Cool and collected

Editor Anna Dobbie visits HC MedSpa for a CoolTech fat-freezing treatment

THE LOWDOWN:

Even following a strict diet and exercise regime, stubborn areas of fat can be difficult to get rid of. Fat freezing does what it says on the tin – excess fat cells are cooled to minus eight degrees, causing them to die and be dismissed from the body via the lymphatic system, without damaging the surrounding tissues or muscles. CoolTech Technology targets specific fat pockets which can be hard to lose with exercise. Although it is possible to lose weight with fat freezing, the aim is to lose volume in inches from the targeted area’s circumference. As excess fat cells are killed by the treatment, they do not come back, but, if someone leads an unhealthy lifestyle and starts to put on weight, new fat cells will expand causing fat to return to the treated areas.

THE EXPERIENCE:

As someone who struggles to lose weight, I was eager to try a noninvasive solution. My visit to HC Medspa began with a comprehensive consultation with clinical treatment director Rabbia Aslam. Having specialised in non-surgical cosmetic treatments for over a decade, Aslam was knowledgeable and friendly, taking the time to understand my specific concerns, answer my questions, and, after marking up the treatment area and thorough analysis, she crafted a tailored treatment plan that targeted my problem areas effectively. This personalised approach instilled confidence in me from the start.

I was made as comfortable as possible, and Aslam positioned the rounded paddles on my abdomen. Initially, there was some pain as the temperature of the sucked skin dropped steadily to minus eight degrees, but, after about five minutes, the area felt numb. I then had to lay still for 70 minutes while the machine worked its magic and I quite enjoyed my enforced rest. Once the machine beeped to say that my time was up and the suckers were removed from my tummy, Aslam massaged the frozen skin ‘sausages’ left from the suction vigorously to ensure a smooth skin surface and to prevent lumps.

THE VERDICT:

A minimum of three CoolTech treatments are recommended every eight weeks for optimum results. However, with only one treatment, some patients may see results after 15 days and the best results will be seen after the first 12 weeks. I must admit, after three months, I am yet to notice a visible difference. My abdomen felt uncomfortably numb for about a week after the procedure and when my period arrived in the following days, it was significantly more painful than normal.

POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVES:

As fat freezing does not work on the collagen of the skin, a skin tightening procedure like radiofrequency could be added to a combination treatment, to tone and tighten any loose skin that has developed from the fat reduction.