Contours of Hinsdale owner Katrina Kern never could have imagined that her status as a breast cancer survivor would lead to a new profession. But in 2016, as she was preparing to undergo chemotherapy, she learned of a new FDA-approved cryotherapy procedure that minimized hair loss. Kern gave it a try and was amazed by the results. Through a stressful period of fear and isolation, the chance to preserve her hair was a small victory that kept her spirits up.

Kern saw a parallel between cryotherapy and a separate treatment she tried years earlier: CoolSculpting, a FDA-approved procedure that freezes and kills unwanted fat cells. Undergoing the treatment herself affirmed the idea of offering CoolSculpting in Chicago’s Western Suburbs.

Few will deny the benefits of diet and exercise on both mind and body. But as we age, we have bulges of fat that simply won’t go away regardless of how many hours we spend on the treadmill or how many healthy meals we eat. CoolSculpting is designed to remove those stubborn pockets that inevitably develop over time.

“I never want to push anything that I don’t believe in or that I don’t want or need,” Kern says. “I thought if this works, this is what I want to do.”

Her ultimate goal is to instill confidence and hope in her patients—and she has the firsthand experience to support this.

“Everybody is beautiful and I just want them to feel better about themselves,” she says. “It’s about building confidence that can pour into other aspects of their lives.”

Many medical spas may offer CoolSculpting services, but Contours of Hinsdale is one of only a few facilities in the country—and the only one in Illinois—to focus exclusively on this noninvasive procedure. This allows her staff to excel at what they do and stay patient-focused.

“A lot of places have the technology, but this is all we do, day in and day out,” says Kern. “Our clients can feel confident about going through the procedure.”

Staff members have attended an on-site training program at Allergan headquarters (manufacturers of the CoolSculpting device) in Pleasanton, California, and a board certified physician serves as an in-house medical director. Countours is also a CoolSculpting Certified practice, meaning the entire team has undergone all of the proper training and earned their credentials to specialize in the treatment.

Kern started her practice in a rented room in a spa and then opened her current, stand-alone office two years ago. It’s a place where clients can feel at home.

“We create a very unintimidating place to get free consultations and make sure people are the right candidates, can receive a proper assessment, and get the results they are seeking,” she says.

CoolSculpting is relatively affordable, and due to its noninvasive nature there is little downtime and few side-effects. Contours offers zero-percent financing options, and the results are long-term and permanent.

With a primarily female clientele (Kern stresses there are male patients, too), Contours partners with other local, women-owned businesses, including nurses and estheticians, to cross-promote. Call it a network of self-care.

“We all work together to help women feel more comfortable with their bodies,” Kern says.

Contours of Hinsdale is located at 111 Chicago Avenue, Suite 200, in Hinsdale, 630-207-7055, contoursofhinsdale.com.