For some women, shifting some extra stubborn kilos in the gym can feel like an impossible task. There are areas that are more sensitive to gaining fat than others, and when you notice them, you feel like the whole world does too.
Personally, I feel my worst problem areas are my lower abdomen and flanks. Although physically I am naturally slim, there are some pockets of fat that won’t seem to budge with any amount of diet or exercise, and I was getting fed up. Looking into my options (and not one for cosmetic surgery), I read into CoolSculpting, a non-surgical fat reduction treatment that destroys fat cells by freezing.
The medical term for the treatment is cryolipolysis: it’s functional principle is controlled fat cooling by mechanical application. At -5 degrees Celsius, the exposure of the cooling causes cell death of ‘subcutaneous’ fat issue without damaging any protective overlying skin. Basically: melting your fat away!
I was slightly conscious of how painful the procedure may or may not be, but after a consultation with a CoolSculpting technician at the Light Touch Clinic, I was assured the machine was totally painless. We discussed and agreed on the areas I would target: upper flanks, lower flanks and lower abdomen. There are no prior preparations needed for CoolSculpting, no special diet or extra bits to consider.
Not sure what to expect on procedure day, apart from that it would be a long day, I arrived to the LTC clinic where the technician first took ‘before’ photos. I was ushered into a room with a bed and towels to begin. The machine was targeting five areas, with each area a 30 minute freeze. After a sticky adhesive patch is applied to the skin, the machine acts as a hoover, vacuuming up the pocket and resting. The first minute of the freeze is undeniably uncomfortable, however your skin quickly numbs to the cold and you feel nothing. As this was to repeat across my body for 2 and half hours, the technician brought me an iPad with Netflix to appease the boredom. Procedure day was all smooth sailing apart from a slight bump in the road where the machine had a difficult time locating and holding a fat deposit on my left flank. When there’s nothing for the machine to grip, it simply disengages.
I felt very tender and sore after the treatment, almost like I had internal bruising, which is an expected side effect that wouldn’t subside for at least two weeks. I was told I could expect to see results after a month as that’s how long it takes for your body to flush the dead fat cells out of your lymph system. To be honest, I can’t say I saw much of a difference, but this may be because of two factors: a) I was slim to begin with and didn’t have ‘a lot to work with’ and b) CoolSculpting users often need more than one treatment to see definite results (usually up to 3). A hefty investment (up to £800 per application, £480 for each of mine), it’s an expensive commitment. But as every body type is different, it may work wonders for you, and rest assured the girls at the Light Touch Clinic will take great care of you!
