Did you know the idea that fat cells could be frozen away came about after a medical study of children who had lost fat in their cheeks? They discovered the common factor was that they had been sucking on ice pops for long periods of time. Low and behold, CoolSculpting (otherwise known as cryolipolysis) came along, helping kill the offending fat cells by blasting them with a suction vacuum that is applied to the desired area, where the fat cells can be frozen to -11 until they crystallize. This can be used on most of the body including the chin, arms, abdomen, love handles, and thighs.

These procedures involve the use of lasers that penetrate deep enough to damage the structure of fat cells which the body then eliminates. sculpture, for example, sees the arms of the device clipped around your targeted area, where the machine fires laser pulses into your body.

These types of procedures involve, you guessed it, the use of ultrasound to break down fat. Rather than being hooked up to a whizzy machine, UltraShape involves a technician manually moving around your body with a device that uses a mechanical vibration to break down and destroy fat. This is mostly used for the abdomen.

These treatments deliver energy to create a heat that eventually destroys fat cells. They target water in the cells so it’s advised that patients hydrate well beforehand.

Most of the cold and hot treatments do involve some pain, more of a stinging or burning sensation, but because the treatments are short (most around 25 minutes) it’s a grit-your-teeth-and-bear-it kind of pain. They don’t require anesthesia, there’s no downtime and most can be done in your lunch break. The treatments are normally offered in sessions - from two to four, depending on the treatment you choose and the area you’re treating.