Is Bruising From CoolSculpting Normal?

CoolSculpting is a great alternative to liposuction for eliminating visible fat bulges in different body parts, including the double chin and the fat deposits in the upper arm, thigh, abdomen, and more. While it’s a safer body sculpting treatment than plastic surgery, many patients are still wary of its possible side effects – like bruising, pain, and numbness.

So does bruising really occur after CoolSculpting treatments? The appearance of bruises is a common side effect of many cosmetic treatments, including CoolSculpting. Mild injuries to the treatment area during the fat reduction treatment can cause blood to pool right under the skin, causing tenderness and mild skin discoloration. The good news is that bruising from a CoolSculpting procedure can go away on its own after a few days or weeks.

Is Bruising a Common CoolSculpting Side Effect?

CoolSculpting is a minimally invasive treatment that uses controlled cooling technology to freeze and destroy stubborn fat cells, allowing the body to flush them out within a few weeks naturally. It’s a popular body sculpting treatment with over 13 million procedures performed worldwide.

While CoolSculpting is generally safe and effective for most patients, it still comes with some common but mild side effects – like any other body or skin treatment. Bruises typically appear on the skin after a CoolSculpting session, but it’s not a cause of concern for most patients. However, if the bruising persists and worsens after a few weeks, then it might require immediate medical attention.

Why Bruises May Form After CoolSculpting Treatment

Bruises are black, blue, or purple marks on the skin's surface. They’re one of the common CoolSculpting side effects that patients may experience, but shouldn’t be too worried about. Bruising is a normal body reaction of the body from the pressure and intense cold of the CoolSculpting applicator.

During the treatment, the fatty tissue deposit is suctioned to the applicator, which can break some of the blood vessels in the treated area and near the skin surface. The blood from the broken blood vessels then spills out, causing a temporary skin discoloration in the CoolSculpting site.

While bruising after CoolSculpting may happen to any patient, some of them are more vulnerable to this side effect than others. Here are some risk factors to watch out for:

• Age. Bruising becomes more common in older adults because they have less fat and thinner skin, which are essential in protecting the blood vessels from different injuries.
• Medication. Medicines like NSAIDs and blood thinners reduce the formation of blood clots, which in turn increases the patient’s risk of bruising.
• Health condition. Some health conditions like hemophilia, vitamin deficiencies, and Cushing’s syndrome affect the coagulation of blood, which increases the risk of bruising for patients.

How Long Bruises and Other Side Effects Last

Aside from the appearance of bruises on the treated area, patients may also experience the following common but mild side effects of CoolSculpting:

• Mild to moderate pain in the treatment site
• Swelling and tenderness
• Temporary dulling of the treated site
• Temporary numbness or a tingling sensation

Full CoolSculpting recovery only lasts a few weeks after the initial treatment. These mild symptoms go away on their own as the CoolSculpting results become more evident.

Should You Consult a Doctor About Bruises From CoolSculpting?

Since bruising is a common side effect of a minimally invasive body contouring treatment like CoolSculpting, there’s no need to call a doctor once it occurs. But if your bruises are accompanied by bleeding, severe skin discoloration, or extreme pain, then it’s important to seek immediate medical attention because the bruising might be the result or indication of a more serious medical condition. 

CoolSculpting Aftercare Tips to Minimize the Formation of Bruises

Bruises after CoolSculpting are mostly tolerable but might also disrupt your normal activities because of mild to moderate pain. If you’re bothered by the symptom, here are some aftercare tips that can minimize discomfort and bruising:

• Apply ice at the treated site to cool the broken blood vessels and reduce blood flow there.
• Use a compression garment or carefully massage the treatment area to get rid of the treated fat cells and promote healing quickly.
• Ask the provider for topical creams and natural remedies to help heal bruises.
• Stay hydrated throughout the recovery period to let the nutrients flow freely to the treatment area, boosting the patient’s immunity and alleviating their bruising.

How NJ Center of CoolSculpting Helps Patients Minimize Bruising

Although bruising is a common CoolSculpting side effect, providers still play an important role in ensuring that their patients get the best treatments with the least complications. At NJ Center of CoolSculpting, we help our patients eliminate unwanted fat cells and minimize bruising by:

• Performing thorough physical examination of the patient to ensure that they’re qualified for the treatment
• Looking at their medical history to see if they’re prone to bruising and then figure out the best way to avoid it
• Scheduling the patient’s additional treatment sessions a few weeks apart to ensure that the treated area is fully healed before their next appointment
• Recommending aftercare tips or prescribing pain relief medications that can alleviate bruising after the patient’s treatment

Eliminate Unwanted Fat With Safe and Effective Treatments at NJ Center for CoolSculpting

CoolSculpting is a good fat-reduction alternative to liposuction for patients who aren’t ready for cosmetic surgery yet. Although it’s a minimally invasive treatment, patients may still experience bruising and other mild side effects after their treatment – which typically go away on their own even without medical intervention.

NJ Center for CoolSculpting is one of the best CoolSculpting providers in New Jersey that can help you minimize the risk of bruising and other side effects. Every patient in our office receives a unique treatment plan based on their needs, so you can trust us to give you the best CoolSculpting or CoolSculpting Elite care and treatment. Call us today to book an appointment.