08/18/2017
CHILL AWAY YOUR FAT
Forget about feeling the burn. As it turns out, our fat cells are more susceptible to cold, and at a chilly enough temperature, they can be destroyed — permanently. A new FDA-cleared procedure, CoolSculpting by Zeltiq, can trim unwanted bulges from your belly and love handles without incisions. Using a vacuum-cup applicator that sucks in pockets of fat, the machine delivers controlled cooling for an hour to break down fat cells without harming your skin (a process coined Cryolipolysis by Zeltiq). "When you chill the fat cells, you injure them, which sends a message to the cells' DNA to undergo apoptosis and die," explains Eric Bernstein, a dermatologic laser surgeon and a clinical professor at the University of Pennsylvania. "And once you kill the fat cells, they're gone," he says. Patients experience a tugging pressure and intense cold for five to 10 minutes, but that's it. Changes don't happen instantly, as it takes three to eight weeks for the body to naturally drain the fat through the lymphatic system. Sue F., 52, a patient of Bernstein's, was thrilled: "It took six weeks, but my belly has never been this flat." Renowned dermatologist Fredric Brandt shares this enthusiasm. "It works, it's noninvasive, and it's pretty much pain free," he says. Side effects, including redness, bruising, and tingling, are rare. The company claims an average of 20 percent fat reduction after one application; however, Brandt has seen up to a 50 percent reduction on the abdomen. Ideal candidates are those within 10 to 15 pounds of their healthy body weight. Cost: around $700 to $1,400 per area.