Here at Cambridge Clear Beauty, we receive a lot of enquiries about our CoolSculpting treatment, and at the top of the list is: does it hurt?

While CoolSculpting is a non-invasive surgical procedure that avoids cutting into the skin, there is a slight chance of discomfort after the treatment, with an estimated 10-15% of patients experiencing what’s known as ‘delayed onset pain’.

This can occur three to five days after the procedure, when nerves in the treated area finally wake up, and symptoms can include numbness, tingling and soreness in the first week, and discomfort in the second week.

If you are one of the unfortunate minority who experience such side-effects (or are about to embark on a course of CoolSculpting and want to move the recovery process on as quickly as possible, what can you do?

Wear comfy clothing

Avoid tight-fitting garments immediately after treatment – especially tight-fitting jeans. Make sure you’re not wearing anything with a tight waistband, period.

Invest in compression garments

Designed to reduce swelling, increase blood flow and relieve tenderness, the right compression garment can be your best friend after a CoolSculpting procedure. Again, avoid items with a waistband.

Use ice and/or heat therapy

Both of these treatments can help take the edge off any discomfort you may be suffering, but if you find they are making the matter worse, stop immediately and try the opposite treatment.

Hydrate often

Water intake will not only flush out your lymphatic system, but it will also remove the fat cells that have been worked on during your treatment

Avoid anti-inflammatory medication

Very important: the likes of Ibuprofen and Aspirin may aid your post-treatment symptoms, but you need the inflamed cells in the treated area to do their job and digest the affected cells – so make sure you take paracetamol-based medications instead.