Recently, we had a person reach out to our office who had a CoolSculpting procedure at another office. They were worried because of abdominal swelling and pain, describing the feeling of having done a million crunches. The person was really upset. She was young and fit, but had a small tummy bulge. She does have a good diet and exercise routine, and now worries that CoolSculpting was a mistake. Her ultimate question was, “Is abdominal swelling and pain normal after CoolSculpting?”

Ultimately, this is an issue of a patient not being properly educated before the procedure. It is not uncommon for a person to experience some pain and swelling after a CoolSculpting procedure. This is usually short-lived but can last up to 2 weeks. Other issues that you can experience is an itching, numbness, muscle spasms, cramping, and even diarrhea. Nonetheless, this is all something that should also be explained in the post-care instructions. Here are some quick things to keep in mind.

1. Pain Killers – Extra Strength Tylenol is enough to relieve pain. However, avoid aspirin. Also, a compression garment may help reduce discomfort.

2. Activities – Any discomfort is similar to doing a lot of sit-ups or crunches, but you can resume normal activity, including exercise. That said, it is a good idea to wear loose-fitting clothes for the first few days.

3. Results – You will start to see results within 3 weeks. During this time, the dead fat cells are absorbed and then passed through the body as waste. A healthy diet is very important.

Most importantly, what every patient should know is that none of the side-effects are permanent. If you are having severe pain, it is important to speak to your doctor. However, even if you experience unusual issues, they are temporary.

What haven’t we covered yet that is important to you? If you would like to talk about abdominal swelling and pain after CoolScupting, or other related topics, please contact us.