A lifestyle writer shares her experience with the fat-freezing procedure
Kate is a freelance writer and editor based in Dublin. Her primary focuses are women's issues, culture, beauty and links between the three. Her feature pieces can range from fat-freezing to sex work, and her beauty reviews will always end by pleading the reader to wear SPF. You can find her at @katedemolder on Twitter and Instagram. Diode Laser Hair Removal System
When I first heard about CoolSculpting, I was, admittedly, sceptical. As a woman who’s been on almost every fad diet in the book, I’d been told time and time again that only healthy eating and exercise would give me the body I’d always wanted. However, even with my love affair with running and vegetables, I still found that there were parts of my body where I couldn’t shift the fat, despite my best efforts.
Although I’m thankful for the slim limbs I inherited from my mother, my lower back and hips carried fat disproportionately on my body. So I went down a research rabbit hole to look for a non-surgical, scientifically proven way to tackle those areas once and for all – and that’s how I stumbled across CoolSculpting.
CoolSculpting is treatment that utilises cryolipolysis – a process that targets fat in specific areas of the body using controlled freezing, which destroys the fat cells in the treated area. The procedure first gained attention when it hit the market in 2010 as a non-invasive alternative to liposuction, aimed at clients looking to sculpt and define their silhouettes. In the 10 years that it’s been on the market, it has become the leading body contouring treatment*, and FDA-cleared for use on 9 areas of the body.
Dr Claire Oliver, the Clinical Director of Air Aesthetics in Birmingham, chose CoolSculpting for her clinic over other fat reduction treatments due to its integrated safety features - a key reason why I chose CoolSculpting over other fat-freezing brands, as well.
"CoolSculpting has a patented safety feature called 'Freeze Detect’ which measures the temperature of your skin through the whole procedure," she explains. "If your skin gets too cold the treatment will stop, thereby protecting the skin. Other fat-freezing products do not have this Freeze Detect technology."
"A good candidate for the procedure is actually someone within 1-2 stones of their goal weight and who is looking for some body shaping," explains Oliver. "It's ideal for those with a reasonably healthy lifestyle, who just wants to get rid of stubborn pockets of fat which they can’t shift with diet or exercise." With my relatively lean frame, I was a good candidate for the treatment, so I decided to give it a try. I went for a consultation, where I explained my areas of concern before setting a date to undergo procedural care.
I arrived a week later with my laptop in tow (the process can take up to three hours depending on your treatment plan, so bringing a form of entertainment is encouraged). My procedure, which lasted about an hour and a half in total, saw me lie on a bed next to the CoolSculpting machine. The machine applicators suction your fat pocket like a vacuum, then cooled. There was an initial sensation of cold and pins and needles for the first few minutes, but after that the area went numb and I felt nothing. "The fat cells are cooled to the precise temperature at which they crystallise and can’t survive," explains Oliver.
The time flew by, with minimal effort on my part. After the applicators were removed, I was slightly startled to see my back fat looking frozen solid, but it was back to normal within a few minutes thanks to a vigorous massage in the treated area by the practitioner.
"We finish treatment with a massage which helps to flush out the fat cells and can increase results by 68%," explains Oliver. Overall, aside from some mild discomfort during the initial cooling and during the massage, I was surprised at how straightforward and comfortable the treatment was.
Those interested in the treatment should be aware that it is designed to target specific, stubborn fatty areas, that don’t seem to reduce with diet and exercise. So it is for those looking to contour and sculpt their body and reduce bulge areas. This is why it is important to have a consultation, to see if it is the right option for you and your goals.
On the plus side, the expected downtime is minimal. "As CoolSculpting is a non-invasive medical procedure most patients will experience little to no downtime," explains Oliver. "The treated area post-treatment can swell and remain numb for a short period of time, both of which are temporary."
CoolSculpting isn’t a quick fix by any means - it can take up to two to three months to see results, and multiple treatments may sometimes be required. "Once the fat cells have been frozen, your body will process and eliminate them naturally," shares Oliver. "On average, up to 27% fat reduction† is seen in treated areas and results can be seen as early as 4 weeks, but we will wait until 12 weeks to assess the full effects." It’s worth the wait, however, particularly because the fat cells that are targeted are actually permanently destroyed. This means if you regain weight afterwards it will be more evenly distributed across your body, as you have fewer fat cells in that treated area.
The cost of the procedure varies from patient-to-patient. "Price per area range from £800 per treatment down to £400 when multiple areas or treatments are taken," explains Oliver. "During your consultation your medical practitioner will examine you, discuss the optimum treatment plan to achieve the results you are looking for and advise accordingly."
For women like me, who struggled with stubborn fat in one particular area, I couldn’t recommend it more – within weeks, I noticed a difference when I looked in the mirror, and I no longer feel self-conscious in a bikini. Partnered with a healthy lifestyle, CoolSculpting could help to give you a more sculpted, defined silhouette.
Find your nearest clinic and book a consultation to see if CoolSculpting is right for you at CoolSculpting.co.uk
*Based on HCP tracking market research in the US, UK, Germany, Canada, Brazil, China and Australia (N=526), and global market research of the overall body shaping and skin tightening market.
†27% refers specifically to the lower abdomen
UK-CSC-2150067. Date of preparation: March 2021
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