After months of being stuck around at home, overindulging on junk food and alcohol — and missing workouts because gyms were closed — many Newfoundland and Labrador residents have admitted to not feeling as comfortable in their bodies.
“A lot of people are feeling so ‘blah’ about themselves right now, and that’s never a good feeling,” explains Allison Bense, assistant director of Bense SurgiSpa in St. John’s. “But self care is so important. We can’t take proper care of other people until we take care of ourselves.”
Bense SurgiSpa is recognized as Newfoundland and Labrador’s leader in the FDA-cleared CoolSculpting® procedure designed to non-surgically reduce unwanted fat (through freezing) in those hard-to-lose areas.
As the most experienced CoolSculpting® provider in the province, Bense SurgiSpa is extending its annual CoolEvent through Nov. 30, 2020, to introduce more people to the fat-freezing technology that’s been performed worldwide more than eight million times with proven results.
BIGGEST SAVINGS OF THE YEAR
The event was scheduled to wrap up in October but, due to popular demand, it’s been extended through Nov. 30, 2020, to ensure there’s plenty of time and space for everyone to participate safely.
CoolSculpting® consultations are free of charge during the event (with virtual appointments available as an option for those who can’t make it in person) and guests will also have access to referral gifts for family and friends, draws for prizes and the biggest discounts of the year — including discounts on BOTOX® treatments.
Bense says BOTOX® treatments are actually “more in demand than ever,” thanks to everyone wearing face masks that put a person’s eyes and forehead on full display.
“People love BOTOX® because they know it’s safe. This is referring to not only the treatment but our clinic environment,” adds Bense. “It has been our top priority to go over and above and implement an elevated set of safety measures. Like CoolSculpting®, BOTOX® can be performed safely — and they always get the WOW result!”
WHAT IS COOL-SCULPTING®?
CoolSculpting® is the world’s No. 1 non-invasive treatment to eliminate fat. Bense says the ideal candidate is someone who’s close to having the body they want, but who struggles with a few stubborn areas that diet and exercise just don’t seem to address — like muffin tops, bat wings and banana rolls (a banana-shaped fat deposit that can form under a person’s butt cheeks).
“You can spend your life in the gym and eat a perfectly clean diet, but there’s always going to be a few stubborn areas you can’t change on your own — whether it’s due to metabolism or because you can’t target them,” says Bense, who is a CoolSculpting® University graduate. “Like a chin! How can you possibly exercise your chin? You can’t.”
One of Bense SurgiSpa’s CoolSculpting® patients struggled with feeling insecure about a double chin since a very young age, and how it never went away regardless of how much weight she lost.
“After just one Coolsculpting® treatment, the difference was amazing. I finally feel confident in my side profile and am so happy I decided to start the journey in my 20s to a more confident me,” she describes. “I’m excited to see even more changes in the time following my recent second treatment.”
While CoolSculpting® might sound similar to liposuction — since they both target unwanted fat — Bense says CoolSculpting® is radically different. It’s also much safer since it’s non-invasive and non-surgical, with no down time or needles.
“If we can squeeze it, we can freeze it. CoolSculpting® works on subcutaneous fat that’s soft, squishy and pliable — something you can grab onto,” explains Bense. “Whether you’re looking to enhance your body shape, get rid of stubborn fat or just look and feel comfortable in your clothes again CoolSculpting® could be the answer.”
‘THE EASIEST 30 MINUTES OF MY LIFE’
When Sarah Michelle Gellar’s second child was about a year old, the actress says she realized “all the exercise in the world can’t dissolve those pockets of fat.” She wasn’t willing to undergo surgery, but she decided to try CoolSculpting® as a safe and noninvasive way to physically freeze away fat on her thighs and midriff.
“It was the easiest 30 minutes of my life,” recalls the Buffy the Vampire Slayer actress. “I just got to lie on a comfy table and read my book. The treatment didn’t hurt, it just felt cold for a few seconds and then I didn’t feel anything. It was very peaceful. I was just happy to have a few minutes to myself, and then I got to leave feeling better about myself — a win-win.”
Soon after her treatment, Gellar felt more comfortable in her clothing and noticed her jeans were buttoning back up — which gave her the kick-start she needed to start working even harder at the gym.
“(Thighs) are a really hard area because you do develop fat over time in that area and it’s a difficult muscle to exercise,” says Gellar. “(CoolSculpting®) gave me my confidence back in such an easy and noninvasive way.”
FREEZE FAT IN HALF THE TIME
After a patient has had their consultation and scheduled their first treatment, Bense says they settle into one of the comfortable, luxurious treatment rooms at Bense SurgiSpa’s body contouring suite. The CoolSculpting® technician uses an applicator on the targeted area to crystalize (freeze) the fat cells.
Bense SurgiSpa has two machines so they’re able to offer Dual CoolSculpting® — targeting the fat on two flanks, two upper arms or two banana rolls at once, meaning patients can freeze their fat in half the time it would normally take.
“Patients usually relax by catching up on their favourite Netflix show, and then they’re ready to go home or back to work,” says Bense. “Some of our patients even take a nap during their CoolSculpting® session.”
Now that those fat cells are frozen, the body metabolizes them over the next several months — breaking down its bond with the fat cells and slowly releasing them naturally through the body’s lymphatic system.
CoolSculpting® treatments can be safely performed 30 days apart, and all patients are advised that it almost always requires more than one CoolSculpting® treatment to achieve the desired results they are looking for. The big “wow” results take 3-4 months because it takes time for the body to release those cells.
“Once those fat cells are gone, they’re gone for good,” says Bense. “When we bring our patients back they’re always really, really happy.”
‘I FELT LIKE I DESERVED IT’
While actress Malin Akerman was sheltering in place during the early months of the pandemic, she was eating nachos and drinking wine at midnight and only exercising about once a month, instead of eating well and exercising three times a week like she normally would.
But once she got back into her healthy routine, Akerman says even her combination of Pilates, hiking, cycling and CrossFit wasn’t targeting the stubborn fat around her love handles. She tried CoolSculpting® and had such incredible results that she’s now the U.S. ambassador for the fat-freezing treatments.
“I felt stronger and more toned. It felt like I deserved it after putting in so many years of hard work into myself, and I just couldn’t get rid of that last little piece.”
FEELING GOOD ABOUT YOURSELF
It’s easier than ever to try CoolSculpting® thanks to Bense’s new relationship with PayBright — Canada’s easiest, most streamlined payment plans with as low as zero per cent interest.
Bense says she feels strongly about the fact that none of their treatments, including CoolSculpting®, are about chasing a “flawless body.”
It’s also not a matter of avoiding your favourite indulgences because she feels it’s important to enjoy life and treat yourself, while also focusing on what your body needs to feel its very best.
“This isn’t about perfection or weight loss. It’s about feeling confident and falling back in love with yourself,” says Bense. “We’ve all been dealing with a lot of stress, and it’s extremely important to take care of ourselves. We deserve that.”
Bense SurgiSpa’s CoolSculpting® event has been extended through Nov. 30, 2020. Limited spots are available, so reserve a space by calling (709) 722-4060 and asking for Allison, or emailing [email protected]. To learn more about CoolSculpting®, please visit bensesurgispa.com/treatment/CoolSculpting®.
