If there is one common theme in winning the proverbial "battle of the bulge," it’s how do I tackle those last stubborn pockets of fat — the tummy pooches, love handles, hips and thigh bulges that exercise and nutrition just don’t seem to dent?
That’s the question Dr. Lawrence Shaw, a Scottsdale, Ariz., double board certified plastic surgeon hears most often.
Of course there are tried and true surgical procedures — ultrasonic and suction-assisted liposuction, SmartLipo (known clinically as laser-assisted lipolysis), tummy tucks and mommy make-overs — that can help contour the body to achieve the patient's concerns and aesthetic goal, but not everyone is on board with the idea of nips and tucks.
"I've been looking for many years, without success, to find an effective, scientifically proven, non-surgical liposuction alternative," says Dr. Shaw. “There is a strong demand for a non-invasive procedure that can address the concerns of women and men who are otherwise fit, but despite diet and exercise, still have hard to eliminate problem areas.”
At last, after significant research, Dr. Shaw found CoolSculpting by Zeltiq, a non-invasive, no-needle-approach that’s FDA cleared.
The painless liposuction alternative uses Cryolipolysis, a patented technique to produce controlled cooling to targeted fat cells. The fat cells are cooled to just above freezing without harming the overlying skin. For clients, it means a 20 to 25 percent on average reduction of fat in the treated area with no downtime, according to clinical trials conducted in 2010.
“Within a few weeks your body’s natural healing processes remove the damaged fat cells, resulting in safe, gradual fat reduction,” he says. “Many patients can start to enjoy a toned, slimmer look just three weeks following treatment, with the most dramatic results occurring over a period of two to three months.”
The SHAW Center for Aesthetic Enhancementis the first plastic surgery practice in the Scottsdale-Phoenix Metro area to add CoolSculpting to its list of fat reduction, body contouring procedures.
During the procedure, a gel pad is applied onto the skin and the device's vacuum applicator uses suction to draw the tissue between its cooling panels. Patients experience an initial cool sensation with little to no discomfort, he says. “Most patients surf the Internet, watch a movie, read a book or listen to music during the treatment.” Patients can resume their normal activities immediately after the procedure.
CoolSculpting is not intended as a weight-reduction program for overweight individuals. “The best candidates are those who aren't significantly overweight but have some localized areas of fat that they'd like to get rid of on the abdomen, hips, or thighs," Jeffrey Dover, a Boston dermatologist and chair of the Zeltiq scientific advisory board tells U.S. News and World Report.
Comprehensive multi-center clinical studies submitted to the FDA validated that CoolSculpting kills fat cells in the area treated based on histological and ultrasound assessment. The FDA approved CoolSculpting for fat reduction in September 2010. The non-invasive technique is cleared for use in the United States, Canada and European Union. More than 7,000 patients worldwide have already been treated, according to the manufacturer.
Sources:
U.S. News and World Reports. Body Sculpting Without Surgery. 17 September 2010. Accessed online 12 December 2011 at: http://health.usnews.com/healthnews/blogs/onwomen/2010/09/17/coolsculpting-and-zerona-body-sculpting-without-surgery
ZELTIQ Receives FDA-Clearance for Non-Invasive Fat Reduction. 8 Sep. 2010. News release. Accessed online 12 December 2011 at : http://www.coolsculpting.com/company-info/media-info
Noninvasive Body Sculpting Technologies with an Emphasis on High Intensity Focused Ultrasound. ML Jewel, NJ Solish, CS Desilets. Aesthetic Plastic Surgery: Review. Volume 35, No. 5, 901-912, DOI: 10.1007/s00266-011-9700-5. Study and abstract Accessed online 12 December 2011 at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21461627
Reviewed on December 16, 2011
Maryann Gromisch, RN
Edited by Jody Smith