® if you suffer from cryoglobulinemia, cold agglutinin disease, or paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria.

Tell your doctor if you have any medical conditions including recent surgery, pre-existing hernia, and any known sensitivities or allergies.

During the procedure you may experience sensations of pulling, tugging, mild pinching, intense cold, tingling, stinging, aching, and cramping at the treatment site. These sensations lessen as the area becomes numb. Following the procedure, typical side effects include temporary redness, swelling, blanching, bruising, firmness, tingling, stinging, tenderness, cramping, aching, itching, or skin sensitivity, and sensation of fullness in the back of the throat after submental or submandibular area treatment.

Rare side effects may happen in 1 to 10 out of 10,000 CoolSculpting® treatments (between 0.01% to 0.1%). One such rare side effect is a visible enlargement in the treated area which may develop two to five months after treatment and requires surgical intervention for correction.

Please see full Important Safety Information for CoolSculpting® on CoolSculpting.com.

COOLSCULPTING® is a registered trademark of Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc., an AbbVie Company. © 2021 AbbVie. All rights reserved. _{CSC149443 12/21}