CoolSculpting Thighs and Legs

You should notice a 20-25% reduction of the treated tissue with each session. How many sessions you need depends on the result you’re wanting to see, along with how well you respond to the technology.

Not everyone notices the same results from CoolSculpting. That depends partially on the provider and equipment being used, but also on your metabolism and lymphatic system. The average response rate is 20-25% on a bell curve, with some clients responding less and some responding more.

On average, clients have 2-4 session of CoolSculpting to their thighs before their goal is met, but many of the CoolSculpting leg before and after photos show only 1 session.

To get our best advice, you’ll need a consultation with one of our CoolSculpting dedicated providers.. CoolSculpting is a non-invasive (aka no surgery) and safe way with minimal risk to target the inner thigh, the outer thigh, or the banana roll (place beneath the buttocks) for a leg transformation and during a consultation, we’ll customize our advice to you. 

CoolSculpting works by using suction or non-suction handpieces (also called applicators) to target unwanted stubborn fat. You can treat the inner thigh, the outer thigh, or the area directly underneath the buttocks, called the banana roll with CoolSculpting. You can also target or treat the area above the knees, called the distal thigh. Learn more about how CoolSculpting works here.

 

During your treatment, the provider will mark out the targeted area to map out the treatment plan. Then, they’ll use a pre-treatment skin wipe to cleanse and prep the area. 

 

Once your markings are on, a gel pad is placed to act as a protective barrier between the CoolSculpting handpiece and your skin. It’s feels sticky, like honey or maple syrup, so we usually recommend a change of clothes for treatment. Just wear something that you’re comfortable in and that you won’t mind a mess. 

 

Once the skin is prepped and protected, it’s time to place the handpiece and support the applicator using straps, pillows, and/or towels. Then, we make sure you and the applicator (equipment) are comfortably positioned and fully supported before we initiate the cold.

 

The cooling feels like an ice pack going directly on the skin. It starts to sting, tingle, and even burn before going numb. Most clients report going numb about 5-10 minutes after the treatment starts and are comfortable throughout the remainder of the treatment. People kick back and read, watch something on Netflix (ahem, new meaning to Netflix + Chill), or even nap for the remainder of their treatment.

 

Treatment times range from 35 minutes to 1.25 hours, depending on the type of applicator being used. At Element Body Lab, we have 2 CoolSculpting machines, which allows us to treat both legs at once on the outer thighs. We don’t recommend treating both inner thighs at once from a comfort perspective.

 

When the treatment ends, the handpiece is removed and the targeted area is massaged for 2 minutes. When the handpiece is removed, the rush of warm are to the frozen fat cells can feel intense, almost like you’re “thawing out”. 

 

This is the least comfortable part of the procedure, but it’s short lived and no numbing or anesthetic is required. You’ll go back to feeling normal after 10-15 minutes. The skin will feel sensitive, much like a sunburn the night of the treatment, and up to 2 days.

Expect the skin to feel numb to touch for a few weeks. You’ll have full control over the muscle, just numb at the surface until the fat starts to process out.

Plan for some redness, swelling, and/or bruising in addition to the numbness. Clients sometimes experience one if not all of those normal side effects. You can check out the full safety data sheet online for CoolSculpting or discuss risks and side effects at your free consultation.

 

You can return to normal life, no downtime required. Just avoid extreme temperature therapy (like saunas and cryotherapy) until the sensation is back in the skin (a few days to a few weeks).