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By Carey Reeder | Staff Writer

Heather Ford is a nurse by trade, but after a trip to a body sculpting clinic in Birmingham, she is now trying her hand in the business world. Heather, and her husband Mackie, opened Cool Change Body Sculpting and Boutique in Clanton in February to give residents a local location to help look young again.

Heather enjoyed her trip to the clinic in Birmingham, but she could not get a second appointment in a timely manner. Heather and Mackie discussed possible options, and the couple began looking into opening one in Chilton County. The couple moved to Chilton County about three years ago and live on Lake Mitchell.

“We started talking about it and looking at the different procedures,” Heather Ford said. “We looked at other places near Birmingham and they had a lot of offices, but none here in Clanton. We were not for sure how well it would do, but we decided to try it.”

The business planning began in October 2022, and the search for a building took a bit longer than expected. Being new business owners, the process of getting insurance, a business license and other proper documents was brand new to them and took some time.

Heather originally wanted to open in downtown Clanton but could not find a building. In December 2022, the couple found their home at 1601 First Street North in Clanton to open the business. Two months later in February, Cool Change opened its doors for its grand opening.

“We do all of the body sculpting people have seen such as cavi-lipo,” Heather Ford said. “We have multiple procedures, not really for weight loss, but to help with losing inches or those stubborn areas.”

Cool Change offers four distinct services to help clients lose fat cells, tighten skin, reduce cellulite or lose inches around their waist. It usually takes between three or four procedures until a person sees some results with best results coming after five or more treatments, and all services are noninvasive. All services are performed in a quiet and private room and should be followed with good hydration and 30 minutes of exercise per day.

Services normally target the abdomen, arms, thighs or back, and all the services are nonpainful.

“Everything we do all works on fat cells in different ways,” Heather Ford said. “Everyone has a different area they want to target, and some may have more than others.”

The first service, cavi-lipo, uses low-frequency ultrasound waves to break down fat cells which are then excreted through the lymphatic system over a two-week period. Cavi-lipo works best for cellulite reduction, skin tightening and reduction in inches, and each procedure takes between 30-60 minutes to complete and is followed by laser light therapy. The fat cells that

EmSlim, the second service, destroys fat cells while building muscle through muscle contractions that equals 20,000 sit ups in 30 minutes. The EmSlim uses a tens unit type device that may make the person sore the next day, and it benefits muscle strength and contouring that target areas without stress on one’s joints.

Cryo slimming and toning uses sub-zero cold temperatures to stimulate fat loss and takes about 30-45 minutes. This service is best used for slimming, toning, cellulite reduction and slows down the appearance of aging.

The final service, 6D laser-lipo, uses heat from fiber-optic low-level lasers to help melt body fat away and the fat cells are excreted through the lymphatic system. This procedure helps tighten skin as well as help lose inches on one’s waist. If integrated with other services it can help one have increased results.

Cool Change also has Styku body scanners available that make a 3D map of one’s body to help keep track of progress. The business offers ways to finance services as well.

Heather Ford also added a boutique in the business as another way to get people in the door. It also gives clients something to do while waiting on their procedure. The boutique has prom dresses for sale as well.

“I have always wanted to have a boutique,” Heather Ford said. “It will not be something we depend on full time, and we added the prom dresses because there is not anywhere here to get those.”

The Cool Change pages on Facebook and Instagram are the best ways to keep up with all the services and specials the business will have throughout the summer months. Cool change also has a website www.coolchangesculpting.com that has more information on procedures and ways to maximize results.

“I did not know how we would do, but we have gained a great following so far,” Heather Ford said. “We put everyone on a plan that is best for them.”