1. Tugging sensation at the treatment site
During a Cryolipolysis procedure, your practitioner will place a roll of fat between two cooling panels on the part of your body that’s being treated. This can create a sensation of tugging or pulling that you’ll have to put up with for 35-60 mins, which is how long the procedure usually takes.
2. Pain, stinging, or aching at the treatment site
Researchers have found that a common side effect of Cryolipolysis is pain, stinging, or aching at the treatment site. These sensations typically begin soon after treatment until about two weeks after treatment. The intense cold temperatures that the skin and tissue are exposed to during Cryolipolysis may be the cause.
A study from 2015 reviewed the results of people who had collectively done 554 crypolipolysis procedures over one year. The review found that any post-treatment pain usually lasted 3-11 days and went away on its own.
3. Temporary redness, swelling, bruising and skin sensitivity at the treatment site.
These are caused by exposure to cold temperatures. They usually go away on their own after a few weeks. These side effects occur because Cryolipolysis affects the skin in a similar manner as frostbite, in this case targeting the fatty tissue just below the skin. However, Cryolipolysis is safe and will not give you frostbite.
4. Paradoxical adipose hyperplasia at the treatment site
A very rare but serious side effect of Cryolipolysis is paradoxical adipose hyperplasia. It occurs most in men. This means the fat cells in the treatment site grow larger rather than smaller. It’s not fully understood why this occurs. While it’s a cosmetic rather than physically dangerous side effect, paradoxical adipose hyperplasia doesn’t disappear on its own. According to the article, this complication is rare, affecting just 1 over 20,000 people, who with this unusual side effect, experience an increase in fat cells that can cause the treated area to bulge. It is more common in men and people of Latino or Hispanic descent than in other races.
During the procedure:
During the procedure you may experience sensations of pulling, tugging, mild pinching, intense cold, tingling, stinging, aching, and cramping at the treatment site. These sensations subside as the area becomes numb within 5 to 10 minutes during treatment. Many people read, watch videos, work on their laptop, or even take a nap during their Cryolipolysis treatment.
Following the procedure, typical side effects include temporary redness, swelling, blanching, bruising, firmness, tingling, stinging, tenderness, cramping, aching, itching, or skin sensitivity, and sensation of fullness in the back of the throat after submental or submandibular area treatment.
These effects are temporary and generally resolve within days or weeks.
After the treatment, the area is massaged for 2 or 3 minutes.