This post was brought to you by Self Care LA (formerly PlatinumCare LA), Wellness Center & Medical Spa
CoolSculpting in Los Angeles
I’m an active, working mom with two kids. When I say active, I mean that I run races, spin, do yoga and cross train. Unfortunately, having kids has had its way with my body and while I’m in good shape, I’m not necessarily as toned as I would like to be. That’s why I’m intrigued by the services offered by Self Care LA, formerly Platinum Care LA. Self Care LA offers CoolSculpting, a non-invasive procedure to freeze away fat.
Los Angeles Doctors Vinay Aggarwal and Shamim Shakibai founded PlatinumCare LA, located in Santa Monica and Culver City. I asked Dr. Aggarwal why they wanted to start the business, what makes PlatinumCare LA different than other medical spas in Los Angeles, and all of my burning questions about CoolSculpting.
How Does CoolSculpting Work?
CoolSculpting is a non-invasive fat freezing procedure, which means there’s no surgery and no needles. Stubborn fat cells are targeted and frozen resulting in those fat cells dying off.
CoolSculpting can target fat under the chin, underneath the buttocks (delightfully referred to as the “Banana Roll”), on the back, flank, abdomen and that area between your arm and where your bra rests.
An applicator is placed on the area and the patient will feel a tugging sensation, like a vacuum tugging at the skin, Aggarwal said. Then the area will feel cold and then numb. At the end of the procedure, the area is massaged to break up the fat cells.
The procedure takes about 35 minutes to an hour for one area. Some patients come in on their lunch hour and then go back to work, Aggarwal said. When Aggarwal did the procedure on his belly, he was lifting weights by the afternoon. According to CoolSculpting, some temporary side effects can include “temporary redness, swelling, blanching, bruising, firmness, tingling, stinging, tenderness, cramping, aching, itching, or skin sensitivity.”
Generally, patients start seeing results in 30 days and see full results in 90 days, Aggarwal said.
Can I Do CoolSculpting Instead of Exercising and Eating Healthy?
No. CoolSculpting is not a replacement for living a healthy lifestyle, Aggarwal said.
“Cool Sculpting is not a weight loss procedure. We’re not going to change a person’s weight; we’re going to sculpt them in a certain area,” Aggarwal said.
The reason Dr. Aggarwal and Dr. Shakibai wanted to start PlatinumCare LA is because they would see patients who had done the hard work of changing their diet, sticking to an exercise plan and losing 20 to 30 pounds, but then not being happy with their bodies.
They were thrilled to find CoolSculpting because it’s non-invasive, Aggarwal said. Patients are in and out of the office the same day. Patients were able to have the body they imagined when they started losing weight.
After having the procedure, patients are encouraged to keep up a healthy, active lifestyle.
What If I Gain Weight After CoolSculpting?
CoolSculpting reduces the amount of fat cells in an area, it doesn’t eliminate ALL of them. The procedure eliminates 25 percent of the fat cells in the targeted area at a time. When you gain weight, you’re expanding those fat cells, but after CoolSculpting there are less fat cells in the area that’s been targeted. But you have an even distribution of the fat cells, which means “you don’t look lopsided,” he said.
Aggarwal did the procedure on himself 4 months ago and then gained 15 pounds. He’s working to lose those 15 pounds and has noticed that his lower belly – where he did CoolSculpting – is becoming smaller faster.
The bottom line is that CoolSculpting isn’t a replacement for a healthy eating and exercise plan, but will sculpt areas of the body where patients see stubborn fat.
How Much Does CoolSculpting Cost?
CoolSculpting pricing depends on what areas of the body you chose to target. You can do one area, under your arms for example, or your entire body. Self Care LA has many monthly specials so check the website for details on discounts.
What Other Services Does Self Care LA offer?
Self Care LA offers injectables like Botox, Dysport and Juvederm, Wellness IV Infusions like B12 Complex, plus hormone replacement therapy and laser resurfacing treatment Clear + Brilliant.
Aggarwal said Self Care LA is a physician-driven medical spa. Dr. Aggarwal is a Cedars-Sinai trained, board certified internal medicine physician and Dr. Shakibai is a double board-certified internal medicine and obesity medicine physician trained at Cedars.
“You come to us because you want to take care of yourself holistically – from the inside to the outside,” he said.
For more information about Self Care LA, call 310-295-2255.
Disclosure: This post is part of a sponsored campaign with Self Care LA, Wellness Center & Medical Spa, formerly PlatinumCare LA. All opinions are my own.
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