Cosmetic Surgery and Beauty Magazine #66

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NON-SURGICAL
While liposuction surgery offers a predictable method of removing fat deposits,
non-surgical body contouring provides an option for those who don’t want
invasive surgery and its associated risks and recovery time.
Although non-surgical body contouring devices offer an effective means for
achieving a more streamlined body shape – commonly targeting treatment areas
such as the abdomen and thighs – it’s worth remembering that no non-surgical
device can achieve the level of fat removal possible with liposuction.
A key difference between liposuction and non-surgical body contouring
devices is the number of procedures required. Most non-surgical devices require
a minimum of three treatments in order to achieve optimal results, and often it
can take longer before those results are seen, as the fat cells take time to be
flushed out through the body’s usual metabolic processes.
Usually, anaesthesia isn’t required for non-surgical body contouring and
treatments are performed in an in-office setting. There is normally no downtime,
minimal patient discomfort, and complications are rare. In conjunction with a
healthy diet and exercise regime, results should be long lasting because, just as
with liposuction, when fat cells are permanently destroyed they will not return.
As developments in non-surgical body contouring continue, it’s easy to
become confused by the wide range of devices and technologies on offer.
Most devices harness some form of energy – be it radiofrequency, ultrasound
or freezing temperatures – to penetrate the skin and break down underlying fat.
Here, we summarise the main technologies that underpin the most popular nonsurgical
body contouring devices available in Australia.
Radiofrequency body contouring
This non-surgical treatment uses radiofrequency (RF) energy to reduce pockets
of fat. The energy is emitted via an applicator through the skin without damaging
the outer layers, only targeting the underlying fat and tissues.
Treatment typically takes about one hour and patients generally experience
a warm to hot sensation around the target area during the procedure. The heat
generated from the RF energy causes microscopic changes to tissues and
collagen fibres, with further collagen remodelling occurring over the subsequent
months following the procedure. The broken down fat cells are drained via the
lymphatic system and then excreted as urine.
Localised fatty deposits such as on the abdomen, hips and thighs are most
suited to RF body contouring treatments, with patients also noting a reduction
in the appearance of cellulite. Temporary side effects may include temporary
swelling, redness or bruising around the treated area, which normally disappear
after a week or so.
Depending on the device being used, results can be observed after a
single treatment, although a series of treatments is usually recommended
for significant results. The patient will gradually notice changes such as
circumferential reduction of the treated area, a reduction in cellulite and a more
streamlined body shape.
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