Bruising after getting cosmetic procedures isn’t uncommon. This phenomenon occurs due to an injury to the treatment area which causes blood to pool under the skin, resulting in minor discoloration. It can also sometimes feel tender when touched. Patients who get body contouring treatments like CoolSculpting should be prepared to experience bruising after their procedure.
So how long will it take for bruising to subside after CoolSculpting for a double chin? Individuals can expect to see bruising under the chin after one week from the treatment. It usually resolves on its own within 2 to 3 weeks after appearing. To help manage discomfort from the bruises, you can use an ice pack or apply topical arnica gels to reduce the inflammation and restore normal blood flow to the treated area.
How Long Is The Recovery Time For Bruising After Chin Fat Removal Treatment With CoolSculpting?
CoolSculpting is a body contouring treatment that uses cryolipolysis technology to get rid of excess fat for good. It’s widely popular for being non-surgical with almost zero downtime needed after the treatment session. But since it’s still a cosmetic procedure, several side effects can occur and for the following days after a chin CoolSculpting, some patients can expect to see some bruising on their skin.
Bruises are the black-and-blue marks or discoloration that appear on the skin surface. It’s usually nothing to be worried about as they are a normal reaction of the body to the pressure from the CoolSculpting applicator. During the procedure, the targeted adipose tissue is suctioned to the applicator and this pressure may have caused some broken blood vessels.
Immediately after the CoolSculpting session, the chin area may appear red as blood begins to gather at the treated site. It can then develop into a bruise mark within the following weeks. The degree of bruising can vary per person and it depends on how the body reacts to the treatment.
Usually, the injury to the damaged blood vessels is minor and they can recover on their own within 2 to 3 weeks. Most patients can expect to see their bruises get better and fade into a pale yellow or light brown color, which is a good sign that it’s healing.
Tips To Minimize Discomfort From CoolSculpting
Aside from the obvious skin discoloration, bruising may also sometimes be accompanied by tenderness or pain in the treated area. Although they’re mostly tolerable, they can disrupt your normal activities after CoolSculpting. Here are several aftercare instructions to help minimize discomfort and speed up the healing of the bruises:
1) Apply ice at the treatment site
On the day of your CoolSculpting session, your cosmetic provider can advise you to apply ice to the treated site right after the procedure. Icing the area helps cool the broken blood vessels to reduce the amount of blood flow to the injured site.
Doing this can also lessen the chances of serious bruising for the following days after the treatment. Place an ice pack or cold compress for 10 minutes and don’t leave it too long to avoid skin damage or frostbite.
2) Switch to heat therapy
After 2 or 3 days from the procedure, you can switch to placing warm compresses on the bruised area. Heat treatments open up the vessels and promote healthy blood circulation which helps clear away the darkened bruise marks on the skin. You can apply hot compresses several times a day and do it for at least 15 minutes.
3) Use topical creams for bruising
There are also natural treatments and topical products that you can use for helping the bruises heal. One of the most common homeopathic remedies is Arnica gel which is said to help increase blood flow to speed up the body’s natural healing process.
You can also use vitamin K creams or products with aloe vera and vitamin C as they’re believed to contain anti-inflammatory benefits and promote healing of the bruised site.
4) Stay hydrated during the recovery period
Patients are also reminded to drink plenty of water since this allows nutrients to flow freely to the injured area and boosts the immune system to help alleviate the bruising. Drinking water also helps keep any infection from going near the bruised site and prevents dehydration to allow you to smoothly recover from CoolSculpting.
5) Take pain relief medications
You can also take pain relief drugs such as acetaminophen to help manage the pain from bruising. However, you should avoid any blood thinners and NSAIDs such as ibuprofen or naproxen since they may increase the chances of bleeding and prolong the bruising.
Consult with your cosmetic provider about the best pain relief medications that can help without compromising the effects of CoolSculpting.
Other Possible Side Effects of Chin CoolSculpting and How To Remedy Them
Compared to surgical options for chin fat removal, CoolSculpting is considered low-risk and most patients can enjoy the initial effects of their treatment without needing any downtime. Aside from bruising, here are other typical side effects that can occur:
1) Late-onset pain
A CoolSculpting treatment is not normally painful and the most sensations that patients can experience during the procedure are intensely cold as the applicator freezes the fat cells. However, studies show that at least 15% of patients can experience delayed onset pain within three to four days after the procedure. It can be accompanied by some tingling or stinging sensations as the nerves begin to adjust from the cold temperature.
2) Swelling
Post-treatment inflammation and swelling are also common side effects of CoolSculpting. They are usually a normal response of the body as it processes and removes the dead cells. The fat elimination process can also be accompanied by some degree of itching. These side effects can last for one to two weeks after the treatment.
3) Numbness and skin sensitivity
Some patients also experience a numbed sensation or skin sensitivity in the treated area. The skin can feel numb as the fatty tissues in the treated area return to normal after being subjected to extreme cold.
4) Feelings of fullness in the throat
When you get CoolSculpting in the neck or chin region, it’s also common to experience fullness or soreness at the back of the throat. This can occur in the first few days after the procedure and they will usually resolve on their own within several weeks.
5) Dry mouth or reduced lip movement
Other side effects that may occur from CoolSculpting for double chin are lip muscle weakness, decreased saliva production, and dry mouth. They happen due to the cold exposure of the glands and nerves surrounding the submental area. However, these effects are mild and they have been reported to occur very rarely in CoolSculpting patients.
How Safe Is CoolSculpting Treatment For Double Chin?
The cooling technology of CoolSculpting has been approved by the FDA for body sculpting and fat reduction. Aside from treating the stubborn pockets of fat in the double chin, it’s also been proven to be safe and effective for addressing unwanted fat in the abdomen, flanks, hips, inner and outer thighs, upper arms, bra bulge, back fat, and buttocks. There are no major risks and adverse reactions as long as you get the procedure from a licensed professional or a board-certified doctor.
When Do The Results Of Chin CoolSculpting Show?
The dead fat cells are expelled naturally through the body’s lymphatic system within several weeks after the fat-freezing treatment. You can see an initial decrease in submental fullness in as little as one month from the procedure with continuous improvements within the following months. And as long as you maintain a healthy diet and follow consistent exercise, you can expect its effects to last almost permanently.
Get Rid Of Double Chin Fat with Effective CoolSculpting Treatments At Ethos Spa
Bruising from CoolSculpting is a normal side effect but it can still affect your quality of life for the first few weeks after the procedure. At Ethos Spa, our cosmetic doctors and expertly trained staff can perform CoolSculpting treatments as safe and comfortable as possible and ensure that you experience very minimal side effects afterward.
As a trusted CoolSculpting provider in New Jersey, our team at Ethos Spa has proudly helped over a thousand patients with their body contouring and fat reduction needs. To ensure you get the best results, we can create a treatment plan that’s tailored to your desired goals. Call us today to book a consultation with one of our CoolSculpting specialists.
