None — Reducing Fat Deposits: Liposuction
Many people have bulges or pockets of fat on their bodies. One method of removing some of the extra fat is liposuction. There are several variations in technique. However, generally, a small incision is made into the skin. Then a narrow hollow tube (cannula) with a pointed edge is passed through the incision into the target area of fat. As the cannula is moved back and forth, the pointed edge breaks up the fat. A vacuum at the other end of the cannula suctions out the loosened fat tissue.
After surgery, patients may have significant swelling and bruising. A compression garment is worn for the first few days. Most people can resume normal activity in ten days.
Liposuction is the second most popular cosmetic surgery in the U.S. According to The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 283,735 procedures were performed in 2009. Average costs range from $2,800 to nearly $3,100. Common treatment sites include the abdomen, buttocks, hips and thighs.
Chilling Away Fat
Researchers are testing another technique for reducing unwanted body fat, called Cryolipolysis™, using the ZELTIQ™ system. Instead of heat to melt fat, the system uses cold temperatures to break down the fat. The device looks like a clamp with metal plates. The skin in the target area is pulled between the two plates by a vacuum, and then clamped. When the machine is turned on, cold water circulates through the plates. Robert Weiss, M.D., Dermatologic Surgeon at the Maryland Laser, Skin, & Vein Institute in Hunt Valley, MD, explains the process cools the tissue in the immediate area to about refrigerator temperature. For an unknown reason, fat cells are more susceptible to the cold than other cells. The cooling causes the targeted fat cells to die and break down. Over time, the fat content is slowly released, carried to the lymphatic system and eliminated by the body.
A single treatment takes about one hour. Patients may initially feel a cold sensation, but that goes away fairly quickly. Most patients rest or read a book during the session. Afterwards, the skin may stay in the clamped position for about 15 minutes. It takes several months to see the final results because the break down of fat cells occurs slowly.
Weiss says most patients need two cycles of treatment, one on each side of the body. Those with a significant amount of fat may need more treatments. Depending on where you live, it can cost as much as $2,000 to treat a single area of the body.
Currently, Cryolipolysis is only approved for skin cooling during laser and other dermatological treatments. The company is gathering data on its use for fat removal and hopes to soon have FDA approval for this indication. Side effects of the treatment can include skin redness, bruising and temporary numbness. In most cases, these symptoms disappear within a week.
For information about the Cryolipolysis™ technology or to find a provider, click here.
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