The skinny on cryolipolysis, commonly known as fat freezing

If you’re eating well and exercising regularly but just can’t shift those love handles, cryolipolysis may be just the tweakment you need.

Non-surgical fat reduction is one of the biggest developments to happen since, well, liposuction. That’s because the treatment option is non-invasive and involves no downtime.

Before we dive into cryolipolysis, let’s get the basics out of the way. There are two types of fat: visceral fat, which lines our organs, and subcutaneous fat, which is responsible for love handles and muffin tops. As we age, our bodies find it harder to shed subcutaneous fat, which is why it seems so difficult to lose centimetres even if we watch what we eat and follow a regular exercise routine. Since hitting 30, for example, I’ve been stuck with love handles that just won’t budge. Because fat freezing specifically targets subcutaneous fat, I was keen to give it a go. I made an appointment at Lokkima Cool Body Sculpting in Green Point, Cape Town, to find out more.

What is fat freezing?

Mareldia Jones and Allan Scott, directors of Lokkima Cool Body Sculpting, were happy to take me through the ins and outs. Put together cryo- (frost), lipo- (fat) and -lysis (destruction), and you literally get fat freezing – but of course there’s more to the science behind it.

‘Developed about 10 years ago, it is seen as a replacement for the old liposuction,’ Allan says. While researching frostbite, scientists noted that fat freezes before skin does. ‘It was then that a company in the US invented a machine that would crystallise the fat in an area,’ he says. ‘When the fat turns to crystal – in other words, ice – it is taken to your lymphatic system, and you pass it.’ Over the past decade, these machines have been developed to the extent that they can target any area where there is fat (excluding your bottom and breasts) and they can now shape the body.

The experience

I have to admit that, at first, I didn’t really think about the fact that they would be freezing parts of my body. But when I started googling it, I got a bit nervous. Luckily my therapists, Mia Bucchianeri and Lynn Skye, were friendly and happy to talk me through the process. It’s important to know you shouldn’t eat or drink or go to the bathroom 30 minutes before your appointment. Mareldia had recommended the Fire and Ice Treatment, a combination of fat freezing, radio frequency (RF) and ultrasonic cavitation for best results, and I was happy to proceed.

Before we got started, Mia and Lynn applied a wet sheet (an antifreeze membrane, like a large wet wipe) to the area to prevent frostbite. Then pods are attached, two at a time, that ‘suck up’ the parts of the body being targeted (in my case, my back fat, love handles and tummy). You might experience some pulling as the pods are attached, but your therapist would manage the pressure if you find it’s too much. And as soon as the area is cold enough, you won’t feel anything anyway.

Next, the RF machine is applied. It uses high-frequency radio waves to penetrate and heat various layers of the skin, boosting collagen and elastin production.

Ultrasonic cavitation is the third and final step. This machine tightens and tones the skin, decreases cellulite and breaks down fat cells.

These three steps are repeated as you move from one problem area to the next. The process isn’t entirely pain-free, but for most of the twoand-a-half-hour session you can nap, read a book or listen to a podcast.

Results

You are measured before and after the treatment, so you can monitor how much you’ve lost even after the first session. It’s important to remember that muscle weighs more than fat (something I tell myself every time I get on the scale), therefore it’s more about centimetres then kilograms. I had lost 20 cm by the time I left. ‘On average we see a loss of 2 cm to 12 cm on the day of the procedure, with the most being 26cm,’Mareldiasays–soIwas pretty pleased with myself.

Of course, just because the fat is removed doesn’t mean it can’t be replaced with new fat, which is something Lokkima Cool Body Sculpting makes clear to its clients. ‘This procedure should be seen as a kickstart to a better lifestyle,’ Allan says. When you leave, you’re given an exercise and eating plan, which I have been following. I’ll take you through both:

The exercise plan is meant to take up only 11 minutes a day, so it’s not hard to fit into your schedule. Lokkima uses the Eskimo Exercise Plan, which is made up of five basic exercises devised by Dr Bill Orban for the Royal Canadian Air Force in the late 1950s. It comprises six charts arranged in progression, each consisting of five exercises that are always performed in the same order and in the same time limit. The idea is that by doing these exercises for 11 minutes, you would achieve a reasonably high level of fitness. It comes with diagrams to explain each workout.

While I did take some liberties with the eating plan, I was prepared to make a number of changes to my regular diet. With the Eskimo 30day Challenge, there are four rules to follow:

1

NO WHITE CARBOHYDRATES (otherwise known as the devil’s food in my home).

2

REPEAT THE SAME MEALS made up of one protein (egg whites with one whole egg for flavour; chicken breast or thigh; grassfed organic beef; pork; or legumes such as lentils, black beans or pinto beans) and vegetables (spinach, asparagus, peas, broccoli and cauliflower). 3

DON’T DRINK CALORIES – which means drinking plenty ofwaterandasmuch coffee (without cow’s milk) or other lowcalorie beverages as you like. 4

TAKE ONE DAY A WEEK OFF

– the best rule of the four. The programme also includes a chart to work out how many calories you consume – but that’s not how I want to live my life. Lynn said whatever works best for me is what I should do, because that’s easier to stick to in the long run.

You’re meant to limit your booze intake to once a week, too – not really part of my 2021 vision either. Lynn conceded, but I had to promise I’d have the occasional glass of red wine instead of beer.