There’s not much to it when it comes to Coolsculpting prep. Compared to surgical or more invasive procedures, you don’t really need to do too much to get ready for a Coolsculpting treatment. But there are some things you can do before your session that will not only help you get the best result possible, they will also help you enjoy a more comfortable and relaxed Coolsculpting experience.
Lose Any Extra Weight
Like liposuction and body shaping surgeries, Coolsculpting isn’t a weight loss procedure. Sure, it gets rid of pockets of unwanted fat or bulges of fat from certain areas of the body, such as your hips, tummy, thighs and chin. But it’s not a way to lose 10, 20 or 50 pounds.
To get the best results from your Coolsculpting treatment, you want to be either at your goal weight or within five pounds of your target weight before you begin treatment. The closer you are to your goal weight, the easier it will be to really see and enjoy the effects of Coolsculpting .
Coolsculpting is designed to remove a certain type of fat, subcutaneous fat, which is located just below the skin but above the muscle. This is the type of fat that can hang around after weight loss. Meanwhile, visceral fat, which is deeper in the body, isn’t eliminated by the Coolsculpting procedure. That’s the type of fat that you can get rid of with a change in your diet and exercise routine. Losing excess weight before treatment lets you and your Coolsculpting provider see how much subcutaneous fat you have to work with and the areas of the body that Coolsculpting can treat.
Skip Certain Supplements and Medicines
Some medicines and supplements interfere with blood flow and can increase the risk for bruising. Although you won’t be required to avoid these medications, it is often recommended that you do so to reduce the risk for bruising after the Coolsculpting treatment. A few over-the-counter medicines, like aspirin, can thin your blood and make bruising more likely.
Supplements, such as vitamin E and fish oil, can also lead to more bruising after the treatment. If you’re concerned about any medicines or supplements that you take regularly, you can discuss your concerns with your Coolsculpting provider. He’ll let you know if he thinks it’s best to hold off on taking your supplements or if you should switch to alternatives medicines.
Take Care of Your Skin
Surgeons usually recommend avoiding excess sun exposure before certain cosmetic treatments, such as Fraxel. Sun exposure or tanned skin can interfere with the results of these certain types of treatment.
While you don’t explicitly have to avoid tanning before Coolsculpting, you might want to take care of and baby your skin in the weeks before your treatment. That’s because having a sunburn or any other type of skin injury can make the treatment more uncomfortable. Think about how it will feel to have a bit of light suction placed on skin that’s freshly sunburned. Ouch.
The same is true for skin that has any other type of wound. If you’ve got a cut or bruise on the skin of the area being treated, you might want to postpone Coolsculpting until your skin has had a chance to heal.
Find Something to Do During Treatment
Each Coolsculpting session takes about an hour. You’ll be awake for the treatment and well aware of what’s going on around you. So that you don’t get super bored, it’s usually a good idea to bring along something to keep you entertained and occupied during the session.
What you do during treatment is really up to you, within in some limits. Some people like to bring along a book to read or a stack of magazines to flip through. Others bring a tablet or smartphone and catch up on Netflix or Hulu during treatment. An hour is just enough time to catch an episode of your favorite show.
You can also bring work with you, if you’re swamped at the office, or call up a friend and chat. Some people find that the treatment is comfortable enough that they’re able to drift off and take a quick nap during it.
Make an Exercise and Diet Plan for After Treatment
After Coolsculpting, it typically takes up to 16 weeks for the fat to fully go away and for the final results to be visible. It’s important that you have a plan in place during that time and afterwards to help you maintain your results. That means making a diet and exercise plan before you go into Coolsculpting and sticking with it afterward.
If you had to lose weight before your treatment, you might already have a healthy eating plan and exercise routine in place. You can keep up that plan or talk to your doctor about making changes to it to help you maintain the best results from your Coolsculpting treatment.
Mirror Mirror Beauty Boutique in Houston, Texas, has a number of Coolsculpting University graduates on its staff, who are ready to help you through the Coolsculpting process. To learn more about the treatment and how you can prepare, call 281-810-9083 to schedule a consultation today.