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New Methods for Non-Invasive Fat Reduction Show Promise
Friday, January 14th, 2011
For years, non-invasive fat reduction technology has been a kind of ‘Holy Grail’ that researchers and physicians have quested after in hopes of offering patients more options for body slimming and contouring.
And although no technology to date can effectively compete with liposuction in terms of the permanent fat reduction results that can be achieved, advances in non-invasive fat reduction techniques that use ultrasound and cryolipolysis (fat-freezing) technology do show some promise.
In a recent Cosmetic Surgery Times article, Dr. William Coleman III, who spoke at the 2010 joint annual meeting of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery and the American Society of Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery, said that two ultrasound-based fat reduction platforms currently being studied by the FDA have achieved circumferential fat reduction without surgery in clinical trials.
According to Dr. Coleman, who is also a clinical investigator and member of the advisory board for UltraShape, the Contour ultrasonic fat reduction device developed by UltraShape can produce up to 7.6 cm of circumferential fat reduction, whereas LipoSonix (Medicis) has been shown to reduce circumferential fat deposits by only 2.8 cm on average.
“It is intended for reducing localized fat deposits mainly on the abdomen, flanks and thighs, and therefore is not a replacement for liposuction,” Dr. Coleman says of UltraShape’s Contour platform. “However, there are a number of clinical studies showing its efficacy in achieving significant circumferential fat reduction.”
A published clinical study also backs up efficacy claims of the new CoolSculpting fat reduction platform developed by Zeltiq, which uses cryolipolysis (fat-freezing) technology to permanently reduce fat cells. According to the study, a 25 percent gradual reduction in ultrasound-measured fat is seen six months after CoolSculpting treatment.
Other non-invasive devices utilizing light- and radiofrequency-based technology, as well as mesotherapy (injection lipolysis), have also explored as fat reduction modalities over the years, however as Dr. Coleman points out, these produce less-promising results and likely will not catch on, at least in their current stages of development.
“Mesotherapy will likely disappear unless it becomes safer and more reliable. Mechanical techniques and light-based devices have limited efficacy, and radiofrequency will have to be completely re-engineered to be successful in this market,” says Dr. Coleman.
Tags: coolsculpting, fat freezing, fda, liposuction alternative, zeltiq
Posted in Liposuction, New Technology | 40 Comments »
Plastic Surgery Organization Predicts Fat Melting, Facial Rejuvenation Hot in 2011
Tuesday, December 28th, 2010
When it comes to plastic surgery, consumer interests tend to change very little year-over-year, however the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery’s (ASAPS) recent press release suggests that new, non-invasive body shaping technologies are poised to gain more popularity in 2011, along with tried-and-true surgical procedures designed to address the customized needs of this generation of cosmetic surgery consumer.
Plastic Surgery
Facial rejuvenation surgeries, such as facelift, brow lift and short-scar facelift, or mini lift, procedures are expected to become increasingly popular in 2011, as many consumers rebound from economic hardship and seek treatments for sagging skin and wrinkles they’ve been putting off for the past year or two.
ASAPS anticipates that increased awareness of obesity risks and dramatic weight loss awaits many patients in 2011, thus ushering in the need for more body lift, thigh lift, arm lift and tummy tuck procedures, as well as others designed to remove loose, excess skin after weight loss.
Buttocks augmentation procedures such as the Brazilian butt lift, which is designed to give patients a plumper, shapelier posterior a la Kim Kardashian or Beyonce, will also continue to increase in popularity in 2011, according to ASAPS.
In addition, baby boomers with aging breast implants are also likely to need maintenance procedures, such as implant replacement surgery to exchange aging implants and breast lift surgery to lift drooping or sagging breasts.
Non-surgical Cosmetic Treatments
Injectable wrinkle relaxers and fillers, such as Botox, Juvederm, Restylane and Radiesse, became some of the most popular cosmetic treatments in 2010 and will continue to be widely used in 2011, according to ASAPS. The organization also noted that injectable treatments will continue to evolve over the next year, as scientists bring new wrinkle smoothing treatments to the U.S. market.
Non-invasive and minimally invasive cosmetic treatments will continue to increase in popularity as doctors and pharmaceutical and medical manufacturing companies work to give consumers new body contouring and skin rejuvenation options that don’t require surgery in 2011.
ASAPS predicts non-surgical fat-zappers such as Zerona and Zeltiq CoolSculpting will only continue to increase in popularity over the next year, and technological improvements will likely make these and other non-invasive fat reduction procedures more effective.
However, the organization reminds consumers that for the foreseeable future, minimally invasive surgical liposuction will remain the most effective method for permanent fat reduction.
It is unlikely most consumers will shy away from body shaping just because non-surgical procedures cannot yet produce the same results as liposuction, especially now that liposuction is less invasive than ever with the advent of super slim cannulas (fat suctioning tools) and other devices like lasers (SmartLipo), ultrasonic technology (VASER Lipo) and water jet technology (Body Jet Lipo).
Tags: body jet lipo, botox, breast implants, coolsculpting, injectable fillers, liposuction, liposuction alternative, plastic surgeons, smart lipo, vaser lipo, zeltiq, zerona
Posted in Breast Implants, Facial Plastic Surgery, Injectable Fillers, Liposuction, New Technology, Plastic Surgery | 132 Comments »
Liposuction Alternative Zeltiq Now FDA Approved
Friday, September 10th, 2010
CoolSculpting, a new procedure created by Zeltiq, was recently approved by the FDA for non-invasive fat reduction. The technology behind the Zeltiq CoolSculpting device actually allows plastic surgeons to reduce fat without surgery and offer patients a true liposuction alternative.
