Dr. William Coleman III, who spoke at the 2010 joint annual meeting of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery and the American Society of Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery, said that two ultrasound-based fat reduction platforms currently being studied by the FDA have achieved circumferential fat reduction without surgery in clinical trials.

Dr. Coleman, a clinical investigator and member of the advisory board for UltraShape, said that the Contour ultrasonic fat reduction device developed by UltraShape can produce up to 7.6 cm of circumferential fat reduction.

“It is intended for reducing localized fat deposits mainly on the abdomen, flanks and thighs, and therefore is not a replacement for liposuction,” Dr. Coleman says of UltraShape’s Contour platform. “However, there are a number of clinical studies showing its efficacy in achieving significant circumferential fat reduction.”

Clinical studies of another ultrasound-based fat reduction device, LipoSonix by Medicis, have also purportedly shown a reduction in circumferential fat deposits by 2.8 cm on average.

A published clinical study also backs up efficacy claims of the new CoolSculpting fat reduction platform developed by Zeltiq, which uses cryolipolysis (fat-freezing) technology to permanently reduce fat cells. According to the study, a 25 percent gradual reduction in ultrasound-measured fat is seen six months after CoolSculpting treatment.

Other non-invasive devices utilizing light- and radiofrequency-based technology, as well as mesotherapy (injection lipolysis), have also explored as fat reduction modalities over the years, however as Dr. Coleman points out, these produce less-promising results and likely will not catch on, at least in their current stages of development.

“Mesotherapy will likely disappear unless it becomes safer and more reliable. Mechanical techniques and light-based devices have limited efficacy, and radiofrequency will have to be completely re-engineered to be successful in this market,” says Dr. Coleman.

Patient before and after liposuction performed by Dr. Gerald Edds

An article discussing liposuction and liposuction alternatives was recently featured on MSNBC, as plastic surgeons from around the country weighed in to provide consumers with a comprehensive overview of cosmetic fat reduction procedures.

Owensboro liposuction surgeon and cosmetic surgery specialist Dr. Gerald Edds believes it’s important for patients interested in fat reduction procedures to understand the limitations of liposuction and learn about liposuction alternatives before choosing a procedure to sculpt their problem areas.

What You Can (And Can’t) Accomplish With Liposuction

Liposuction surgery can permanently remove stubborn fat deposits resistant to diet and exercise from a number of body areas, including the chin, neck, chest, back, upper arms, abdomen, hips, thighs, knees and ankles.

You will not lose weight as a result of having liposuction, and the procedure is not an effective solution for stretch marks or cellulite. In fact, liposuction procedures can often make cellulite look worse, especially in patients with skin laxity and poor skin quality.

Laser Liposuction

In recent years, laser-assisted liposuction procedures that claim to offer skin tightening in addition to fat reduction benefits have become increasingly popular in the media with the advent of devices like Smart Lipo, Slim Lipo and Cool Lipo.

“You don’t need laser lipo for someone with good-quality skin. It’s for an older patient who has lost elasticity,” says Dr. Barry DiBernardo, a New Jersey liposuction expert and laser liposuction pioneer.

Laser liposuction devices may offer patients with mild skin laxity some tightening benefits, however many surgeons argue the evidence of this is inconclusive and more dramatic skin tightening results can only be achieved via surgical excision of loose skin.

Tummy Tuck, Liposuction or Both?

According to surgeons who contributed to the MSNBC article, there is often confusion among body contouring patients as to whether liposuction or a tummy tuck is more appropriate for sculpting the abdominal region.

While liposuction is ideal for removing fat, tummy tuck surgery is ideal for removing stretch marks and excess skin on the abdomen such as that which forms following pregnancy. Sometimes the two procedures are combined when both unwanted fat deposits and loose skin and stretch marks are present on the abdomen or waist.

Non Surgical Fat Reduction

Non surgical fat reduction with devices like those made by Zerona or Zeltiq is new technology that at least initially appears to reduce inches and small fat deposits in patients, however no longer term data has been collected regarding the effectiveness of such procedures.

Non-invasive liposuction alternatives like lipodissolve and mesotherapy that purport to reduce fat by way of a series of injections are not FDA approved, and many plastic surgeons encourage patients to avoid these sometimes risky procedures.

Although none of the spas in question were located in Kentucky, the procedure is likely available in our area. Consumers should be cautious according to the FDA. With an injection of certain chemicals (phosphatidylcholine, deoxycholate, and others) practitioners claim that lipodissolve can remove areas of persistent fat.  However, The procedure lacks supporting scientific evidence as a fat removal treatment.

The Medspas involved were apparently claiming that Lipodissolve was “superior to other fat removal procedures, including liposuction” and making misleading claims about the safety record and effectiveness of lipodissolve.

Given the lack of supporting evidence for lipodissolve and the side effects reported by consumers, officials in the FDA felt it was necessary to crack down on these misleading claims and warn consumers about them.  The medical spas are being instructed to “correct these violations and prevent similar violations in the future.”

Read more about this story on FDA.gov