Non-Invasive Body Contouring | Lipo | K's Lash and More, WA

Non-Invasive Body Contouring?: The fastest expanding area of cosmetic dermatology is non-invasive body contouring. It comprises the safe and practical application of particular technology to improve the human body’s definition, smoothness, and contour.

PRACTICE POINTS

The four most popular non-invasive body contouring treatments are
Laser Therapy, Cryolipolysis, Radiofrequency, and High-Intensity ultrasound. These four modalities have been demonstrated to be safe and effective in lowering subcutaneous fat tissue and improving skin laxity in devices that use them.

Dermatologists who use body contouring treatments must know the many devices available to identify which treatment is best for each patient.

Update on Noninvasive Body Contouring Techniques

There is a constant push in today’s society to reduce fat, lose weight, and rejuvenate the skin, which originates from media depictions of perfect bodies and our expanding understanding of the negative impacts of obesity. Body contouring—the enhancement of the definition, smoothness, and shape of the human body—has become popular in addition to diet and exercise as a technique of achieving these goals. Body contouring is, in fact, the fastest-growing area of cosmetic dermatology right now.

Previously, body contouring was accomplished mainly by intrusive operations (e.g., liposuction), accompanied by various side effects, high prices, and extended recovery times. A growing need for more minor invasive procedures for adipose tissue reduction and skin tightening has led to numerous new non-invasive body contouring methods.

Although the results obtained with these new technologies are less spectacular and immediate than those obtained with invasive techniques, they do not entail the risks and side effects of surgical treatments. This is why it is becoming more popular with cosmetic patients. New non-invasive approaches primarily target fat’s physical properties, resulting in triglyceride outflow from fat cells, causing adipocyte shrinkage, necrosis, or apoptosis. Cold-induced adipocyte apoptosis has been commercially available for the longest and has been the most researched of these modalities.

High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), Cryolipolysis, radiofrequency (RF), and laser therapy are the four most popular non-invasive body contouring techniques. Investigators strive to identify which method is the most effective, even though no procedure has yet been designated as the gold standard. We present an overview of various procedures in this article to assist dermatologists in selecting acceptable modalities for their cosmetic patients.

Cryolipolysis Treatment

Cryolipolysis Treatment, often known as fat freezing, is a non-surgical fat reduction therapy that works by freezing fat accumulation in specific areas of the body. The operation is intended to eliminate fat deposits or bulges that are resistant to diet and exercise.

Since 2010, when the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first approved Cryolipolysisfor fat removal in the flank areas, it has grown popular. In 2012 abdomen treatment was supported; in 2014, thighs were approved, and 2015 saw submental area. Cryolipolysis was recently approved for fat removal in the arms, back, and buttocks.

Radiofrequency

In cosmetic dermatology, radiofrequency has become a popular and widely used treatment. This method varies from Cryolipolysis in that it makes use of the differential in water content and impedance across tissues: the skin has a low impedance, but fat tissue has a high one.

Using devices where you focus thermal energy on tissues with high impedance, radiofrequency causes thermal injury to targeted tissue layers, rather than the cold-induced damage seen in Cryolipolysis. Minimal risk of damaging while inducing apoptosis of cells in the subcutaneous adipose tissue and muscle.

Thermal exposure to temperatures ranging from 43°C to 45°C for many minutes eventually leads to a delayed adipocyte death response. Aside from adipocyte death, RF has been proven to promote collagen fibril denaturation, which leads to remodeling, neo-collagenesis, and skin tightening. Monopolar and bipolar radiofrequency devices are the two types of radiofrequency devices. Bipolar devices typically require more frequent treatments, whereas monopolar devices typically require fewer treatment sessions while providing superior circumference and fat reduction.

High-intensity Focused Ultrasound

High-intensity focused ultrasound was recently introduced as a new body contouring treatment modality, primarily for skin tightening and rejuvenation. HIFU works similarly to RF in that it uses heat to promote adipocyte death; however, instead of using electric energy, it uses sonic sound.

Without damaging the epidermis, high-intensity focused ultrasound devices can transport energy to the deep dermis and fibromuscular layers in micro-coagulation zones. Within 1 to 3 seconds, the focused energy causes a high temperature (>65°C) in the targeted location, triggering cell protein coagulation. Aside from its heat effects, HIFU has a mechanical result that breaches cell membranes right away, contributing to the coagulation necrosis process and encouraging necrosis and death.

The impacts of these devices can be seen because the targeted and untargeted tissue are always clearly separated. Microcoagulation is also hypothesized to produce skin tightening over time by causing collagen contraction and remodeling. High-intensity focused the FDA first approved ultrasound for brow lifting, and it has since been used for facial and neck skin to improve the clinical appearance of the belly and thighs.

This procedure is ideal for minor body contouring if the patient has mild to moderate skin or soft tissue laxity. Because the clinical response to treatment partly depends on new collagen production, the ideal patient is young with normal wound healing. When over the age of 50 who have significant photoaging or extreme skin laxity are not excellent candidates for HIFU.

Lasers

Laser technology is a rapidly expanding non-invasive body sculpting method. The first and only FDA-approved hyperthermic laser for fat reduction and non-invasive body sculpting of the belly, flanks, inner and outer thighs, back, and submental areas were recently introduced.

The device is a diode laser with a wavelength of 1060 nm that employs thermal radiation to destroy adipose tissue, resulting in a permanent fat reduction without surgery or downtime thanks to the use of a flat, non-suction applicator that produces consistent, natural-looking results. During the operation, the gadget has a contact cooling system that helps to reduce thermal pain and protect the skin’s surface. As soon as six weeks after treatment, initial improvements can be noticed, and optimal results are frequently achieved in as little as 12 weeks. This device was found to have an outstanding safety profile and was well tolerated by patients, with just minor discomfort reported.

Conclusion

Non-invasive body contouring is unquestionably gaining popularity, and it will most certainly continue to do so as the efficacy and safety of these treatments improve. Although existing technologies’ mechanisms and side effect profiles differ, some devices are safe and effective in lowering subcutaneous fat tissue and improving skin laxity.

However, further research is needed to examine these devices in a standardized manner, particularly given the high expenses of treatment. The treatment methodology, area, number and timing of follow-up sessions, and outcome measures used in current research evaluating these devices differ, making it difficult to compare the results objectively.

To deliver the most excellent quality care, dermatologists who administer body contouring treatments must be intimately aware of the available devices and assess which treatment is suited for each patient. To enhance patient satisfaction, patients and clinicians must consider specific goals while choosing a body-contouring treatment.