Summer? Well, technically we have it all year round here in Singapore. Add to that, we are in a part of the world that is surrounded by fantastic islands and fabulous beaches that we can get to in a couple of hours by plane. So there is all the more reason to get in shape and flaunt our summer wardrobe.
While it’s true many of us have jobs and commitments that leave us precious little time for dedicated workouts at the gym, the aesthetics industry has heard our woes and there are now ways to trim the fat without the sweat. You don’t even have to get knocked out and cut up, but relax over a 45- to 90-minute session. In fact, you’re comfortable enough to watch a movie, read your news feed or deal with your emails on your mobile device while you’re at it. Even take a nap.
These days losing the flab can be summarised as a song of ice and fire. No, not Game of Thrones 7 (which will finally be back on our screens soon, yay!), but having the choice of freezing your body fats away or burning them off to reveal a firmer, more sculpted form.
Zeltiq CoolSculpting
What it is: Zeltiq CoolSculpting Legacy treatments have been around for a number of years with a 95% patient satisfaction rate. What this non-invasive treatment does is draw out targeted sections of the body, usually the stubborn belly area, and then safely freezing the fat cells under the skin. The crystallised fat cells die as a result and are then eliminated by the body naturally over the next few weeks. The latest generation CoolSculpting called Cool Advantage, takes things up a notch with new applicators that tackle bigger areas of the body and more than just one spot at a time, significantly shaving treatment time and number of sessions required.
What you should know: Because it has been around for almost a decade, you’ll find copycat outfits offering cryolipolysis treatments that have given the technology a bad name. To ensure you don’t waste your time, money and hopes on ineffective treatments, seek out a practitioner who uses medical grade Zeltiq CoolSculpting technology. Only a qualified medical practitioner is able to help you achieve your body reshaping goals surely and safely.
Price: Depending on the areas you need to treat, prices average between $700 and $3,000
Where: Freia Medical, 19-03 Wisma Atria Office Tower
Viora Reaction
What it is: TWC Tone & Tight is a body contouring treatment featuring the latest technology in non-surgical fat reduction and skin tightening. It is ideal for treating stubborn fat, loose skin, cellulite and stretch marks. The treatment involves the use of Viora Reaction, which combines the mechanisms of advanced RF energy and vacuum therapy that work with the body’s natural regeneration process to deliver safe and efficient treatment for cellulite, body contouring and tightening the skin. With its patented CORET technology featuring three distinct RF modes, the Reaction is able to target deeper lying fat as well as tighten the upper skin layers. It is also able to target all skin layers simultaneously, effectively combining fat reduction and skin contraction into one seamless process, delivering maximum results in minimum time.
What you should know: While not an instant fix for weight problems on its own, it is an additional boost to efforts at exercising and healthy eating. It essentially helps to tighten the skin and improve its elasticity. Often our abdominal muscles are obscured under stubborn fat that don’t budge easily. The Viora Reaction takes care of that, delivering firmer, smoother and younger appearance.
Price: $375 per session, excluding GST (usually 4-8 sessions are recommended for optimal results)
Where: The Wellness Clinic, 04-09 Camden Medical Centre
I tried Zeltiq Coolsculpting back in 2011 and it helped me to finally lose my post maternity tummy that I hadn’t managed to budge in 20 years. I tried it again earlier this year, this time to tackle weight that has crept up on me as a result of lower metabolism. Age, tsk.
I also tried the Viora Reaction and even though I found the heat a little uncomfortable, the treatment did help to tighten my abdominal skin for a smoother more youthful tone.
Judge me if you want but I am going to use vanity as a motivation for a healthier lifestyle. I have started to do daily sets of planks and I am going to start High Intensity Interval Training. For a demo of the latter, see the video of my colleagues Sean and Terence’s session with fitness trainer Tanya Poppett here.
