When it comes to a sculpted face, there’s little I would not try to get that snatched jawline. Whether it’s adding the illusion with contouring to various skincare tools, such as face cupping or NuFace, my quest for definition is ultimately my attempt to keep my face as youthful as possible while not cringing at every side profile pic of me I see. The idea of CoolSculpting is something that always appealed to me but I had so many questions around it that I was hesitant to bite the bullet. How does it work exactly? Does it hurt? How effective is it? How long will it take?
I recently got to try out CoolSculpting for myself at Dermapure in Vancouver and documented the process and progress. Read more below, including whether or not I would do it again!
THE CONSULTATION
Heading into my consultation I did not know what CoolSculpting was. My knowledge of the procedure was that it was nonsurgical and that it was results-driven. After chatting with the team at Dermapure I learned so much about the process that I decided to research further on my own. For starters, when medi-spas talk about fat reduction, they’re not specifically talking about weight-loss but rather fat cell reduction. Another insightful thing I learned is that the number of fat cells someone has is set at adolescence, while rigorous diet and fitness may cause fat cells to shrink that doesn’t account for the set number of cells a person has. CoolSculpting treats fat cells in a way that essentially freezes off cells that get flushed out of your system for good – that’s right. Once eliminated they are gone completely. I also learned that the most common treatment areas are areas that cannot be targeted through exercise, including the under chin area, along where a bra would sit and underarms.
The reason I chose to get this procedure done under my chin was to try and reconnect that part of my brain (read: body dysmorphia) that thought I looked one way, but then see a photo of myself and be immediately disappointed to discover that I was wrong. With applying makeup and photos I was used to seeing myself straight on or at a three-quarter profile, but never from the side and never candidly. It got to the point where I opted out of posting photos and made me really hate candid photos of myself. I would see photos of myself when I was younger and my face was more defined and just felt really disconnected with what I actually look like.
POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS
Like with any procedure, there is a risk of side effects. The possible effects of CoolSculpting were made very public when supermodel Linda Evangelista went on record saying the process left her disfigured. In rare cases (about one in 4,000), CoolSculpting can result in the reverse effect, known as paradoxical adipose hyperplasia (PAH) which causes fatty tissue to thicken and expand. While it’s not dangerous, the only way to treat PAH is through surgery (specifically liposuction).
Other side effects may include bruising, swelling and increased sensitivity of the treated area may occur and redness may persist for a few hours after the treatment is completed; may experience numbness in the treated area, which may last several weeks after the treatment.
THE PROCEDURE
So the way that it works is using these suction panels that target the area with an intense blast of cold. The vacuum suction draws the tissue into an applicator that does feel like a sharp pull or pinch while controlled cooling targets fat cells. I won’t lie, it feels like the worst frostbite you’ve ever had in your life. Like pins and needles cold while also being a bit confusing on your body overall since the rest of your body isn’t experiencing this intense temperature change. The nice thing is that after about 10 minutes the area goes numb and you can’t feel it anymore, but boy-oh-boy do those first 10 minutes suck.
The entire procedure for each panel takes about 45 minutes (so my appointment was a little under two hours for two sections) and it’s important that the panel stays in place during the entire procedure so if needed, Dermapure will strap you into the device in a way where neither you or that machine is budging. Dermapure was great about creating a comfortable environment, with dimmed lighting and plush blanket – after the initial shock of cold started to go numb I quickly fell asleep and had a nice nap during the rest of the treatment.
The immediate post procedure part is also no walk in the park, but overall manageable pain-wise. After the panel is released from your skin, while the area is still cold the team at Dermapure will massage the area to loosen up any stubborn fat cells and let me tell ya, this part hurts quite a bit. Not enough that I wouldn’t go through it again, but enough that I would dread this part. I think it’s a combination of the area trying to readjust to a normal temperature and the pressure of fingertips after going numb.
THE IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH
When they say there is no down-time, they mean it. I’ve gotten facials that have more post-care guidelines than CoolSculpting does. There was a bit of redness in the area for a few hours, but it went down the same day. There is literally no aftercare required. You can workout, apply makeup, sleep on, etc. to any area treated! I don’t know about y’all, but as a busy girl I love that there is nothing I have to avoid or do to maximize results. The only thing you may find is that the area feels a bit tender and bruised, but I had no visible bruises. I noticed a bit of toning in the area the same way I would see after a good gua sha session, but I was assured that the results would take a few weeks as my body deposited the dead fat cells.
TWO WEEKS LATER
As you can see, after about two weeks there is more definition along my jawline. The difference is noticeable to me and if I am being honest, the more sculpted jawline has boosted my confidence tenfold. Not only does it take the guesswork out of applying contour to my jawline, but I found myself enjoying being in photos again.
TWO MONTHS LATER / FINAL VERDICT
Yo, I am so happy with the results. Because CoolSculpting is non-invasive and not surgical I still look like myself. I think that if I didn’t tell anyone I had gotten this done, they wouldn’t be able to tell my face just appears to be less babyface than it was before. After only one treatment using a panel on both sides of my jawline I am pleased with the soft definition around my face and I think another session would really amp it up to a sharper jawline which personally I have opted against since I do like my face a bit on the rounder side. Because my session at Dermapure focused on the sides of my jawline, I would consider going back in to get one panel directly under my chin to add a bit more definition there, but overall I am pleased with the results.
There are definitely parts of the process I found uncomfortable, but overall the space, professionalism, knowledge and results provided by Dermapure made the experience one I wouldn’t shy away from in the future. I’ve already contemplated getting my underarms done because if you’re a person like me with big tatas you know how uncomfortable that fat fold is when wearing bras or fitted tops. Another major pro of Dermapure is that they explicitly state that CoolSculpting is not a weight loss “cure” or treatment, but rather a spot/target treatment for stubborn areas.
Win Two CoolSculpting Sessions at Dermapure!
One lucky Lower Mainland winner will win 2 CoolSculpting sessions at Dermapure’s Vancouver location!
To enter head to my Instagram page (@vickiduong) for all the deets. Contest runs from August 26 until September 2. Good luck!
UPDATE:
This contest is now closed. Congrats to Jen w from Vancouver, BC for winning two sessions of CoolSculpting at Dermapure Vancouver!
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