Change is A-Comin'

Thursday was the day of reckoning.  I wore loose clothing, and packed a sports bra. (I don't wear them. Uni-boob = not attractive)

Don't forget the cover sheet for the TPS reports.

At 2:30 another volunteer and I sidled past the classroom full of doctors and PAs into separate treatment rooms.  I know the drill.

Ugly paper shorts, check.
Ill-fitting sports bra that enhances my back fat, check.
White socks because the floor is chilly, check.
Fashion disaster, check.

Yup, these are the shorts, only they're about 7 inches longer.

The coordinator of the program pokes her head in to make sure I'm ready. She's gorgeous. The kind of pretty you stare at when you see it in a public place. You know, the megawatt smile, well-behaved hair, and a trim, athletic build. The resident nurse and one of our top sales associates join us.

By the time the assessment phase is done, 8 people have handled my bulges, debated, and drawn on me in 6 different shades of sharpie. It wasn't bad; they're all clinical but friendly, and any awkwardness I felt at first had waned. I wasn't in a total state of comfort, but I wasn't sweating bullets either.

Meanwhile aside from the occasional question or answer, I did my best mannequin impression.

As someone with 20 extra pounds (mostly on my torso) there was quite a few sharpie marks by the time they were done

Same idea, but with a lot more sharpie.

Rather than having one large applicator across my entire belly roll, it was decided that I'd get better results if I got a smaller treatment on either side with a slight overlap.  After having seen numerous before and after shots over the past two years, I silently agreed.  In just over a year, the techniques have improved, in my opinion. I really look forward to how this would compare to my first treatment last April.

I got into the treatment chair and a cold gel pad was placed on one side.  The applicator went on easily and soon I was alone in the room with my iPad, a bottle of water, and the machine sitting like a sentry, diligently extracting the heat from my fat tissue and drowning out the sounds of the other rooms with soothing white noise.

Unlike my first treatment, there wasn't really any discomfort at all. Not even after having been handled by 8 people, which left my skin sensitive.  The hour flew by, and the applicator came off.  Once again, I had a "butter stick" of fat solidly shaped by the machine.  It was massaged for two minutes, which was not comfortable, but was easily managed with a bit of pillow to squeeze and deep breaths.

Soon after the applicator went on the other side.

That's me!

.

Despite the slight overlap at the center of my abdomen, it wasn't uncomfortable at all.
An hour later, the removal and massage was repeated.  By the time I was de-gooed and dressed, they had all left for a group dinner.

Two days later I'm a little sensitive and the sharpie is finally coming off with a bunch of 91% isopropyl alcohol.  I'm so excited to see if the use of the smaller applicators will make a difference!

Almost a year later...

I know I promised before and after pictures, but you're not going to get them, yet.
Don't be mad. Delayed gratification means a bigger reward!

90 days after my first treatment I went in for a follow-up assessment.  There was a discernible difference. Not enough for me to go to the next ComicCon in a Leia slave outfit, but enough to prove the treatment works.

To be fair, I am about 20 lbs over weight. It distributes well, but a good portion is in my midsection.  I knew going in one treatment did not a bikini model make.

That's me on the left.

 As a candidate for T2T, I knew I'd be going back. I'd need to "debulk" my belly and then the upper abs and love handles could be more accurately assessed and treated. However, due to the fact that all of this is done as part of a company benefit, there were quite a few people requesting treatment. Added to my hectic schedule, it's been a year since I could get another.

Now serving number infinity + 1

I can honestly say my original results are still evident, despite a minor weight loss and regain (+/- 7 lbs).  The treated area has a slight depression. It's not enough to be an eyesore, but as someone who's lived with this body for *mumbles* mmmphty-9 years, I can see where things change.

Tomorrow, I'm receiving another assessment and a cycle (or 2?) as we have expanded our corporate offices into a facility that instructs our clients (the doctors) on the most effective techniques for assessment and use of the differing sized applicators.  As I'd like to really be an advocate for our product, I'm going to be a guinea pig.

Someone's gotta do it!

As my photos were already re-taken last week, I don't have to go through that again. Instead, I'll be scrutinized by several coworkers, and, oh yeah, 5 or 6 really well reputed plastic surgeons and dermatologists from around the country. You know, those people that make a living scrutinizing the physical flaws of other people? No worries, though. I know for a fact they've seen worse than me. 

"The good news is, you're not hideous!"

I'm wondering what the results will be this time, as the area has already been treated before. And will a year between treatments make a difference?