How to provide an enjoyable cryolipolysis (fat freezing) treatment experience
Many patients describe the cryolipolysis (fat freezing) treatment experience as pretty uncomfortable, some going so far as to call it painful. And the question is: is a cryolipolysis treatment unpleasant due to the nature of the treatment itself or is it due to insufficient support provided by the body contouring technician? The answer is: it’s some of both. Fat freezing treatments can be unpleasant. But providers must take the steps to make every treatment experience positive. This is especially true for the treatments that are inherently more difficult for patients (like cryolipolysis). With the treatments that cause more discomfort than others, you may not be able to take the discomfort away, but by taking the steps we’re outlining in this article, you can turn an otherwise uncomfortable or painful treatment into an enjoyable and positive treatment experience.
Proven patient pain management methodology
We developed (and now share) advice in this article after twenty years of owning and operating medspas and delivering non-invasive body contouring treatments to thousands of patients.
We believe that making patients comfortable and providing for a positive treatment experience is equally as important as delivering good results. Fortunately, managing a difficult treatment is a problem most providers never face since non-invasive body contouring treatments are, for the most part, not uncomfortable.
But a few technologies, like cryolipolysis, are harder than others. So we’re sharing our steps to making a cryolipolysis (fat freezing) treatment experience a positive one.
You can apply these same steps to any difficult treatment experience.
Steps to provide an enjoyable cryolipolysis (fat freezing) treatment experience
Section I
Preparation
A positive cryolipolysis (fat freezing) treatment experience starts before the patient arrives.
1 Image matters
Your appearance
- Dress the part
- Convey authority and confidence
- Be courteous
The setting (your facility and treatment room)
- Clean and neat
- Anticipate everything you might need in your treatment room and have it there for every treatment.
2 A proven and consistent treatment protocol
Establish and use a well planned, regimented and step-by-step cryolipolysis (fat freezing) treatment protocol that you use for every patient, every time.
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We provide one in our top rated Cryolipolysis (Fat Freezing) Body Contouring Certification course
3 Anticipate each patient’s needs for emotional support
You need a plan and specific methods to alleviate any discomfort and/or anxiety the patient may experience during treatment.
⇨⇨ We’re giving you methods to use in Section III.
Steps to provide an enjoyable cryolipolysis (fat freezing) treatment experience
Section II
Prior to treatment
A positive cryolipolysis (fat freezing) treatment experience continues into the treatment room, with important steps prior to treatment.
1 Introduction and patient work up
- Introduce yourself and tell her about your background, credentials and experience with cryolipolysis.
- Get basic patient assessment data: weight, height, BMI, and vital signs.
- Then move on to verifying and marking the treatment area(s).
2 Preparing the patient for an enjoyable cryolipolysis (fat freezing) treatment experience
- Send the patient for a bathroom break prior to treatment, if needed.
- Undressing: unclothe as little as possible to expose the treatment area.
- Assist the patient to the treatment table with the marked treatment area exposed.
- Take steps to ensure the patient is comfortable.
- Adjust pillow
- Cover with additional blankets if desired.
Steps to provide an enjoyable cryolipolysis (fat freezing) treatment experience
Section III
Managing the pain, anxiety and other discomfort during the treatment
When you’ve made it to this stage, all that is left for a positive cryolipolysis (fat freezing) treatment experience is for you to apply your knowledge.
Utilize your skills, methods and techniques to decrease pain, anxiety and other discomfort experienced by the patient during the treatment.
3 ways to support your patient and provide an enjoyable cryolipolysis (fat freezing) treatment experience
- Methods of distraction
- Actions/interventions to send confusing or conflicting signals to the brain
- Emotional support
1 Employ methods of distraction
Remember Lamaze breathing exercises for childbirth? That’s the ultimate in distraction…keeping the brain busy.
Distraction methods have long been demonstrated highly effective in reducing discomfort, pain and anxiety associated with medical procedures and other uncomfortable experiences.
Here’s 4 distraction methods you can use:
Rolling Stool - Sit on a rolling stool and stay close to the patient’s face during the treatment. Not only can you use this to read her feelings, this provides a distraction for the brain.
Breathing - when a patient is struggling and starting to feel anxious or complaining of pain, use a breathing technique similar to Lamaze. Instruct the patient to take a deep breath through her nose slowly to a count of 5, then hold for a count of 5, then exhale slowly through her mouth for a count of 5, then wait for a count of 5 and repeat.
Conversation - Initiate conversations about the patient’s family, job and interests, something she enjoys talking about.
Education - Talk to the patient about what she should expect post-treatment. You’re using this as a distraction rather than a real educational session.
2 Cause confusing and conflicting messages to the brain
There’s a direct relationship between pain and the brain. Signals go directly back and forth. You can modify what signals your patient’s brain sends and receives with the use of confusing and conflicting stimuli.
2 ways to send confusing and conflicting messages to the brain
- Apply a heating pad to an area away from the treated area.
↳ The patient’s body will send freezing cold signals to the brain (from the treated area) and conflicting hot sensation signals to the brain from the area with the heating pad.
- For treatments anywhere on the body except the legs, apply pressotherapy leg cuffs to the patient’s legs and run the pressotherapy treatment throughout the cryolipolysis treatment. Note: If treating the legs with cryolipolysis, apply a pressotherapy suit to the trunk and arms.
↳ Your patient will derive dual benefits when you utilize this method.
(1) Pressotherapy stimulates lymphatic flow to assist in elimination of fats and debris from the treatment.
(2) The intermittent massaging action of pressotherapy confuses the brain by keeping it busy processing those signals.
Want to learn more about Pressotherapy?
We offer an online certification course for Pressotherapy
3 Provide emotional support
✣ Emotions are integral to a patient’s perception of pain.
✣ Pain can be made better or worse by biopsychosocial factors like emotional support.
✣ Emotional support makes everyone, including our patients, feel better.
4 ways we can provide emotional support to alleviate anxiety, pain and discomfort
- Let’s discuss that rolling stool again. Get close to the patient and read the feelings in her face. Support her. You’re showing empathy and the patient realizes it.
- Hand holding, stroking - Hold the patient’s hand upon request. You can also stroke the patient to comfort and support her.
- Coaching - Acknowledge and validate your patient’s feelings and provide coaching to help her through the discomfort. Cheer her on.
- Conversation - Ask about the patient’s family, her job, her pets, etc. to show you care about her. Keep the patient focused on you and away from the treatment.
Final Thoughts
You will greatly enhance the cryolipolysis (fat freezing) treatment experience by implementing our proven methods to minimize discomfort and maximize satisfaction.
At the Body Contouring Academy, we understand the importance of patient discomfort and offer our comprehensive online body contouring certification course specifically tailored to mastering the cryolipolysis treatment.
In our courses, you’ll learn effective strategies to prepare your facility, anticipate patient needs, and manage discomfort during treatment. And you’ll elevate your practice and ensure every patient leaves with not just exceptional results, but a positive and enjoyable treatment experience.
Check out our Cryolipolysis (Fat Freezing) Body Contouring Certification course for detailed protocols and insights on enhancing cryolipolysis patient care. Transform challenging treatments into rewarding moments of client satisfaction with our expert guidance!