Tony G.'s Fat Freezing Story

I recently turned 40, and around that time, photos started telling me something I didn't really want to hear. In my head, I looked one way. Then I would see myself in a picture and think, wow, I'm definitely a little more overweight than I thought.

Nobody loves admitting that. I'm a social person, I love to travel, and I like being out in the world doing things. I didn't want the way I felt about my weight taking up so much space in my head.

Still, I wasn't sitting at home researching cosmetic treatments. The idea came up because my cousin was going to Thailand to visit family and have a fat freezing treatment. I hadn't been in a while, so I decided to join her.

A trip to Thailand and a "why not?" moment

Once the trip was planned, I started getting curious. One cousin was having fat freezing done, and another was getting LASIK. Apparently, this had become a family healthcare trip.

I was already going to be there, so I thought, why not look into it?

The treatment used cooling technology to target specific areas of the body without surgery or much downtime. When I looked at similar treatments in the United States, boy, were they expensive. In Thailand, it was $900 a session.

Getting care in another country didn't seem that strange to me. I had been to Costa Rica before, where a friend had dental work done. My sister is also a doctor, so I knew there were reasons to be careful. I wanted to understand the treatment and see the clinic before agreeing to anything.

The price might get you through the door, but the place still has to feel right.

Not your typical mall visit

The clinic was inside a high-end shopping mall. That might sound strange in the United States, but cosmetic clinics were common in the nicer malls in Thailand. You could shop for a designer bag and book a cosmetic treatment under the same roof.

The clinic itself was fabulous. It was clean, bright, and professional. Someone who spoke English explained everything and answered my questions. The room felt private, and a staff member was always nearby.

I never felt like they had put me in a room and forgotten about me. Honestly, the experience felt more personal than some of the healthcare I've received in the United States.

Once I saw the clinic and met the staff, I felt good about moving forward.

One session without losing a day of vacation

I completed one session, got up, walked out of the clinic, and continued with my day. There was almost no downtime, so I could still visit family, shop, eat, relax, and enjoy Thailand.

That was a big part of the appeal. The treatment fit into the trip instead of taking it over.

The clinic offered a series of sessions, but I decided to start with one. I was curious, but I was also being cautious. I was dipping my toe in rather than taking the full plunge.

One session didn't completely change how I look, and I wouldn't claim that it did. I have also lost more weight since the trip. Still, I felt like I noticed a difference, and overall, I feel much better about the way I look.

What I took home

Looking back, I probably would have done more sessions while I was there. The additional treatments were still much more affordable than the options I had found in the United States. Now that I know how comfortable and straightforward the experience was, I would be willing to take more of a plunge.

I understand why people might be unsure about receiving care in another country. You should research the provider, learn about the treatment, and ask questions. At the same time, you shouldn't assume that a clinic will be lower quality just because it is outside the United States.

For me, that's one of the best parts of traveling. You get to see how people do things in other parts of the world, and sometimes you find out that your assumptions were wrong.

I went to Thailand to see family and enjoy a great trip. I came home having tried something new, feeling better about myself, and thinking differently about what care abroad can look like.

I would absolutely consider doing it again. Next time I go to Thailand, fat freezing will probably be part of the itinerary.

Tony G, 40, San Rafael, CA. Social, well traveled, and already planning the next trip to Thailand.