What if there was a way to finally get rid of that stubborn “muffin top” or those annoying “love handles” that no amount of exercise seems to touch — and all without a single invasive surgery or lengthy and painful procedure? It is the stuff dreams are made of for anyone who has been dealing with fat loss. Well, dream no more thanks to a new procedure known as CoolSculpting.
Scientists at Harvard University noticed that many children who ate popsicles got dimples in their cheeks, a condition known as Popsicle panniculitis. After studying the condition further, they realized the popsicles were in fact freezing and eliminating small pockets of fat cells in their cheeks, which is what inspired the science behind the CoolSculpting procedure. And the best part, according to Aimee Rowe, clinic manager and certified CoolSculpting technician at Nuderm Skin Care Clinic in St. John’s, is that the results are permanent.
“Once the fat cells are killed, they are gone for good. There are some other procedures that use heat, but they can be painful and don’t have the same permanent results,” she says.
“When you lose weight, the fat cells shrink. They are still there, so when you start to eat normally again, the fat cells can expand again. But with CoolSculpting, they are actually killed off, so they are gone for good,” she adds.
While the technique may be relatively new, the science behind it is not.
“The number of fat cells in your body typically becomes fixed by the time you are a teenager and losing or gaining weight generally does not increase or decrease that number. What does happen, however, is that the size of those fat cells can change — expand or shrink depending on your weight,” explains Rowe.
“Scientists started doing studies on cold and fat as early as the 60s. In the 70s, they noticed equestrians would lose weight on their inner thighs when riding in the winter. This spurred more studies and now, we know that with controlled cooling we can target and kill only these fat cells, resulting in long-term results,” says Rowe, adding that CoolSculpting can actually reduce the number of fat cells in a treated area by 20 to 25 per cent. Any dead cells are then naturally processed and eliminated.
The procedure is also safe and is FDA approved, according to Rowe.
“When you first come in, you are assessed based on the area(s) you want to treat. On the day of your treatment, we do before pictures and then we apply a gel pad and applicator to the targeted area. Each area takes about 35 to 45 minutes called a cycle, during which you can simply lie back and just relax, watch some Netflix or Crave. It’s as simple as that,” says Rowe.
Most patients return to their normal activities immediately after the procedure. While some patients may see results as early as two to three weeks after their first treatment, the most dramatic results are usually seen between one and three months.
Nuderm is the only clinic in the province that is certified in CoolSculpting and they are innovators when it comes to medical aesthetics in Newfoundland. Currently, they are offering a 20 per cent discount on all CoolSculpting procedures, and they even offer no interest payment plans, which allow you to pay over three or six months, according to Rowe. So, if you have been thinking about ways to get rid of stubborn fat, there has never been a better time to consider CoolSculpting.
“Our motto is if you can pinch it, we can freeze it,” says Rowe.
It’s Nuderm’s two-year anniversary and Rowe says they want to offer clients a special deal to show their appreciation. You must book a free consultation, however, to take advantage of the promotion, so visit https://nuderm.ca or call (709) 579-5717 and make your appointment.
