The procedure

Coolsculpting reduces fat bulges in the abdomen, thighs, bra fat (armpit area), double chin, flanks and side (muffin top), and upper arms.

During the consultation with Dr. Kevin Chua of Dr. Kevin Chua Medical & Aesthetics, we identified the areas that I wanted to target.

Gel honey is applied to soothe and protect the area, which will be clamped by the applicator that will deliver a temperature of -11°C. I felt an intense cold for a couple of seconds (though it didn't feel like -11°C because the cold is gradually applied). That frosty feeling fades away quickly because the area becomes numb. 

The most uncomfortable part would probably be tugging of skin from the weight of the applicator, which also uses a vacuum to draw the fats into it, especially the one under the chin: imagine a metal clasp clipping onto a double chin and then a Velcro strap wrapped around your face to secure it. The nurses at Dr. Kevin Chua Medical & Aesthetics were wonderful though: they constantly checked in to ensure that I was comfortable and propped up with a cloud of pillows.

The great thing is you’re not immobile during the treatment—I could eat, work, take calls—multi-tasking is definitely a possibility. WFH? How about work from the clinic?

This was important as each area requires a couple of sessions and each session lasts for 35 to 45 minutes. For example, the submental area requires two sessions, which the upper arms require a total of four sessions—in other words, do block out an entire day for this.

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The aftermath

Results are not immediate with Coolsculpting—in fact, it takes at least a month to see a reduction in fat. The final results won't appear until six months later. 

There is no downtime (in fact you can head off straight for dinner) but there are some side effects. In the first couple of days, the area develops slight bruise and swelling, although the intensity varies from person to person.

My skin felt tender, achy, sensitive, and sore. I had occasional stinging feelings on the treated areas. The suggestion from Dr. Chua was to wear tighter clothing after because it would the area feel more secure.

A week later, my arms still felt sensitive even when the ruffles of my dress pressed onto it. A colleague who did the Coolsculpting treatment on her abdomen said that her stomach was sore for two weeks. Thankfully by the third week, the sensations were gone.

But the side effects felt completely worth it when I saw results after four to six weeks. There was a visible fat reduction in both my submental and arms, that I knew would be more painful and difficult to achieve through exercise and diet. In fact, I’d do the treatment again in a heartbeat. 

Coolsculpting isn’t a weight-loss solution, but it's a great short-cut to improve on areas that are hard to lose weight from as it has been clinically proven to reduce fat up to 27 per cent in the treated area. 

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with Dr. Georgia Lee at TLC Lifestyle Practice

The science

Onda by Deka uses a treatment machine that generates Coolwaves—which is ironically hot— to target fat cells (lipocytes), tighten skin, and reduce the appearance of cellulite. “The gap in the market is cellulite treatment—until now,” explains Dr. Lee. “Onda uses controlled microwave technology, yes, that’s the same as the microwave oven.”

There are three settings available: fat reduction, cellulite reduction and improved skin laxity. I worked with Dr. Georgia Lee at TLC Lifestyle Practice to decide on the target areas and settings, which can also be a combination of two or all three.

During fat reduction, the lipocytes get liquified during the treatment. As the fat cells get empty, they will swell and rupture over a period of time before naturally exiting the body.

The fat cells that are destroyed will not regenerate. While the Onda treatment cannot destroy all the fat cells, if a healthy diet and exercise follow, you’ll be able to maintain the results.

The Onda Coolwaves action uses microwaves at 2,45 GHz, is deep and targeted, and does not damage nearby skin. When the heat on the fat layers goes up towards the skin, there is a remodulation of collagen, and formation of new collagen—thus improving skin quality as well.

How does it improve the appearance of cellulite then? “In areas of our body with cellulite, the way our collagen fibers are arranged retains a lot of water—like a couch. The Onda treatment tightens the fibers tissues so it gets contracted in the dermis and improves the look of the skin.  

While it's not a permanent solution, there is no cure for cellulite right now. Patients often do a couple of Onda sessions to remove cellulite and they’ll need to come back every three months to maintain it.

The procedure

One word: comfortable. As I lie on a bed, the nurse applies oil on the treatment areas, before rubbing the Onda machine’s handpiece in circular motions on the skin. The microwaves emitted beam 20per cent of the energy to the skin’s dermis, and the remaining 80per cent into the fat cells.

While the centre core of the handpiece can go up to 50°C to 53°C, the built-in cooling contact system stays at 5°C, ensuring that I am kept comfortable, cooling the skin down as the energy is delivered.

Whenever I felt discomfort or strong heat, the nurse would stop the treatment and let the area cool down before continuing again. 

The aftermath

It was absolutely painless, and there no bruising nor discomfort. Onda is effective over time: the results show up after at least 30 days because it takes time for the body’s natural mechanism to get rid of all the broken-up lipocytes. If the goal was to reduce cellulite, results are seen in two to three weeks and the changes can look quite dramatic.