Last week I discussed fat and its physiology. Today I will go over the latest two machines that remove fat and how they compare with the gold standard, liposuction. Much of this information comes from Melinda Beck at the Wall Street Journal.
The first machine from Zeltiq is called CoolSculpting. You sit while the device the size of a paperback is applied to the skin overlying the fat to be removed. The area becomes cold then numb. In about an hour the fat cells crystallize from being frozen. The fat cells die over time and results are seen in 3-4 months. The costs are roughly $1,500 - $3,000 per site.
Zerona from the Erchonia Corp. uses low level laser energy to create pores in fat cells that cause the fatty contents to seep out. Patients lie on a table as the machine rotates around the fatty areas. It takes about 20 minutes on each side and is repeated three times a week for two weeks at which time results can be seen. The cost is between $1,800 and $3,000.
(Did You Know? Liposuction began in France in the late 1970’s and was introduced in the U.S. in the early eighties.)
Both techniques provide very little down time for the patient. There is also minimal pain involved. However, there are major drawbacks to these that prevent an optimal result for most patients. While both work on a general area, they are nonspecific to areas that may need more attention. Secondly, the machines affect mostly superficial fat. The best contouring however, involves removing amounts of fat from various depths to maximize results and minimize depressions. Smartlipo is also nonspecific machine using lasers that requires the removal of fluid that occurs when the fat cells liquify.
For thirty years liposuction has been the standard for body contouring. The results are predictable and safe when patients are chosen appropriately. Recuperation is modest for most patients and the costs competitive with the above. Importantly, most surgeons who do liposuction were trained in their residency and have spent years developing appropriate decision-making JUDGEMENT. This is the professional you want as your plastic surgeon.