The Complete Guide to Your CoolSculpting Recovery
We share our best practices with every patient to help ensure a pleasant experience every time. So, we gathered tips for getting the best results from CoolSculpting here for easy reference. So, if you’re considering, about to head to an appointment, or are already recovering from a CoolSculpting or CoolSculpting Elite treatment session, this guide is for you.
What to Expect After CoolSculpting
One of the biggest perks of CoolSculpting is how fast the recovery process goes as unwanted fat reduces and the skin tightens. Most patients experience minimal discomfort, returning to their regular activities immediately. Some common side effects include bloating and cramping, with a few muscle spasms here and there once the session is complete. Remember that these are short-lived sensations.
Bowel Movements After CoolSculpting
Patients often ask if it’s true that CoolSculpting causes diarrhea. Unfortunately, the answer is yes, this can happen. You’re most likely to notice changes in your bowel movements throughout the day. This is because your liver is busy processing those excess fat cells. Don’t worry, this side effect tends to go away within a few days or a couple of weeks.
Pain After CoolSculpting
Once your session ends, the treated area will likely be red for a few hours. This will soon fade away. You can expect tenderness, swelling, and firmness as your body processes the frozen cells. There might also be some minor bruising, stinging, or tingling within the upper layer of the skin. This is normal and can last a week or two, but if you are worried about it, you should reach out to your provider.
CoolSculpting Aftercare
Even if they are temporary, there are steps you can take to prevent uncomfortable side effects and not only speed up CoolSculpting results but make the most of them.
What to Eat After CoolSculpting
The thing with CoolSculpting is that you can maintain your body contouring efforts long after your treatments through diet and exercise. Those frozen, burst fat cells will never return, but you can still gain weight in the existing fat cells.
While CoolSculpting stomach is a very popular option, it’s not the only spot. No matter where you choose to sculpt, remember that what you put in your tummy makes all the difference in maintaining your contour results.
Use food as fuel to avoid bringing the weight back into your CoolSculpting treatment areas. Fill your body with things that will give you energy and nutrients.
Lean Proteins
Lean proteins are low in saturated fat and include foods such as:
- White-Fleshed Fish
- Skinless Chicken Breast
- White Turkey Meat
- Lean Beef
- Lean Pork
- Bison
- Frozen (Unbreaded)
- Shrimp
- Low or Nonfat Dairy
- Powdered Peanut Butter
- Egg Whites
- Tuna
- Tofu
Healthy Fats
Fat is not always the enemy. Some types of fat are as essential for your body as the right carbs.
Your body will absorb more vitamins and minerals if you eat healthy fats, including:
- Pistachios
- Walnuts
- Almonds
- Sunflower Seeds
- Ground Flax Seeds
- Chia Seeds
- Peanut Butter
- Coconut Butter
- Almond Butte
- Cashew Butter
- Olive Oil
- Canola Oil
- FlaxSeed Oil
- Avocado
- Soybeans
- Salmon
- Sardines
Whole Grains
Rather than simple carbohydrates that won’t keep you full or give your body the nutrients it needs, try complex carbs like:
- Whole Grain Bread
- Brown Rice
- Oats
- Barley
- Wild Rice
- Quinoa
- Buckwheat
- Beans
- Legumes
Vitamins and Minerals
One of the most crucial components of your body-sculpting diet is maintaining the right balance of vitamins and minerals.
You can receive these essentials through foods such as:
- Vitamin A: Oranges, carrots, sweet potatoes, kale, and spinach
- Vitamin C: Oranges, kiwis, berries, and green leafy vegetables
- Vitamin K: Spinach, kale, liver, fish, and veggie oils
- CoQ10: Lean beef, sardines, olive oil, spinach, cauliflower, and broccoli
- Calcium: Milk, cheese, yogurt, sardines, spinach, kale, and soybeans
- Iron: Lean meats, spinach, lentils, dark chocolate, pumpkin seeds, potatoes, and quinoa
These vitamins and minerals help keep your immune system functioning well and stimulate tissue healing.
How to Relieve Pain After CoolSculpting
Every patient responds to body contouring treatments differently, which is why it’s good to know about the experiences of others. Most patients find that there is mild discomfort after CoolSculpting. However, for some, the pain can be more significant. This is known as ‘delayed onset pain’ and can start days after treatment. It sometimes happens as your nerves wake back up after the session.
You can help relieve pain after CoolSculpting by:
Massaging the Treatment Area
Your provider will massage the area after your session, which you should continue. Light massaging can help alleviate pain as it relieves tightness. It can also promote the breaking up of fatty tissue as your body processes the dead cells.
Wearing Comfortable Clothes
Anything that’s tight after CoolSculpting will not be the most comfortable. Stick to loose, soft clothing that won’t press into the treatment area.
Using Ice and Heat Therapy
Press ice or a cold pack to the treatment area for 10 minutes. Then try switching to a warming towel or heating pad. Some patients find that one works best, while others prefer both. Again, you can experiment to find what works best for you.
Taking Safe Medications
Claritin and Benadryl are very useful if you experience any itching side effects. In rare cases, you might benefit from prescription pain medication you can discuss with your provider. Most situations have patients using Tylenol to help with the pain.
You should avoid anti-inflammatory drugs like Ibuprofen because these NSAIDs interrupt your body’s progress in removing dead fat cells. And on that note, let’s go through things not to do after CoolSculpting to maximize your results.
Things Not To Do After CoolSculpting
Avoid Heavy Lifting and Strenuous Exercise After CoolSculpting
Give your body a few days after treatment before hitting it hard at the gym. The same concept applies to your job – if you do a lot of heavy lifting at work, plan to take a break from that.
Jumping into intense workouts right after a session can increase soreness and tenderness. Once you’ve had some time to recover, continue regular exercises that align with your healthy diet.
No Caffeine or Alcohol After CoolSculpting
Alcohol and caffeine dehydrate the body, which can increase swelling and therefore discomfort in the treatment area. These drinks will only serve to impair your healing process and potentially increase your risk for complications.
Drinking caffeine and/or alcohol is also not something we recommend for three days before your appointment. Avoiding these drinks before and after CoolSculpting helps you avoid bruising.
Strongsville, OH, CoolSculpting Elite
If you’d like to learn more about the CoolSculpting process, what you should do to prepare for your appointment, or how to best handle recovery, get in touch! Dōce Merēdical Spa and Laser Center is the top choice for CoolSculpting Elite in Strongsville, and we are happy to help you accomplish your body contouring goals.
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Jeffrey Viscomi, MD
Dr. Viscomi received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Dayton. He then went on to graduate from Wright State University School of Medicine in the top 10% of his class. Following residency at the Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Viscomi began his Family Practice in Strongsville and quickly became a nationally recognized leader in primary care for his unique practice model. Dr. Viscomi is a member of the Aesthetics Practice Association and has completed extensive training in the use of laser in aesthetic procedures.
