By BestProducts.com Aug 26, 2017
Three of us put the popular fat-freezing treatment to the test. Check out what we have to say about it! *Please consult with your doctor beforehand as CoolSculpting may not be for everyone. It's recommended for, but not limited to, candidates within 30 pounds of their ideal weight.
‘Laura Dyer made me feel totally comfortable.’
CoolSculpting is the fat-freezing treatment that everyone from your next-door neighbor to the Kardashians use to eliminate extra bulge. A fat-freezing (nonsurgical!) treatment sounds way too good to be true, right? Well, we went to test it out for ourselves to see if there's really something to what's being called "Hollywood's best kept secret." Spoiler alert: We went back for more.
Here's how it works: You'll have a consultation with your CoolSculpting technician and decide which areas you want to work on. The FDA approved CoolSculpting in 2010, and ever since, the technology has become more readily available across dermatology centers, doctors' offices, and medical spas nationwide. We consulted with Laura Dyer, MSHS, PA-C, at Dr. Amy Wechsler's office in the Upper East Side of Manhattan for our treatments.
You'll usually want to get more than one session done in the long run because each session can freeze up to 25% of the fat cells in a given area. All three of us who tried it had two sessions of CoolSculpting visits. Basically, your technician will set you up in a room with a machine best fitted for your target area. You'll have a gel-like substance applied to your skin before the machine is attached for a specific amount of time (around 30 minutes) or until your technician removes it. The machine literally targets and freezes fat cells, which your body will then eliminate as waste over time — but you won't get frostbite since it only affects your fat cells. It works like magic! And yes — you do feel your fat freezing at first!
“Did I mention I was able to work during the entire procedure?”
You'll start to see results two to three weeks after the first treatment, but your body will continue to flush out those unwanted fat cells for up to six months. One more thing: Most patients do get more than one area done at a time, and they usually go back for more than one CoolSculpting treatment. Start saving, because It'll likely run you around $2,000 to $4,000 to effectively treat one or two areas. Technically, you can try CoolSculpting for closer to $700 — that should get you a one-hour session with a small applicator. But it's best to be aware of the cost range before going in for a consultation, because the most effective treatment plan for your body might run steeper than you'd like. For example, a tiny area (like your chin!) might need two sessions to attain desired fat loss, but each session would be around $700 to $1,000 out of pocket, depending on where you go.
So, now are you wondering what it's really like to get this slimming procedure done? Read on to find out what happened when we put it to the test!
Patrick:
Spoiler: I'm a rookie at all of this. The only procedure I ever had done was getting my wisdom teeth out when I was 21. Basically, I was thinking that CoolSculpting was going to be like major surgery and I was nervous (a "baby," most would say). To be honest, I didn't really need a ton of fat gone, but as I'm getting up there in age (where I have to run an extra 10 miles to burn off the weekend's normal festivities) I could certainly use a bit of help in the tune-up department. As soon as I got there, Laura Dyer made me feel totally comfortable. Plus, the office looked like something uber-cool (like on Nip/Tuck), so my nerves totally disappeared and I was ready to tackle this CoolSculpting head-on.
I got my "tune-up" on my stomach area. Each section only took 35 minutes and was, legit, no big deal. The first five to eight minutes were pretty cold as the machine did its magic, but it was bearable. It almost felt like when you get into a pool or the ocean before the water is warm and it kind of takes your breath away for a second. Did I mention I'm a baby? After those initial few minutes, my stomach went numb and I felt nothing. Laura checked on me a bunch of times because I think she felt bad for me. Did I mention I was able to work during the entire procedure? They had a charger for my phone (or your laptop if you need it!) and I could just lay back and catch up on my endless emails.