In other words, (according to the Manager), I can try its service - total 5 sessions, excluding fat freeze?
The voucher that I've purchased was a slimming voucher. I have a really awful looking tummy so my current online 'shopping spree' is targeted in getting rid of my tummy. I have to put my hobby - dining aside.
Voucher includes:
- Aesthetic Power Slim Fat Cavitation
- Radio Frequency Fat Lipo Reduction
- Vacuum
- Fat Burner Solution
I recall I only received Cavitation (machine producing medium pitch) and Infra-red (looks like the light used by Traditional Chinese Medicine for acupuncture). I didn't print out the actual offer so I didn't know I wasn't given vacuum and fat burner (could it be infra-red?). According to Skinologies' website, LipoSlim Cavitation utilizes revolutionary techniques in transforming our body sculpting with no anaesthesia, no scars, no discomfort and no down-time and presents a risk-free alternative to liposuction. The result is instant loss of fat cells. I was told on my first visit, I won't be able to see any weight loss because the effect will take place 2 or 3 days later ... the broken down fat would be discharged by sweat, urine or stool. Even if there's any slimming effect, I might not be able to see unless I visit them for regular treatment.
While trying to put up this post, I did a web search and found something better and cheaper offered by Skinologies. Below $15 voucher includes:
- Lymphatic Drainage
- Acupoint Massage
- Infra-red
- Contouring Body Wrap
- Slimming Solution
For below e-coupon, the customer gets above x 10 sessions, that's a lot of difference! I only had one session using above Deal.com voucher and seemed like I was short-changed. I heard them exclaimed in surprised she is not taking the 10 sessions deal... I was asked to fit another appointment and I said I only had one session stated.
During consultation, the Manager tried to persuade me to take up a package. When she failed, I was shown into a room to receive cavitation. While doing it, the consultant tried to get me to try Fat Freeze at a one session cost that was above $150. She said my tummy wasn't hard, felt soft so Fat Freeze is suitable for me. At London Weight Management, I was told certain parts of my tummy felt hard and need to be soften. I have read review indicated Fat Freeze could harden the tummy.... so means make the tummy tougher but not toning down?
Skinologies - Prestigious Solutions' (PS) consultant said one Fat Freeze treatment, effect could last about one month. It is for lazy people like me who doesn't want to keep visiting slimming center but I declined.
That machine, when pressed and slided/rubbed on my tummy produced an irritating sound and the longer PS consultant slided, heat built up. You'll feel a bit of stingy hot feeling but still bearable. Cavitation is using radio frequency waves selectively break down fat cells and cellulite without affecting neighbouring cells. I think the machine worked on me for about 10mins. Believe fat tissue responded by ultrasonic energy before being broken into smaller molecules. Then I was given infra-red to shine on. Looks quite similar to this:
The cavitation machine I used was bigger and has 2 handles on both sides.
After I was asked to change back to my clothes, the Manager tried her selling skills again. Her final proposal was to pay for a 5 sessions which allowed me to try their services. I was given a screening, the Manager showed my roots weren't healthy, compared to hers (hairs looks more populated and rosy).
Since I was already there and lazy to visit Skinologies - Prestigious Solutions on six different days (1 voucher + 5 package), I said if you've a slot for scalp treatment, I'll take your package and try your other services. To make me fork out money, I believe they will find a slot and they did but when I found out they were short-handed that day, the scalp service wasn't a pl easure, I regretted paying $214. I could have been freed and need not visit PS again. Because I was suddenly too soft hearted, I got to face PS and their hard selling.
Then I was told to lay down on a cold bed located near a washing area. That place wasn't secluded nor comfy. The Manager came to service me together with my slimming consultant. They rotated. One squeezed out some time to apply a mask on my head, let it absorb and another came to wash off for me. Then my hair was blown dry and finished off with a serum. No head massage was given.
4 more sessions to go. I have an appointment for facial and slimming. I wanted to kill 2 birds with one stone = one visit for 2 sessions. I was told if I opt for facial, it will be machine based. No shoulder massage or extraction like other centres. I need to be mentally prepared it is a Cleansing and Exfoliation with steamer. Skinologies - Prestigious Solutions claimed they are skin care specialists using technologies with aesthetic products and skills. An aesthetic center doesn't provide soothing comfort that involves massage.
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On 15 Aug, my second visit.
I had a facial that is unusual. A machine that looks a little like an electric razor (the head is metal, not sharp), used to scrap the white and black heads that surfaced automatically after I was applied some gel softener. It sends ultrasonic vibrations that made me feel kind of weird and uncomfortable.
Looks something like this. Beautician said this machine also provided some lifting effect.
