Two New Body Fat Lowering Procedures?

There’s no substitute for exercise and a healthy diet when it comes to lowering body fat; but some people naturally store excess fat in certain areas such as the tummy and the buttocks. For some, even the most austere diet and exercise program won’t make it go away. In frustration, some people turn to surgical procedures such as liposuction for body fat lowering. While effective, liposuction for removing excess fat is not without its risks. Serious complications and, in rare cases, even death can occur from this procedure. The good news is there may be safer ways to remove excess fat on the horizon. At a recent American Academy of Dermatology’s meeting, several new body fat lowering procedures were discussed that are non-invasive and carry a low risk of complications. These techniques have not been approved by the FDA yet, but appear to be safer options.

Dissolving Fat Cells by Freezing

This new body fat lowering procedure known as cryolypolysis was tested on thirty-two subjects who had the common problem of “love handles”. Four months after undergoing cryolypoysis, the subjects experienced a 22.4 percent reduction in body in the treated areas which was confirmed by ultrasound. How does this procedure work? The fat underneath the skin is frozen which causes the fat inside the cells to die off. Because the fat cells undergo a gradual death, it can take several months to see significant results. Side effects with this procedure include skin discomfort and numbness from exposure to the cold which can last for several weeks. It’s thought that the fat cells that are no longer viable are broken down by the liver.

Ultrasound

Two different types of ultrasound body fat lowering procedures are currently being tested in the U.S. One is high-intensity focused ultrasound which destroys fat cells using high energy sound waves and the other is focused ultrasound which uses lower energy sound waves. The advantage of using the focused ultrasound is that it’s a less uncomfortable procedure and still surprisingly effective. When it was tested on over 600 patients, ninety-four percent of them experienced body fat lowering in the areas that were treated. High intensity focused ultrasound is currently being used in Europe for body fat lowering.

The Bottom Line?

Could these noninvasive body fat lowering procedures be a safe and effective way to reduce fat in stubborn areas that are unresponsive to diet and exercise? They certainly seem like safer alternatives to liposuction. Chances are you’ll be hearing more about these new ways to remove fat in the future.