Non-surgical fat removal

Home « News « Non-surgical fat removal

Several promising non-surgical fat removal techniques are the topic of great interest at this year’s American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) Plastic Surgery conference in Chicago.  Among one of the most exciting new treatments is an experimental technique called non-invasive body contouring.  This fat removal technique uses focused ultrasound waves to break up and eliminate pockets of stubborn fat on the stomach, thighs, and hips.  This non-surgical fat removal technique takes only an hour and does not require an incision.  This cutting-edge technique is non-invasive and virtually painless, allowing a patient to return to work right after the procedure.  Pending FDA approval, non-surgical body contouring may be available by next year. 

This non-surgical fat removal procedure is perfect for individuals wishing to eliminate unwanted pockets of fat, which do not respond to diet and exercise, without having to go under the knife.  While liposuction, the surgical alternative, can remove considerable amounts of fat, this ultrasound technique is better suited for smaller areas of excess fat. 

The ultrasound fat removal technique requires that a patient undergo three to four treatments to achieve their desired results.  During each session, a qualified and experienced plastic surgeon uses an ultrasound probe to massage the skin.  The ultrasound waves painlessly penetrate beneath the skin, causing the fat cells to rupture and die.  The body then gets rid of these unwanted cells.  Dr. Rod J. Rohrich, former president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, says “There may be some moderate tingling [during the procedure], but patients do not find this to be painful.” 

Dr. Rohrich also says clinical trials conducted in Israel and Europe have been “very promising.”  One St. Louis plastic surgeon, Leroy Young, says that while this technique shows promise, other non-surgical fat removal treatments are have great potential.  Mesotherapy, a procedure which has been popular abroad for years, uses specially formulated injections to kill fat cells.  This non-surgical fat removal treatment has not been specifically approved for cosmetic use in the United States. 

Researchers are also developing a non-invasive laser procedure targeted at cellulite, that bothersome and virtually untreatable skin feature affecting nearly 90 percent of all adult women.   Dr. Young, who works on the ASPS task force on new trends in plastic surgery, states that patients who have undergone the laser procedure show dramatic results. 

With so many promising treatments on the horizon, consumers can be sure that cosmetic surgery will be offering many exciting new techniques that produce dramatically pleasing aesthetic results without the invasiveness of traditional procedures. 

 

 

 


ABCPSR