Dr. Kotlus discusses the 3 options for nonsurgical fat reduction including Zerona, Liposonix, and Coolsculpting. These are offered at Allure Medical Spa in Michigan and one of the doctors can discuss these with you during a consultation to determine if you are a candidate.

You can read more about these procedures here. 

Nonsurgical fat reduction is all the rage this year because of the 2 major players on the market, CoolSculpting and now Liposonix.  What's the difference between the 2?

CoolSculpting reduces fat by freezing the fat cells.  It uses a vacuum to pull skin and fat between two cooling plates that carefully control the temperature to a point that injures the fat cells.  On average, a 25% reduction in fat layer thickness is seen in that area after a 1 hour treatment. It requires that the treatment area has some flexibility so the cooling plates have access to the fat cells.

Liposonix uses ultrasound energy to injure fat cells in a precise manner.  The focused ultrasound beams can zap the cells and a consistent layer of fat is reduced (not a percentage of the fat).  It does not require the skin to be flexible.  

Both procedures have no significant downtime and the best results are usually seen in about 8-12 weeks. They don't quite compare with liposuction for body shaping, but the results are dramatic and without any surgery. 

You can read more about Liposonix on the Allure website here, or call if you want a one-on-one, free consultation. 

Zerona^® is a cold laser (meaning it doesn’t emit heat) to cause little openings in fat cells.  Scientists have proven that when tissues are exposed to this laser for several minutes, fat cell walls actually become leaky.  

Without dieting, Zerona^® can cause modest size reduction. When the laser is used 3 times a week for 2 weeks, without diet or exercise change; the average person can lose an inch off the waist, an inch of the hips and nearly an inch off each thigh (so an accumulative 3.5” total). ^1,2,3

This treatment can be more effective if you go into a negative calorie balance, (eating fewer calories and healthier food choices).  

Here is what we did at Allure:  One male and one female were placed on a diet consisting of low fats and no refined or simple sugars, while eating lean protein, vegetables and fiber filled foods which actually burn up to 30% of the energy they contain to digest.  They did not reduce portion size, count calories or change any exercise pattern. 

The man had his abdomen treated 6 times in two weeks.  His weight was down over 16 lbs., and he lost 5 inches around his upper abdomen and 4 inches around his lower abdomen. 

 The woman lost 8 lbs in two weeks. (women have a lower metabolism, and generally don’t have the same results) and lost 9 1/2” total between the waist, hips and thighs.

1:  Low-level laser assisted lipoplasty appearance of fat demonstrated on MRI on abdominal tissue. Am Journal of Cosmetic Surgery.  Vol 18, No3.   2001.  pp131-140

2:  Low-level laser assisted.. Am Journal of Cosmetic Surgery.  Vol 21, No 4. 2004.  pp191-199

3:  Low-level laser therapy as an Non Invasive approach for body contouring.  A randomized, controlled study.  Lasers in Surgery and Medicine.  41:799-809 (2009).

A recent study published in Obesity by Hernandez et al suggests that fat returns after liposuction.  The subjects were instructed to not change their lifestyle in the year following liposuction.  It was found that their body fat percentage returned to baseline after a year.

The biggest flaw with the study is that patients who were seeking liposuction for body contouring were instructed to maintain their lifestyle.  If they collected undesirable fat before the procedure, they are likely adding fat gradually at their baseline. If they do nothing to change this via exercise or diet after the surgery, then yes, they will gain fat in other areas, but to a lesser degree in the treated area as those fat cells were removed.  Liposuction is not a lifestyle cure and it is not designed to reduce weight, and liposuction patients should be counseled on this.  

So if you gained fat around your waist over a period of 5 years and you have liposuction and change nothing else in your life will you regain some fat?  Yes.  If you adopt a more healthy diet and partake in moderate exercise 5 days per week will you regain some fat?  It's less likely.