Ever since CoolSculpting emerged as a groundbreaking, nonsurgical fat reduction treatment more than 10 years ago, its popularity has continued to increase. And, with the introduction of CoolSculpting® Elite at our Portland, Oregon, practice, women and men considering the procedure for the first time have questions about the improved treatment and what they can expect throughout the process.
It Starts With a Consultation
Consulting with one of our providers before scheduling a CoolSculpting Elite treatment is important for several reasons. First, our providers listen to you describe your concerns and aesthetic goals. We also want to ensure you’re a good candidate for the procedure—meaning you’re in good overall health and understand that CoolSculpting Elite is intended to reduce isolated pockets of fat for patients who are at or near the weight they want to maintain.
In some cases, a provider may recommend liposuction after listening to a patient describe their expectations for results. Or, if patients are considering a CoolMini™ treatment to reduce the appearance of a double chin, we might suggest KYBELLA® as an alternative.
What Happens During a CoolSculpting Elite Treatment?
With the redesigned CoolSculpting Elite applicators, we can treat virtually any area of the body more effectively and efficiently. We encourage patients to arrive at their CoolSculpting appointments prepared to read, scroll through their smartphones, or simply relax during treatment sessions. Treatment may take 1 to 2 hours, depending on the target area or areas.
Most patients say they don’t experience any discomfort during the procedure. There’s no need for an anesthetic. The primary sensations felt are tugging or suction when the applicator pulls the treatment area between the cooling panels and intense cold for about 5 minutes before the area goes numb. At the end of the treatment cycle, the provider massages the site for 2 to 3 minutes.
What Is Recovery Like After CoolSculpting?
No downtime is necessary after a CoolSculpting Elite treatment. Patients return to work or any other activities they may have planned for the day, including exercise. You can expect to feel some soreness, numbness, or itchiness in the treatment area for a few days or weeks. But you won’t need medication for pain relief.
What About the Results?
Because CoolSculpting Elite treatments don’t involve surgery, you won’t see results right away. The targeted, controlled cooling process used by CoolSculpting destroys fat cells without damaging the skin’s surface or tissue surrounding the cells. As the fat cells gradually die, the body flushes them through the lymphatic system. This process usually takes up to 3 months. You’ll notice the changes to the contours of your body or neck as the treatment area shrinks. You can see the results some of our actual patients enjoy in our gallery of before-and-after photos.
How Many CoolSculpting Treatments Are Needed?
Even though some patients achieve the desired outcomes after a single CoolSculpting treatment, most schedule at least 2 sessions. You can discuss the number of treatments you’ll need with your provider during the consultation.
If you want to find out if CoolSculpting Elite is right for you, request a consultation with one of our providers using the online form or call us at (503) 292-9200 to schedule an appointment.
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