The season of shorts and swimsuits is almost here, and while many of us try our best to live a healthy and active lifestyle, sometimes it’s just not enough. Whether it be stubborn pockets of fat that won’t budge or excess skin from weight loss and aging, we all have our own insecurities when it comes to our bodies.
Up until recently, the only “quick fix” was to go under the knife. Thanks to technological advancement, we now have a number of non-invasive therapies to choose from that can target areas of concern and help us achieve our individual body goals – with little to no downtime.
To learn more about these options, we headed back to our friends at Skin Worthy in Etobicoke, Ont., where husband and wife team Dr. Cody Hemsworth and Barb Hemsworth (RN) gave us the inside scoop on the newest and most effective therapies on the Canadian market. Â
Freeze My Fat
With over seven million treatment cycles completed, CoolSculpting® is the world’s number one non-invasive fat reduction treatment. Cryolipolysis – the theory behind CoolSculpting – is that fat cells are more sensitive to cold temperatures than other types of body cells.
Funnily enough, Cryolipolysis was discovered while observing children eating popsicles. In practice, Cryoplipolysis entails putting a vacuum device on fat bulges and exposing the fat to cold (above freezing but lower than body temperature) for a time, destroying the targeted fat cells in turn.
Fat cells that are frozen during the CoolSculpting procedure pass through the body during its natural elimination process. CoolSculpting is clinically proven to produce permanent results: any area that receives treatment will have a permanent reduction in the number of fat cells (up to 25 per cent). Areas that can be treated with CoolSculpting include the submental area (under chin), the arms, abdomen, flanks, back, buttocks, and inner and outer thighs.
Treatment programs vary based on individual patient fat composition and personal goals. Jennifer Aniston, Mariah Carey, Khloe Kardashian, Sonja Morgan and current spokesperson Sarah Michelle Gellar are among CoolSculpting’s many celebrity fans.
Before/After: Results after two CoolSculpting treatments to the abdomen. Photos courtesy of Skin Worthy.
Tighten, Trim And Tone
Newer to the market is Evolve by InMode (the same company that gave us Morpheus8, Forma and BodyFX). Evolve is an innovative solution that can deliver multiple technologies on one system to remodel skin, target adipose tissue and tone muscles. It is currently the only machine of its kind in the world and it just recently became available in Canada.
The trusted technologies behind Forma (skin tightening) and BodyFX (fat reduction), along with the addition of a toning element, have all been incorporated into one, hands-free machine that can deliver precise and uniform heat and/or non-ionizing energy to a targeted area in as little at 10 minutes.
Evolve Tite: Uses radio-frequency energy to heat, target, and remodel the skin. The technology uses eight hands-free applicators to deliver uniform heating to the surface of the skin and dermal layers below, providing individualized, pain-free treatment.
Evolve Trim: Targets fat layers below the skin to contour the body and smooth cellulite using radio-frequency energy combined with a negative tissue vacuum. The technology comprises 6 hands-free applicators that provide uniform sub-dermal heating that induces apoptosis, or death of fat cells, resulting in a sculpted appearance to the treatment area.Â
Evolve Tone: Uses electromagnetic energy to produce contractions of muscles in the area of treatment. This causes an increase in the overall muscle mass and tone, so that there is an overall tighter feeling to the zone that has experienced treatment.
After 1 Evolve Tite and 1 Evolve Tone, Courtesy of Skin Worthy
Evolve Tite, Courtesy of Inmode
Patients can select just one aspect of the Evolve trio or combine several different treatments to achieve their individual body goals. Similar to CoolSculpting, the number of required treatments can vary for each patient, however recommendations for Tite, Trim and Tone are three to six sessions per area, to be completed one to two weeks apart (on average).Â
Two Is Better Than One
Combination therapy (or polytherapy) is a treatment pathway that uses more than one modality to achieve a desired outcome. The practice has been used for years in traditional medicine, but has only recently gained momentum in the field of aesthetics. A one-size-fits-all approach to anti-aging and body contouring is quickly becoming outdated, and aesthetic practitioners are recognizing that results can be maximized by combining therapies unique to patient’s individual needs.
Think of your face: Botox can help to reduce muscle movement and fine lines, dermal fillers can address volume loss or restore structure, and a radio frequency microneedling device like Morpheus8 can help to improve the quality of your skin and stimulate collagen. It’s a not a competition about which is better – they all serve a different purpose and when used together, they can provide superior results.
The same goes for body contouring therapies. Combination therapy does not always include devices or injectables – it can also include products that are designed to enhance and compliment other treatments. On its own, Alastin’s TransFORM Body Treatment supports the production of new elastin and collagen and reduces the appearance of crepey skin, but when coupled with body contouring treatments like CoolSculpting and Evolve, the formula peptides accelerate the natural removal of broken-down fat cells and enhance results.
After CoolSculpting® treatment with Alastin BodyTRANSFORM, Courtesy of Alastin
Take Me For A Test Drive
STYLE Canada’s Editor-in-Chief, Elise Gasbarrino, visited Skin Worthy for a first-hand experience. Read her individual account below:
“Over the past year I was really focussed on trying to tone my arms. After not seeing the progress that I had hoped for, I decided it was time to see what else was out there that could provide some extra help. I was beyond impressed by the education and level of expertise of Barb, Cody, Anne and the rest of the team at Skin Worthy. Unlike many clinics, Skin Worthy offers a complimentary consultation to assess what treatments are right for you and your individual skin or body goals.
At my consultation, the team determined that a combination therapy of CoolSculpting for fat reduction, followed by six sessions of Evolve Tite to address skin laxity and tightness would be the most optimal plan. I felt very little discomfort with the CoolSculpting process. It was relatively quick (approximately 30 minutes for each arm). I had been advised that the massage afterwards can be uncomfortable, but the whole experience was very tolerable. Aside from slight tenderness afterwards, there was zero downtime – which I loved.”
Elise during her CoolSculpting appointment
“The Evolve Tite was a slightly different process as it was heat focused. It was a bit longer at 45 minutes per arm and I did feel the heat in the last five minutes of the treatment (apparently I handle cold better than hot!). Again, there was little to no downtime and less tenderness in the hours after the treatment. Since the final results take several months to see, (and because of COVID), I will share the reveal according to this timeline. But I am very excited to see the results!”
Friendly Reminders:
Body contouring devices are not intended to be a substitute for exercise or living a healthy lifestyle – they are a complimentary tool to help you achieve your goals. While the results are considered to be long-term (in some cases permanent), your outcomes could be effected if you were to gain a significant amount of weight. Just in case, Skin Worthy offers annual maintenance packages for those looking to touch things up.
It is also important to remember that while the devices are capable of producing exceptional results, outcomes are still heavily dependant on those who are performing the treatment. At your consultations, wherever they may be, ask questions, look for credentials (like CoolSculpting University – yes, thats a thing!), and make sure that you feel comfortable before going ahead with any treatment plan.
For more information on CoolSculpting, Evolve and everything skin, visit www.skinworthy.ca
