LipoSonix: The next big thing?

 In September 2011, the FDA approved LipoSonix, an ultrasound technology that eliminates fat with zero downtime or invasive surgery. The Baumann Cosmetic & Research Institute is one of the first practices in the country (and one of only 100 in the world) to get one of these sought-after machines—and we’re very optimistic about ultrasound technology since we’ve been using Ultherapy to tighten skin for over a year now. 

Consider this statistic: According to the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery, almost 60,000 women and men underwent body-sculpting procedures (including tumescent liposuction) in 2010. It will be interesting to see how many Americans choose Liposonix over surgical liposuction this year. But unfortunately we’ll have to wait at least a year until those numbers are in.

How It Works

This treatment sends ultrasound below the skin to permanently destroys fat cells in treated areas, delivering a one-inch (or one size) reduction with each treatment.

What It Feels Like

Patients feel heat during treatment, and some experience prickling or tingling as well. There’s absolutely no downtime after treatment, and patients can resume normal activities immediately. There have been reports of soreness, redness, swelling and bruising in treated areas, but patients who experience these side effects describe them as mild. After the session, the body naturally flushes out the destroyed fat over a period of 8 to 12 weeks—and each treatment costs $3,500-$4,000.

Treatment Details

Treating the abdomen and love handles takes about an hour. First, your doctor will mark up the areas to be treated with a plastic sheet, leaving a grid of dots to follow. The dots are numbered, giving your doctor a map of sorts. The treatment head is then placed over each dot until the session is complete. So basically all you have to do is lay there and wait for the fat to naturally melt away.

Who’s a Good Candidate

If you watch what you eat and exercise regularly, but still have stubborn fat on your stomach or love handles, LipoSonix is a wonderful non-surgical way to get rid of it.

Must-Know Info

Results are not immediate, so don’t think you can get LipoSonix on a Friday and be able to fit into your skinny jeans on Saturday night. And while this technology presents an entirely new way to slim down, it is not meant to be an alternative to liposuction.

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