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Freeze fat out with cool sculpting

Cool sculpting kills fat cells by freezing them to reduce those unwanted centimetres. PHOTO: ISTOCK
Cool sculpting kills fat cells by freezing them to reduce those unwanted centimetres. PHOTO: ISTOCK

There are many cheats and tricks we have all heard over the years about losing weight.

Some people swear by peculiar diets, while some have opted for body wraps that promise to "sweat away the pounds", body contouring and even waist trainers, all in an effort to shed unwanted centimetres.

But did you know that you could also freeze your fat away?

Yes, it is called cool sculpting, and it is a procedure that melts away the fat in your body by targeting the problem areas and freezing them.

Petition started to ban extremely skinny video blogger from YouTube

Elimsa van Schalkwyk, who is the head of non-invasive at the Lightsculpt Aesthetic Clinic in Bedfordview, Johannesburg, tells us about this unconventional method.

Van Schalkwyk starts off by explaining exactly what cool sculpting is, and how it works.

"The non-surgical fat reduction treatment called cool sculpting is a very popular procedure done by many people all over the world, with noticeable and satisfying results. Cool sculpting is an advanced medical treatment to contour the body by freezing unwanted fat away without any downtime or surgery," she says.

"Cool sculpting consists of an electrode placed onto the area of concern, which could be anywhere from thighs, abdomen, arms and many more, and then by applying controlled cooling to the area, which is controlled at 4°Celsius. The exposure to cooling is set so that it causes cell death of subcutaneous fat tissue without apparent damage to the overlying skin. Fat cells are more responsive to the effects of cold in contrast to the surrounding tissue. Fat cells crystallise at different temperatures than other cells.

"After the procedure, the fatty cells are gradually broken down and eliminated from your body by passing through the body's own lymphatic system. The process is painless and generally not noticeable," she says.

Van Schalkwyk cautions that the procedure is not meant for everyone, and should not be looked at as a means to lose excessive weight.

"Cool sculpting is not a fat loss solution for people who are obese or want a substitute for liposuction. Ideal candidates have noticeable bulges in certain areas that they would like to get rid of. Areas include "muffin tops", bulging abdomen, inner and outer thigh. Cool sculpting is ideal for centimetre loss and not weight loss and the patient has to be close to their ideal weight or BMI (body mass index) as possible. Pregnancy, breastfeeding or candidates trying to become pregnant are contra-indicated (should not use the procedure)."

While the concept of applying coldness to one's body may seem very uncomfortable, Van Schalkwyk says that it is relatively painless, and that one will not actually feel a thing during the procedure.

"Cool sculpting is FDA-approved (US authorities) and there are no risks involved in the treatment, only redness and minor bruising is visible post-procedure, but the procedure is virtually pain free.

"At the beginning of the treatment slight coldness can be felt on the surface of the skin - nothing uncomfortable. Most patients relax and fall asleep during a session."

A cool sculpting session can start from R3500 depending on the area, says Van Schalkwyk.

Do the effects last or do you regain weight soon afterwards?

"Regular exercise and a healthy eating lifestyle is always advised when a treatment of cool sculpting is performed. Since the fat cells are eliminated the result can be semi-permanent, but can depend on fluctuation of weight," she says.

"Depending on the area, the patient will need on average one to three sessions every 30 to 45 days. Patients can start seeing results after four to 12 weeks, with the results gradually improving from week four, right up to week 12."

Some people have called cool sculpting painless liposuction, but Van Schalkwyk is quick to point out the differences between the two.

"Cool sculpting allows for the body to be modified in a non-invasive way without surgery, whereas liposuction is an invasive option for fat removal. While the outcomes of both treatments are considerably similar, the procedures are very much different. So, deciding which procedure would be best for you will depend on the individual's body and lifestyle.

"In general, if there is a large problem area to be contoured and there is time to recover, liposuction is the best procedure. For patients who do not want to undergo an invasive procedure, cool sculpting may be more ideal."

Van Schalkwyk stresses that while cool sculpting may sound relatively easy, it is not a quick fix, and that people serious about losing weight should commit to a healthy lifestyle too.

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