After the cleansing and machine exfoliating, I was given a mask. Before I was given a mask, the selling took place, no escaping. Also, she reminded me aesthetic is treatment basis so no massaging of head or shoulders ... she gave me an eye massage, guessed to pacify me. Beautician recommended that I apply something that would reduce my big pores. At a special discounted price for first time customer like me, she offered $280 for the pH add-on. I didn't feel paiseh to tell her that was too expensive. How many women would pay $280 for something to apply once only? I really wonder how much PS earned from each woman who agreed to lie down and let them apply a layer of special pH formula ... take a beautician less then 5 mins to do the job!
After applying the mask, Beautician said she'd go out to bring in the slimming - Cavitation machine. She took a really long time. By the time she returned, she proposed that instead of spending 10 mins on the Cavitation machine, she said it would be better that I increase to 20 mins, by utilising another session. One session cost $40 so for that extra 10 mins, another $40 flew away. I know her seniors - the consultants are telling her to try other tactics, otherwise, why took so long. She claimed 20 mins cavitation would be perfect, a good continuation. If I stick to 10 mins, the break down effect merely going to start and I put a stop which won't let my tummy fat break good enough. I said her colleague (first visit) told me not many customers could stand the heat and irritating pitch after 10 mins. Anyway, I gave in to stop her hard selling/white lies. Yes, I have doubts but I was laying in bed for them to slaughter so do I argue (reasoning) and waste my time with them? I shouldn't have taken up their short-term package. Seems like all these beauty and slimming centres need to hard sell in order to earn extra commission from each visiting customer.
According to web search, Radio Frequency Cavitation Slimming Machine:
1. Promote tissue metabolism.
2. Repel the cellulite
3. Tighten the skin
4. Fat dissolving
Not sure whether I had 20 mins .... seems too fast. During cavitation, I had feedback I couldn't feel heat building up. That China beautician said "is it?", felt the cavitation hand piece and made adjustment. At the end of 20 mins, I still didnt get the same heated gliding feeling but I didn't write about my second slimming opinion in the customer feedback slip.
I was given a body contour wrap with hot solution. After solution was applied onto my tummy, I was given a clingy plastic wrap, similar to this:
Immediately after I lied down, I could feel tummy flesh 'burning'. I thought it was due to the infra red on full blast. When the beautician came in to adjust, I placed my hands below the lamp and realised it wasn't hot, mild warm so I realised it was the Fat Burner solution. To make my tummy feel better, I decided to self-distract by doing some stretching exercises (swinging my arms and leg) and massaging my tummy. Seemed to relieve the burning sensation. By the way, I was still wearing the face mask that was supposed to reduce pigmentation.... I wasn't given a chance go choose facial treatment such as anti-aging, skin renewal, oxygen rejuvenation, etc.... all the 'craps' listed on its website. She didn't even discuss with me or tell me what she recommended! When the beautician talked to me and even made me laugh, I was worried I'd end up with wrinkles. She said no problem, that mask if ok. I mentally estimated the time, the mask was only washed off one hour later ... very long.
Once the wrap was cut off, I looked at my tummy, not very redden or any stinky feeling . I changed to my own clothes, signed my name and was told to write my comments before they let me off. Of course, they didn't fail to get me to sign their packages.
My height is 1.57 cm. My last visit to a slimming center, my weight was 59.1 kg (before shredding 700g of water in the form of sweat). One day after cavitation, my weight was 62 kg .... scaring! My dinner weighed so much? The next morning, my weight didn't drop. 3 days later, I tried to put on a dress that I last worn less than one month ago, it felt tight. I could feel the sleeves, which is arm areas quite tight. What happened? Did I suffer some side effects?
My earlier posts, I posted I tried fat freeze at Expressions and sweat slimming at London Weight Management. All these are suppose to make me reduce weight, what's going on?
Frantically, I did a web search:
1) "Joseph Eviatar of Chelsea Eye & Cosmetic Surgery said CoolSculpting (Fat Freeze) is ideal for “anyone who has exercise-resistant, unwanted bulges of fat.” While almost anyone could be considered a candidate for the procedure, Dr. Eviatar said the current applicators are only intended to treat pockets of fat on areas such as the flanks or lower and upper abdomen.
According to Dr. Eviatar, “most patients experienced between 20 and 25 percent reduction of fat in the treatment site.” While it takes about two to four months to see a noticeable reduction from CoolSculpting, the end results are said to be long-term and are "ideally maintained by healthy eating and exercising." If you gain a considerable amount of weight after the procedure, the weight will be evenly distributed to the remaining fat cells in the body. "If there are less fat cells in the treated area, the re-emergence of fat in that area should be less as well," he added."
