
Fat Reduction
What is body fat?
A layer of fat occurs over most of the body. The primary functions of
this fat layer is to provide thermoregulation, protection against
mechanical trauma, body contour and filling of body space. Most
importantly, this fat layer is a source of energy.
Adipose tissue (fat tissue) is loose connective tissue composed of
adipocytes. It is technically composed of roughly only 80% fat. Its
main role is to store energy in the form of lipids, although it also
cushions and insulates the body. Subcutaneous fat is found just
beneath the skin and has no effect on one’s health as opposed to
visceral fat which is found in the peritoneal cavity packed between
the organs (stomach, liver, intestines, kidneys, etc.) and is linked
to metabolic disturbances, such as an increased risk for
cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. While visceral fat can
only be reduced by diet and exercise, subcutaneous fat is more
resistant to diet and exercise, and therefore it can be treated
medically.
There are a number of non-invasive techniques, with various mechanisms
of action, for reducing localized subcutaneous adipose tissue.
Cryolipolysis produces cold-induced apoptosis of adipocytes, while
thermal approaches include radiofrequency (RF) energy, which triggers
apoptosis of fat cells, and high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU),
which causes coagulative necrosis and cell death.
Dr. Banki Uses
Ultrashape power system to get rid of unwanted
subcutaneous fat tissue. The
UltraShape Power system works by emitting
acoustic waves of focused ultrasonic energy (200 ± 30 KHz frequency)
that converge into a confined focal volume underneath the skin,
thereby, targeting only subcutaneous fat at a controlled depth. Unlike
traditional ultrasound technology,
UltraShape Power’s energy transmits
pulsed ultrasound, allowing control over temperature elevation. Fat
destruction occurs instantly, selectively and by exerting a
non-thermal effect, using mechanical energy to produce cavitation,
leading to fat cell lysis without an effect on the surrounding nerves
and connective tissue.
Fat Clearance
A common concern regarding noninvasive fat reduction is removal of the
destroyed fat cells without an increase in liver fat content. In a
clinical study by Teitelbaum et al., the blood laboratory tests,
following a series of
UltraShape treatments, demonstrated that hepatic
function remains unchanged with no clinically significant changes in
lipid profile. During the
UltraShape procedure, the membranes of the
fat cells are disrupted. The fat cell content, primarily composed of
triglycerides, is dispersed into the interstitial fluid among the
cells and then transported by the body’s natural processes to the
liver. The liver makes no distinction between the fatty acid
byproducts of the
UltraShape procedure and fat originating from
consumed food. Fat metabolites are processed in the liver in the same
manner as fat originating from digested food, and both types of fat
are removed via the body’s natural mechanisms - the lymphatic, venous,
and immune systems.
Safety
Although non-invasive body contouring treatments are reported to be
safe, discomfort and severity of adverse effects differ with the
various techniques. Pain, bruising, tenderness, paresthesias,
neuropraxias, burns, scarring and fat atrophy have all been reported
with several devices currently on the market. Due to its mechanical
mechanism of action, UltraShape treatment was found to be safe and
well tolerated, in a multi-center study, with minimal or no discomfort
during or after the focused ultrasound procedure, and no reports of
hematoma, fluid build-up, or subcutaneous bleeding.