HOUSTON—
How would you like to lose some of that extra weight you just can't seem to get rid of? There's a new way that lets you freeze it right off. It's being used by both women and men.Jennifer Crosby has this problem. She wants to lose an inch or two.
"It's very frustrating, especially when I've been told I'm a middle aged woman of three kids," she told us.
She works out four to five days a week to lose it, but after having three boys it has been tough. Instead of having the fat sucked out, Crosby is going the noninvasive route with Zeltiq, also known as Cool Sculpting.
"It's a way of freezing fat tissue," said Dr. E.B. McClendon of Realis Medical Spa off F.M. 1960.
McClendon is the only doctor currently doing the procedure in the Houston area.
The procedure works by applying a suction device to the problem areas. That can range from a belly after giving birth, to love handles or back fat. The device sucks in skin and freezes the fat between two plates. This leads to formation of crystals that breakdown and kill the fat cells.
"We kill between 20 percent and 40 percent with each treatment. It varies from individual to individual," the doctor said.
But does it hurt? Crosby, who was in the middle of the procedure, said no.
"It was a little tight in the beginning and a little uncomfortable, but it was never painful and I don't feel anything now," Crosby said.
The procedure was previously FDA approved for skin anesthesia purposes. Patients generally feel some cold followed by numbness.
The final result in Crosby's case was redness of the skin. Others might have some bruising and numbness for a few days, too. McClendon said results start showing in six to eight weeks.
Other than that, it's business as usual for the patient.
"You could have this done at lunch and go back to work," McClendon said.
The procedure costs anywhere from $700 to $1,500.
http://www.coolsculpting.com