So means my fat is now being distributed and not destroyed or discharged by sweat, urine or stool? I have not been eating oily/deep fried food or buffets, just the 3 standard meals.
2) Who is not a good candidate?
Someone who doesn’t have enough fat. You have to have at least “an inch to pinch” we tell patients. Or someone who has too much fat. This isn’t for someone who is 80-90 pounds overweight. Also, it’s not right for someone with loose skin or lack of skin elasticity. This procedure only removes fat cells, so if you have droopy skin from age or weight loss, this procedure won’t help you.”
3) Ultrasonic Cavitation has the similar result as liposuction. It removes cellulite and excess fat. preventing this from recurring in the treated areas, without damaging the vascular system. The procedure is painless and is very inexpensive compared to the thousands of dollars you could spend on liposuction. The ultrasound cavitation causes an emulsification of fat, it rupture fat cell membrane, thereby releasing its fat content, converting it into a substance easy to eliminate through sweat gland, liver sausage circulation, lymphatic system which eventually eliminate through urine.
Cavitation is not a method to lose weight but to reshape the body. It is particularly indicated for the reduction of adiposity. Ultrasonic cavitation can be considered a deep fat blaster that reduces stubborn fat cells that cannot be removed with exercise and diet alone.
We recommend a low calorie diet with protein in each meal and drink at least a glass of warm water (not carbonated, sparkling water, pop, coffee) before and after the session. Drinking plenty of water and having exercise such as brisk walk, biking or other aerobic activities for at least 3 days after the treatment to stimulate the lymphatic activity as elimination of the fat continues through the Lymphatic System for 72hrs. Follow by a suitable exercise routine. Cavitation will be best performed under high hydration conditions, avoid taking any caffeine or diuretics 2 days before therapy. Drink a lot of water will help to improve your metabolism and increase urine output -- lipid metabolites release out of your body. A lymph-draining massage is also encouraged to improve the circulation and lymphatic system, which helps to drain fluids."
Did my one day a time coffee caused an increase in weight? Or because I didn't do exercise or a lymph-draining massage after my 20 mins cavitation? I wasn't told to avoid caffeine. Also, I confess I didn't drink a lot of water, more than my usual or the normal 8 glasses each day.
4) This is something that is shocking ... cavitation just aid fat in moving from one area to another and no clinical trials listed proving fat is whisked out of the body.
One more visit to PS ... worry, hesitating. Certainly will be another unpleasant and money not worth experience awaiting. $200 + gst may be peanuts to you but not others.
Sigh! Yes, I know some people were coerced to take up packages or consultants screaming "you want to slim down or not"? Do you want to look good and healthy .... as for facial, beautician asked, "is your face important to you or not?". For tummy, I told the China beautician, I would buy clothes that can camouflage my ugly tummy... she felt I wasn't fat until I lifted my blouse and showed her my tummy. I will also buy underwear with tightening effect.
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On 19 Sep, my last 2 in 1 visit, I had about one hour facial, 10 mins cavitation and 15 mins body wrap with infra red light shone on my tummy.
The therapist who serviced me is one of the best I have experienced, no hard selling! She gave me a LED facial with the above machines and a mask that was washed off before I started cavitation. I learnt something that I felt I found out late ... she said customer shouldn't eat straight after slimming. I should wait at least 2 hours. If I really need to eat, best is salad with no dressing. The past visits, I went straight for my dinner and even drank soup. She said by having an unhealthy and heavy dinner, I am putting extra weight. My body became very good to absorb so if I ate unhealthy food, I am sure to have unwanted weight gain ... that really happened.
The cavitation experience was similar to my first visit, 10 mins of solid rubbing. I could feel the loud squeeky sound made by the machine and the warmth. My second visit was horrible. I utilised two of my session credit for a 20 mins cavitation which didn't make loud irritating sound nor did I feel the heat from the rubbing. I realised I have been cheated. That therapist didn't use strength to push/rub. No wonder she felt with her palm, she could only confirm the machine is working. It was her method that was wrong. Wasted my money.
Almost one week after my 2 in 1 visit, a skirt that I have worn one month ago is so tight. I almost failed to zip it up. The waist line is so tight that I have problem breathing or sitting comfortably wearing that skirt. I don't have the courage to step on a weighing machine.
Any way, this should end my slimming with machines. The more I tried to control and get rid of fats, the more I put on weight. Probably, I should continue be a food lover.
I was persuaded to take up a 'discounted facial package' but I said no. I really don't enjoy facial that doesn't come with shoulder massage. Extraction is definitely a no-no for aesthetic Centre. Walking out of Prestigious Solutions isn't that easy but I managed to .... started to be pro already.
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