Page 18 - BCMS ONline directory

COSMETIC MEDICINE

NON-SURGICAL FAT

REDUCTION TECHNIQUES

By Hope Shin, MD & Rodney Chan, MD

Optimal patients that would benefit from these devices are near
B ody contouring has grown significantly more popular in the their ideal body weight with specific areas of excess fat that cannot
United States within the last several years, and the demand is
only increasing. In 2018, liposuction was the second most common be eliminated by diet and exercise. The main benefits of non-inva-
cosmetic plastic surgery procedure with over 300,000 cases per- sive body contouring include no incisions or scars, no need for anes-
formed¹. However, newer technologies that are less invasive with thesia, minimal side effects, and early return to normal activities. In
quicker recovery, fewer side effects, and less complications have in- addition, results last as long as the patient does not gain weight.
creasingly become more appealing. A number of treatments have However, the limitations include a modest reduction of localized
been FDA-approved to achieve gradual and modest fat loss without fat, minimal sculpting ability, and many treatments are needed for
surgical incisions. These non-invasive fat reduction technologies all desired results.
®
specifically target adipocytes by using different types of energy, such Cryolipolysis (CoolSculpting ) is one of the more novel tech-
as cryolipolysis, laser, high-frequency ultrasound, and radiofrequency. niques that uses cold exposure to selectively reduce subcutaneous

18 San Antonio Medicine • July 2019