Average price: $750 per region (stomach averages about $1,400)
How it works: This body contouring procedure shrinks problem areas by freezing fat cells into a state of shock. You're literally freezing your butt off. The physician places the problem area between two cool plates, which target and kill fat cells. "After an hour, the fat cells are shocked," Bass says. "While they're still metabolically alive, they stop regenerating, and become senescent and die. And that happens over a number of weeks."
CoolSculpting was developed after Zerona (one of the original fat-freezing body contouring methods), but unlike Zerona's so-so success rate, California-based plastic surgeon Dr. Jaime Schwartz, MD, says this procedure is much more effective. "People are actually getting good results with CoolSculpting,"says Schwartz. "In my opinion, it's the best machine out there."
Who should try it: People looking to lose two to three inches, and post-partum moms.
Pros: There are very few side effects, so there is no required recovery time. You may experience some soreness, but most patients can go straight to work afterwards. The procedure also only takes about an hour to complete (per region), and is completely painless.
Cons: The applicator doesn't fit all body types (you have to have enough "pinch-able" fat to fit into the machine) and patients have a tendency to bruise easily from this method. While you technically only need one treatment to lose those few inches, many patients come back for a second treatment (sometimes more) to treat the entire region, since the applicator can't fit most people's fat all at once.
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