As we move into spring, a new fashion trend has many turning to cosmetic surgeons for thinner thighs.
Local 12's Liz Bonis that trend is partly being driven by runway models who have what's commonly referred to as the thigh gap and it might be dangerous.
Just how realistic is that for those of us who are walking around in everyday life? While it may look appealing, health experts do have concerns that those of us who don't do it the healthy way, especially with diet and exercise, might actually be harming the body.
It's also driving up a bit of a demand for some of the newer procedures which may influence the size and shape of your thighs. Julie Phillippi Whitney says she does know the feeling of trying everything to reduce thigh size and not seeing success. "I do spinning, walking, pilates, yoga, nothing is going to give me thinner thighs.
" She's one of many trying this newer technique called cool sculpting at Dr. Jon Mendelsohn's office. "Coolsculpting uses temperature to irradiate fat."
A wand sits on the inner thigh for about 2 hours and freezes the area. Dr. Jon Mendelsohn says "During that time, the cold time incites an inflammatory response in the skin and that induces apoptosis or fat cell death."
It'll be about 6 weeks before Julie gets some final results, but she admits "I feel like my thighs are too close together so I'd be really excited if there was a gap."
Expectations, which may not be realistic for all women, since cool sculpting reduces only about a quarter of the fat cells in the area treated.
It's about $700 per thigh, which does cover follow up treatments.
