Plastic Surgeon Dr. Dean Kane of Baltimore Answers Question Regarding CoolSculpting

Q. What are your opinions on the results of CoolSculpting versus Liposonix? I’m not overweight (BMI 20), and work out regularly, but can’t lose a pocket of fat on my lower abdomen. I can’t afford to spend thousands on something that doesn’t work. Also, does Liposonix result in permanent fat removal?

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A. Congrats on such a great BMI!  Non-Surgical Body Fat reduction is based on the transfer of energy across the skin into the fat to selectively destroy or fatally alter fat cells.

These energy devices since the creation of them some 20 years ago have been mostly disappointing. Their down fall is that they:

1. hurt too much or injure the skin to accomplish their goals or
2. they do not deliver the energy required due to the patient’s inability to tolerate the pain.

The energy’s used are:

1. laser ie focused light waves (eg. Sculpsure)
2. ultrasound ie focused sound waves (eg. Liposonix)
3. radio-frequency (eg. ThermiSMOOTH)
4. direct heat
5. cooling (eg. CoolSculpting)

Other than CoolSculpting, the others depend on heat. CoolSculpting is tried and true. It cools the fat to a non-frozen temperature that it selectively turns off the cells ability to function and dies (apoptosis).

Other than Zerona, a laser device which has fallen from use, the injured cells from the above die and do not come back. That is not to say that ALL the cells die so those remaining and those distant from the machines “reach” remain active and able to absorb redistributed calories to become bigger.

There are several devices on the market.

Device Manufacturer Mechanism Wavelength SculpSure Cynosure Laser Curve YOLO Medical Low level laser 658 nm Lapex Meridian Medical Low level laser 658 nm Zerona Erchonia Corp Low level laser 635 nm divergent beams Strawberry Laser Lipo Ltd Low level laser 660 nm I-Lipo Chromogenex Low level laser 650-660 nm Smoothshapes Cynosure Low level laser 650 nm and 915 nm Lumislim Titan Medisico Plc Low level laser 650 nm and 940 nm BTL Exilis Elite BTL Aesthetics Radiofrequency BTL Vanquish ME BTL Aesthetics Radiofrequency Thermage Solta Medical Radiofrequency Endymed Caesarea Radiofrequency Infini Lutronic Radiofrequency Tri-pollar Pollogen Radiofrequency Liposonix Solta Medical Thermal Focused Ultrasound UltraShape Syneron/Candela Inc Nonthermal Focused Ultrasound CoolSculpting Zeltiq Aesthetics Cryolipolysis Lipo Angel Plus Lipo Angel Ultrasonic Cavitation, Radio Frequency, Low Level Laser therapy

As you can see, other than CoolSculpting, the “800 pound gorilla”, almost all the others and more are not even around anymore.

Cost is an issue due to the expense to purchase these machines, the on-going costs of supplies, maintenance and training of personnel.

Good luck in your quest to find the “perfect” option for yourself. I wish you the best.

This information is not meant as medical advice. It is provided solely for education. Our practice would be pleased to discuss your unique circumstances and needs as they relate to these topics.

After puberty, fat cells (adipocytes) remain constant in number and change their size and volume according to the lipid (fat) content the body decides to store. Sometimes this fat assumes abnormal proportions in well-defined areas, such as thighs, hips and waist - even when your body weight is normal for your height. Attempts to reduce these localised fat deposits by diet or exercise alone are often unsuccessful.

Over the years, a variety of surgical interventions have been used to remove localised fat deposits including suction-assisted, ultrasound-assisted, and power-assisted liposuction. Although these procedures can be effective in reducing relatively large fat deposits, they do result in a lot of bruising and swelling in the treated area, requiring several days to recover; and they can cause some permanent numbness of the skin due to nerve damage.

Ultrasound-assisted liposuction became available in the early s and uses ultrasound energy, emitted via the tip of the cannula (hollow tube) inserted in the body, to emulsify (liquefy) the fat first before it is extracted via the vacuum suction.

Ultrasonic Body Contouring however, uses focused, (at targeted areas only) ultrasound waves, delivered in pulses; some devices deliver short bursts of energy to avoid heat building up in the tissues, to disrupt fat cells, whilst others are targeted at creating heat to kill fat cells and effectivley contour certain body areas, whilst leaving surrounding tissue unaffected.  Unlike the liposuction technique, the ultrasound energy is able to be delivered through the skin’s surface, without any incisions, and with all fat debris metabolised and naturally removed by the body itself.

If you are considering treatment with ultrasonic body contouring, the following information will give you a basic understanding of the procedure. It can't answer all your questions, since a lot depends on the individual patient. Please ask a practitioner about anything you don't understand.

Careful discussions regarding your reasons for wanting Ultrasonic Body Contouring are very important before you begin the treatment. You must also make sure that this treatment can deliver what you want and how you would like to look afterwards. Your practitioner should be able to answer all these questions.

A medical history should also be taken to make sure that there are no reasons why you shouldn’t undertake treatment. You may be asked to read detailed information and sign a consent form which means that you have understood the potential benefits and risks associated with the procedure.

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Your doctor will give you specific instructions before coming in for the procedure. This may include avoiding the use of aspirin or any other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDS) drugs for a couple of weeks before treatment.

Photographs may also be taken by the practitioner for a "before and after" comparison at a later date.

Here we discuss the Ultrashape® treatment.

Anaesthesia

No anaesthesia is required.

The procedure

Treatment begins with the practitioner marking the treatment area or target zone. The practitioner then glides the transducer (hand-held device that converts electrical energy into ultrasound energy) over the targeted zone, delivering short pulses of focused ultrasonic energy into the subcutaneous fat.

Each pulse breaks down the membranes of the fat cells, without impacting the blood vessels, nerves or other connective tissue, and the overlaying skin is also not damaged. By repeating the process, the device disrupts a layer of fatty tissue under the skin. .

When treated, the membranes of the fat cells are disrupted and fat cell content, known as triglycerides, is dispersed into the fluid between the cells and then transported through the vascular (veins) and lymphatic systems to the liver. Once in the liver, there is no distinction between fat coming from the treatment and fat originating from consumed food, and both are cleared from the liver via the body’s natural mechanisms.

The length of the treatment depends on how many areas you’re having treated, but can take between ¾ and 1½ hours.

Results

The results are seen gradually over a number of weeks, up to one month, as your body clears the fatty debris.

The manufacturers of the Ultrashape® device claim an average circumference loss of 2cm in one area after a single treatment session.

Repeat Treatments

Generally one treatment per area is considered to produce satisfactory results; however individuals may feel that they’d like repeat treatments.

Ultrasonic body contouring is not a treatment for obesity or a weight loss cure.

Although good results achieved with this procedure can be permanent, with a sensible diet and exercise, some people may require a repeat procedure in the future in order to achieve or maintain a desired result.

The company is the world’s best Liposonix Machine OEM(th,es,iw) supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.