Like liposuction, CoolSculpting by Zeltiq can effectively reduce body fat, especially on the love handles and flanks. The procedure takes about an hour or two, and full results from the Zeltiq procedure can be seen within two to four months.
Although Zeltiq’s technology reduces stubborn fat deposits and produces results similar to liposuction procedures like Smart Lipo and VASER liposuction, the technology is quite different.
CoolSculpting by Zeltiq vs. Liposuction
The primary difference between CoolSculpting and liposuction is that CoolSculpting is non-surgical, whereas liposuction requires small incisions. The actual fat disruption process is also quite different during each procedure.
Additionally, no downtime is needed following CoolSculpting, whereas liposuction patients may spend anywhere from a few days to a week recovering from outpatient surgery.
Zeltiq CoolSculpting Technology
During the Zeltiq procedure, fat cells are destroyed by way of a cooling process called Cryolipolysis. Liposuction relies on heat, sound or mechanical manipulation to breakup fat cells, but Cryolipolysis technology targets and shrinks fat cells by painlessly exposing them to extreme cold without damaging the outer layer of the skin.
This induces a natural, controlled elimination of the fat cells through the lymphatic system, which ultimately results in decreased fat deposits and unwanted bulges.
Although the new Zeltiq CoolSculpting procedure permanently destroys fat cells to smooth and improve body contours, it is important to note that like liposuction, it is not intended for weight loss and will not cure obesity.
CoolSculpting by Zeltiq is the only device of its kind that’s been not only FDA approved, but also scientifically proven effective to reduce fat and help patients shed inches without going under the knife.
Tags: liposuction alternative, zeltiq
Posted in Liposuction, New Technology | 56 Comments »
Body Jet Liposuction: A New Spin on Tumescent Liposuction
Sunday, August 22nd, 2010
A new device that utilizes water jets to break up and flush unwanted fat from the body during liposuction is gaining popularity among body contouring patients and plastic surgeons.
Marketed under the brand name Body-Jet Lipo, this gentle new water-assisted liposuction technique causes very little tissue trauma and typically results in less bruising, swelling and downtime than traditional liposuction.
Body Jet Lipo is similar to tumescent liposuction in that the procedure doesn’t require general anesthesia. Local tumescent anesthesia fluid can be delivered into the body via the device’s water jets, and the anesthetic solution can be suctioned out simultaneously, which decreases the risk of lidocaine absorption and the overall risk of liposuction surgery complications.
Unlike laser liposuction procedures, such as Smart Lipo, Body Jet Liposuction doesn’t tout skin tightening as a benefit, but if firming effects are needed, the Body Jet procedure can be combined with laser liposuction to reduce skin laxity.
Another advantage of Body Jet Liposuction is that there is less pain during the recovery period. The results of Body Jet Lipo are also typically apparent in a shorter period of time than with traditional liposuction because less swelling is present following the procedure.
Just as with other types of liposuction, the best candidates for Body Jet Lipo are adult men and women at a stable body weight who want to remove stubborn fat deposits from their neck, arms, belly, flanks, love handles, hips, thighs and buttocks. Although Body Jet Lipo carries fewer risks than some plastic surgery procedures, it is still surgery and should only be performed on patients who are physically and mentally healthy.
While new liposuction technologies can offer numerous benefits to patients who wish to undergo body contouring, the key to ensuring you achieve great results is seeking an experienced, board-certified New Jersey plastic surgeon to perform your liposuction procedure.
Tags: body jet lipo
Posted in Liposuction, New Technology | 7 Comments »
Florida Medical Board Penalizes Unqualified Liposuction Practitioner
Friday, August 13th, 2010
The Florida Board of Medicine recently imposed a one year suspension on Dr. Yves N. Jean-Baptiste’s medical license, along with a $50,000 fine, following an investigation that stemmed from a complaint made by a 2009 liposuction patient.
In addition to the emergency license suspension and fine, which was increased from $10,000 to $50,000 by the medical board, Jean-Baptiste could also face a three year probationary period of supervised practice once the suspension is up.
“I think he’s in a lot of trouble because he doesn’t have a surgical background,” said board member Dr. Trina Espinola, a St. Petersburg surgeon.
A certified family medicine specialist with no plastic surgery residency or fellowship training, Jean-Baptiste had completed only a single three-day liposuction training course.
Jean-Baptiste’s punishable offenses included allowing two unlicensed medical assistants to perform liposuction in an unregistered surgical facility and failing to perform a proper pre-operative exam.
In addition, the board also discovered that Jean-Baptiste was not keeping adequate medical records in this case and did not appropriately document important surgical details, including the amount of anesthesia used and the amount of fat removed.
The Florida Board of Medicine’s decision reflects its awareness of the inherent risk of unqualified practitioner participation in a cash-only industry like cosmetic medicine, as well as the importance of seeking a well trained and highly qualified plastic surgeon for liposuction, laser liposuction or any other cosmetic surgery procedure.
“This kind of case underscores how a weekend of coursework doesn’t prepare physicians to perform procedures such as liposuction,” said Chris Nuland, a Jacksonville attorney representing Florida’s plastic surgeons and dermatologists.
Considering that physicians certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery spend two to three years exclusively learning how to correctly perform plastic surgery procedures, including several hours of liposuction training, these specialists are uniquely qualified to perform liposuction. Be sure to seek a board certified New Jersey plastic surgeon if you are considering body contouring with liposuction.
Tags: plastic surgeons, regulations
Posted in In The News, Liposuction, Plastic Surgery | 31 Comments »
