After my ski trip to Korea in Dec 2012~Jan 2013, I have developed an unreasonably high tolerance for cold. I mean, it was -22 degrees Celsius there where I was seriously entertaining thoughts of suffering from hypothermia and my toes dropping off – you can’t really get much worse than that unless I’m shipped off to the Artic tomorrow.
So when I saw that Marie France Bodyline had launched a new treatment named the Pro-Freeze Treatment to help remove fat cells, I was totally keen to try it, since it’s non-invasive and like all girls, I think I could do with a few less kilos (except in my case, it’s true).
Here’s the marketing spiel:
Safe and effective, Pro-Freeze ‘freezes’ away the fat bulges without the need for incisions, anesthesia or surgery. With target cooling, the fat is safely chilled to ‘kill’ the fat cells without harming the surrounding tissues.
How Does Pro-Freeze Work?
When fat cells are exposed to an extreme cold temperature, they will be ‘frozen’. These ‘frozen’ fat cells will be degenerated and eventually ‘die’ (a process called adipocyte apoptosis). These degenerated fat cells will be eliminated from the body via the body’s own metabolism system. It can permanently remove up to 25% of the unwanted fat in a single treatment session, thereby reducing the thickness of the fat layer.The Pro-Freeze treatment takes about 45 -60 minutes and clients are able to sit back and relax. With the use of a probe, clients will feel a powerful suction and a cooling sensation at the initial five minutes from the start of the treatment. The cold sensation will disappear as the area gets accustomed to the suction.
An alternative to liposuction, Pro-Freeze is effective in treating problem areas such as the tummy, waist (love handles), hips (saddle backs) and inner thighs. Visible result in loss of fat can be seen just three weeks following the treatment, with more significant results shown between three to six months.
Those with major serious illness (e.g. cancer, liver disease, heart disease and diabetes); are sensitive to extreme coldness; have done fat-removal treatments or treatments that causes fat cells to “die” within last two months (e.g. Cryolipolysis, Ultrasonic Cavitation, Liposuction, etc.); or are pregnant, are not suitable to undergo Pro-Freeze.
Woah, I’m sold. Time for me to head down to Marie France!
A classy and clean exterior greets you once you step through the doors.
Here’s the consultation room
Some refreshments while you wait and fill in the neccessary forms
See the number of machines and weighing scales in the room? Prepare and boost thy morale before coming in – you’ll need it. First I had to go through the usual height and weight measurements, and then I had to step on the water retention measuring scale. and then on to the ultrasound.
So as measured by the machine, I have twice the amount of fat as normal people, but then I also have twice the amount of muscle as normal people. I cannot imagine how I’m supposed to look like – a fat and flabby hulk?! In any case, thankfully I’ve been told to take things like these with a pinch of salt (or else I would have gone down the Rabbit Hole of I–am-a-fat-shit-depression).
So the machine then proceeds to tell me that I have maximum fat and maximum obesity (which then triggers the question – how come I have a waistline then?) Anyhoos. moving along! Remember – pinch of salt (or rather, tablespoon by now)
The final consensus by le machine is that I’m obese more or less everywhere. Really.? I know I’m not slim, but hey, I wouldn’t go as far as to call myself obese. Hmmm. Bring out the bowl of salt. Thankfully, that’s the end of the consultation.
You’ll need to have enough fat to do the Pro-Freeze Treatment, at least enough for the machine suction cups to hold on it (and these aren’t tiny cups either). See below.
The machine that can be programmed to run for a certain period of time. It also emits loud beeps/alarms at every 10-15 min intervals so that the therapist knows when to come in to check on you.
I decided to do on my inner thighs, so I had to lie face down for the entire 60 mins with my legs slightly spread (it was either that, or to do yoga Happy Baby for 60 mins – good gawd what if I fart?!). The therapist proceeded to apply some anti-freeze membrane on my inner thighs, and then affixes the suction cups to the inner thighs.
Essentially, it feels like a vacuum machine sucking on your fats and yes it is slightly cold at first, but eventually, my skin got used to it. It was more like a therapeutic vibrating motion – think your phone on vibrate mode on your skin for 60 mins, but at a cold temperature. It was kinda alright actually.
In fact, there was nothing really uncomfortable about the entire treatment – basically the therapist fixes the suction cups on, and leaves you alone in the room. She comes in every 10-15 mins (when the machine beeps) to check on you, and for the rest of the time, I was fiddling with my phone or zoning out, face down. In fact, the most uncomfortable part was at my neck cos I chose to go face down, but turned my neck to the side to text my friends instead.
Once the 60 minutes are over, the cups are removed, and although you don’t feel it, your skin is actually really, really cold. I haven’t seen any visible differences since then, but I was told that it would take about a month for the dead cells to be naturally removed from the body’s system. Now’s to the finger crossing and hoping that all the dead fat cells are being flushed outtttt. Thanks Marie France for letting me try this treatment 
