Stef In The City: TruBody at VITAHL Medical Aesthetics
Stef in the City is a monthly column by Stefanie Jones. Stefanie moved from London to be a co-host of the nationally syndicated TV show Daily Blast Live which films in Denver. Starting in 2012, Stefanie was the host of Fashion One Television, an international channel focusing on beauty, glamour, style, luxury, and viewed in more than 120 countries worldwide. A regular correspondent for international fashion weeks and at red carpet events around the world, Stefanie used her VIP access to report on some of the industry’s most exclusive parties. She has interviewed fashion’s most well-known insiders, including Anna Wintour. Every issue, Stef will share her fashion and beauty insider tips with our readers.
PHOTOGRAPHED BY ESTHER LEE LEACH
Darlings, the twelve days of Christmas hit me hard. You know how the usual rhyme goes... geese a-laying and all that jazz… well mine was a little more like 12 days of vino, 11 days of cheese boards, 10 days of chocolates, 9 days of sleeping, 8 days of binge-watching Yellowstone, 7 days of no gym… you get the idea.
It’s very safe to say, I had highly indulged myself on all of the treats with little to no care as to the result of such decedent behavior… only for time to pass and my jeans not to fit (I can’t do the button up!) as they did prior and reflect upon my lack of discipline that maybe, just maybe, meant I was a little too excessive with how much fun I have had.
Time for action… they say summer bodies are made in winter (I’ve already missed the start of that race) and I can’t see myself joining a boot camp anytime soon so I decided to take a look into alternative methods of trimming up to get a head start for the new year, for a new me so to speak.
Whilst I’m keen to get the best results possible, I wanted to do it in a nonsurgical manner. I’ve heard horror stories of liposuction and whilst I’m wanting to lose a few inches, I want it to happen whilst not going under the knife. I headed over to VITAHL Medical Aesthetics in Cherry Creek for a consultation on what treatments they had available and what I’d be best suited to for optimum results.
I met with Rachel Beavers the Practice Manager, and she told me all about truBody, a mix of truSculpt iD and truSculpt fleX, the latest non-surgical body contouring treatment that helps you get the best aesthetic results without any invasive procedure or downtime. Rachel explained to me that the treatment was quick, that I could go back about my day or back to work immediately afterward, and that it would help me achieve my slimming down goals without any post-treatment discomfort. It sounded like a no-brainer. I asked how it worked, she explained that truSculpt iD is a monopolar RF (radiofrequency) nonablative technology. For us non-scientific types it means there is zero downtime and it provides on average, a 24% reduction of fat per session. My jaw dropped at the stats. The device works using radiofrequency, which is best known to destroy fat cells deep into the subcutaneous layer surpassing blood vessels, nerve endings, and other connective tissues. The best candidates for truSculpt iD are (usually within) 20 to 30 pounds of their target goal weight and want to contour stubborn areas on the body. I would then be having truSculpt fleX, a muscle stimulation that can give an increase of up to 30% muscle mass over 6 treatments helping me to achieve a toned stomach once again. SIGN ME UP!
Rachel Beavers, Practice Manager at VITAHL
I booked in a couple of days later to try it out. Rachel was so wonderfully patient with me, answering all of my questions, most of them revolving around how much pain I’d be in… spoiler alert, THERE WAS NONE. She took a few pictures of me from different angles and had my fat levels taken via ultra-sound to be able to get the numerical results for the before and after results… then, it was all systems go. Quite literally.
Like the majority of us, I am not a fan of pain or discomfort of any kind. I’ll be the first to opt-out should there be the mention of the slightest discomfort and even though Rachel reassured me it would merely feel like a hot stone massage, I was still nervous. First, Rachel marked off the areas which would be treated. I had opted for my full abdomen and flanks (aka love handles). She then applied a sticky truSculpt iD pad to the skin, which the truSculpt iD applicators would be applied to. Once they were firmly attached, she wrapped me up like a burrito in a clear plastic wrap. So far, so good. Rachel told me to lay back and relax as she turned on the device and it would deliver short pulses of radiofrequency to each of the applicators which in turn would become warm. She explained throughout the 15-minute treatment it would gradually become hotter whilst alternating between the 6 pads. I laid back before quickly telling Rachel “I can feel it, I can feel it! A weird tingling!” She politely responded, “No, no you can’t feel it Stefanie, the machine’s not turned on yet.” How typical of me, I was so paranoid about if it would hurt, I was imagining the whole thing. Cringe. Rachel did kindly notify me when she had turned the machine on and explained to me step by step what was happening in real-time… once I relaxed, it was was honestly the most wonderful 15-minute treatment bar a massage that I’ve ever had. The applicators delivered a warming, comforting heat - I love hot baths and hot water bottles and this felt heavenly. As the heating sensation increased, I wondered if it would become unbearable, but it never did. Rachel mentioned it is normal for clients to sweat, request cold towels and cool drinks during the treatment but I was enjoying the heat so much I relished in it.
Depending on how large an area you’re treating, you could simultaneously have multiple done at once as the machine has six applicators in total. But since I opted to treat separate sections of my stomach and flanks requiring four to six applicators at a time, I had them done separately. The whole process was over before I knew it, and Rachel began unwrapping her human burrito, ready for step two, Flex.
After removing the applicators from step one, Rachel applied the truSculpt fleX pads onto my stomach for the final stage of treatment. This step helps to shrink the fat layer and gain stronger, more defined muscle. After being so concerned with step one and enjoying it way more than I possibly should, I was surprisingly excited to experience Flex. Rachel told me it would feel like a hardcore workout in the gym, with the machine stimulating contractions, confusing the muscles resulting in what would be around 10,000 sit-ups from a regular gym workout! I laid back down, ready for round two, unsuspecting of what was about to come. For the next 45 minutes, I was pretty much howling in laughter, with the Flex machine moving my muscles in ways I had never experienced. It never hurt, it was just so unusual. Rachel found it hilarious watching me giggle and squirm, I could not help myself but wiggle about on the bed. I caught my breath and composed myself between what I can only call the contractions only to have a new movement begin moments later. They say laughter burns calories and I can safely say I was in fits of it for the entire duration. Before I knew it, it was time to get dressed and go about my day. I booked in the next few rounds of Flex - Vitahl sells them in rounds of 6 for optimum results, and am now patiently awaiting my results.
The truBody full effect takes approximately 12 weeks for final results, and I am so excited to share it with you guys that I'm on countdown. It was painless, enjoyable and I’m genuinely looking forward to completing the rounds of Flex. This treatment is perfect if you’ve indulged a little too much over the holidays like me or like most of us, have little stubborn areas of fat that need a little extra help to remove or enhance. All of us want to feel good in our skin and this is the perfect way to get results whether it is on your abdomen, flanks, inner and outer thighs, arms, the team at Vitahl can assist you in getting the body you deserve. I won’t lie - Flex is a commitment needing 6 trips in total, twice a week for three weeks to get the best results, but in all honesty, it’s enjoyable and a real treat. Me time that comes with a six-pack? I’ll take two please! I will be revealing my results in 12 weeks' time so watch this space. For more information, visit: https://vitahl.com/
Happy New Year Darlings. Here's to a new you and follow me @steffrjones
