Cosmetic Procedure Freezes Away Fat, Helps Lose Inches

As some mothers can tell you, it’s very difficult to get your tummy back to that pre-baby condition. But a new cosmetic procedure promises to help make those little bulges disappear.

Nothing can replace diet and exercise, but there’s one option that freezes fat for people who want to get rid of just a little bit of fat in certain areas of the body.

Fitness expert Bridget Smith owns, who owns the Mind and Body Studio and teaches three different fitness classes a day, is in pretty good shape.

At 118 pounds, Smith says there was still an annoying little area of fat on her tummy. So, she decided to try the Food and Drug Administration-approved procedure that freezes fat.

”We’re going to try and get that one spot and see if we can reduce it down a little bit,” Smith said.

Dr. Lyle Weeks at the Cosmetic Surgery & Laser Center said “cool sculpting” can have a major effect on those love handles, inner thighs and tummy areas.

“It’s only appropriate for people who want to lose half an inch from specific areas,” he said. “I’ve had patients come in and say, ‘Well, I’ve got that much fat that I need to get rid of. Can you just crank it up.’ Well, the answer is no. We can’t do that,” Weeks said.

Weeks said the procedure works anywhere there’s enough laxity of the tissues. A wet and cold applicator is placed on the tummy area, and the tissue can be pulled up into the applicator because there’s a vacuum involved. The fat gets “very very cold.”

“It’s just a slight pull but there’s no pain at all,” Smith said.

The fact that there’s no needles or knives involved in the procedure convinced the health-conscious Smith to go through with the non-invasive procedure.

“It is essentially risk-free,” Weeks said.

”To tell you the truth, this doesn’t hurt at all,” Smith added.

Plus, the procedure only takes 60 minutes.

“The time that you spend doing it, and lack of time that you’re having to recover, I think it’s worth doing it,” said Smith, who can be back at work teaching her afternoon fitness classes.

Depending on the treatment, it can cost between $350 and $1,400. Weeks said you’ll be able to see results in about three to four months.

If you happen to gain weight, Weeks said you will develop new fat. So, a commitment to staying in shape is key.