Freezing away those unwanted love handles and back fat

SARASOTA, Fla. - You do everything you can when you workout, but sometimes those problem areas just don't change. A Sarasota doctor is using a new non-invasive way to reduce those love handles and muffin tops. The doctor claims she can freeze your fat away.

“The treatment not only takes away the fat but it leaves you toned," says Dr. Elizabeth Callahan, of Skinsmart Dermatology.

Giovanna McGrath is freezing her fat. It's new technology that's supposed to get rid of those love handles and belly fat without surgery.

“The little bulge that you just can't get rid of at the gym is actually inserted into the device where it's actually vacuumed up into the machine. Cool plates are applied to the fat layer and the skin and the fat cells are precisely cooled so that the fat is frozen and gently injured, not harming the skin at all," Dr. Callahan explains.

The procedure takes about an hour.

“It feels very cold, like they're putting ice cubes over you," McGrath says. But that feeling, she says, dissipates quickly. Afterwards, you can go back to your regular routine.

Dr. Callahan adds, “You don’t see results immediately. In fact you may be a little swollen for a couple of weeks after the procedure. You start to see the results typically in six weeks."

It takes that long, the doctor says, for the body to eliminate the damaged fat cells naturally.

Plastic Surgeon Bart Rademaker, who does more invasive procedures like liposuction, says there is certainly a place for this non-invasive fat reduction alternative but warns that because it's new, patients should ask about side effects.

“Personally I’m not quite familiar with all the risks of this technology. I can only imagine that improper cooling may cause some other types of damage whether nerve cells, muscle cells or even skin cells," he says.

"Some of our patient do experience some skin numbness to the touch but that lasts about two weeks," Dr. Callahan says.

Giovanna has had other areas like her hips done already, without problems, and says she'll coming back for more. "It's really phenomenal. Everyone has to try it!"

Dr. Callahan says the device is approved in the United States for skin cooling. It's currently under FDA review for fat layer reduction. But it's already been approved for that use in Europe and Canada.

The price is $499.00 per treatment.

For more information call:

Dr. Elizabeth Callahan, MD
SkinSmart Dermatology
5911 N. Honore Ave, Suite 214
Sarasota, Florida 34243
941-308-7546
www.skinsmartdermatology.com

Dr Bart Rademaker
Rejuva
813-884-0160
11932 Sheldon Road
Tampa, FL 33626