For a big girl, I’m pretty body confidant. I have skinny friends who are way more worried about how their bodies look. I’m not knocking this–I do think it’s important to feel good in your skin. Even if you are thin and fit, you may have an area or two you want to improve.
I’ve been compensated to tell you what I’ve learned about a body refining procedure called CoolSculpting. Yes, this is a compensated post, but I’ll try to make it interesting.
There may be nudity.
Just kidding.
CoolSculpting is a procedure that permanently destroys fat cells using targeted application of extreme cold, not heat or lasers. The medically-safe extremely low temperatures trigger the natural death of fat cells. Over time, those fat cells are broken down and absorbed by the body. They don’t just shrink, as they would if you diet. They completely dissolve.
To get CoolSculpting, you go to a doctor’s office, have a gel pad applied to your fatty flanks, and then have this plate-y, wand-y thing placed over the pad for an hour. During the treatment you can just hang out, watch tv, e-mail, or read a book. It is said to be painless.
Results show up after a few weeks and you can continue to shrink for a couple of months as the crystallized fat is metabolized.
Pluses: What sounds good about the procedure is that it’s not surgery and does not involve any cutting at all. And it’s FDA approved. These days I see so many dangerous fad diets and products for spot reduction. This seems to be one that does what it says. It appears to be safe and to have no negative side effects.
The process has been in use since 2006, available publically since 2009, and has been performed more than 140,000 times. From everything I’ve read, it has a good track record.
Only accredited doctors and treatment centers can perform the procedure. CoolSculpting procedures take an hour or two and require no downtime afterward. You can leave the doctor’s office and go on with your normal day.
Minuses: This is for body contouring only, not for general fat loss. It’s is not a replacement for eating well and exercise. You should be a generally fit person who has a little problem area around the middle that lifestyle isn’t improving. It sounds like if you are a man or woman at a healthy weight who can’t get rid of love handles, this might be a procedure to look into.
I was amused during my research to see that the FDA has not yet cleared CoolSculpting for use on man-boobs (“moobs”), or muffin tops. Someday, my friends. Someday.
I’m certainly curious about this procedure, but wouldn’t have it any time soon because I know that there’s so much I can still do by eating right and moving my body more.
If you want more info, or if you want to see if there is a provider near you, look no further than CoolSculpting.com.
CoolSculpting has a promotion introduced at SXSW in Austin, Texas, that is ending soon.
Make sure to check out LetsGetNaked.com (NOT pee-oh-ar-en, but some images may be a little PG.) and see if you are interested in entering. I hear they are giving away an iPad and a CoolSculpting treatment.
I hope someday that CoolSculpting will be approved for other areas of the body. While I am fairly comfortable with situationally-appropriate nakey time, I would not mind being less voluptuous on the back end. Dimples are for baby’s face.
Would you refine an area of your body if you could? Leave me a comment below and let me know where you would spot reduce.
you just make me smile. Often, you bring out a very unladylike guffaw. That is a pretty interesting idea – I would totally spot reduce the fat communing on my hind end/thighs.
You should guffaw frequently. Or at least snort every once in a while.
I liked what I learned about this, and I’m very skeptical when it comes to things like this. It might be something I do after the procedure is more widespread and my tummy is less widespread.
In my opinion, the only proper compensation for writing a piece like this is for them to comp you a procedure and then let you share your personal results.
I hope they dropped a bunch of money on you, since it doesn’t appear that they are doing things the way I think they should.
In any case, it was interesting to hear about, and of course, you did a GREAT job writing this piece for them: witting, entertaining, and informative, as always.
Sorry, that would be “witty”. Not witting.
Not sure what “witting” is.
It’s when you walk around in public saying witty things all day, maybe?
“Ooohwee, I’ve sure had a hard day of witting.”
The older I get the more belly fat I have. I always had the flattest belly, even when overweight. Alas, no more. A definite weight shift has happened around here. I have to admit, as a post menopausal woman, the concept of “CoolSculpting” sounds marvelous. Especially the “cool” part….”Fixing fatty trouble spots and cooling the hot flash in one fell swoop!” I think that should be there new motto….50-60 year old women will be knocking down their doors.
I love the idea of an extra fat-zapping boost after I finish losing weight. I’d love to get rid of that saggy thing on my sides below the bra strap. Both of my parents had it, so perhaps I’m doomed, but I’d love for that to be gone. I wonder if CoolScuplting works on back fat.
I saw something about this on another blog. Sounds interesting…may do further research!
You should have heard me sounding out pee-oh-are-en…hahah.
I think I’d do my stomach or chin. Can I just sit with ice packs on my belly for an hour, instead? 😉
I’m going to go check out the not-pee-oh-are-en to see if I can win an iPad!