Non-Surgical Ways To Sculpt and Contour Your Body
By Courtney Albritton, PA-C, MPA, Linn County LIVING WELL Magazine
Muffin Top, Cottage Cheese Thighs, Love Handles…These are all terminology we rather not have describe aspects of our body. The growing trend of body sculpting or body contouring has become so popular that many individuals have been trying to find less invasive ways and safer treatment options to receive results without the downtime of traditional plastic surgery.
Two FDA-approved methods are available for non-surgical circumferential reduction and cellulite reduction – VelaShape™ and Zerona®. These are in-office based therapies that require no downtime. Each has a different mode of action, but they can be used individually, or for the first time in Cedar Rapids, synergistically.
VelaShape™ utilizes a revolutionary combination of bi-polar radiofrequency, infrared light energy with vacuum and mechanical massage. This facilitates safe and precise delivery of effective treatments with no downtime. Weekly treatments of VelaShape™ have shown to increase the metabolism of stored energy, increase lymphatic drainage and reduce the size of the fat cells and fat chambers. The end result is a gradual smoothing of the skin’s surface with reduction in cellulite and reshaping of the treated area with noticeable circumferential reduction. In fact, there was a multi-center clinical study with 85% of treated areas reporting reduction of thighs of at least 1cm (and up to 7.2cm).
Many women experience the desire to return to their pre-baby bodies following pregnancy. VelaShape™ was used in a “The Body After Baby” clinical study that showed an average circumferential reduction of 5.93cm on the buttock, 2.5cm on the thigh and 7.37cm on the abdomen area. These results demonstrate why the FDA cleared this treatment option as a proven non-surgical alternative to liposuction.
The Zerona® laser was developed with the same cold laser technology which was used to help emulsify fat to assist with tumescent liposuction procedures. It was found that using the cold laser treatment alone worked effectively without the negative side effects of the associated surgical methods to provide the first non-invasive procedure to remove excess fat.
This cold laser technology was revolutionary in the world of non-surgical body contouring, due to the fact the laser was shown to exclusively target fat cells and disrupt the cell’s membrane, allowing the release of the cellular contents, while keeping surrounding tissue and capillaries intact. The contents of the extracted cell then are passed through the body during its normal course of detoxification. In a double blind, randomized, multi-site and placebo-controlled study, the average patient using Zerona® lost 3.64 inches from the circumference of their waist, hip and thighs, allowing Zerona® cold laser technology as a safer and pain-free alternative to surgical procedures for patients.
The combination of both therapies, to sculpt the body and emulsify fat in non-surgical options can be synergistic and offer patients the best outcome for results. Innovative Aesthetics Medical Spa & Laser Center is excited to offer this unique option to the Cedar Valley for a safe, effective, alternative to help achieve their body contouring goals.
Innovative Aesthetics is located at 788 8th Avenue Southeast Cedar Rapids, IA 52401. Phone: 319-365-SPA1 Fax: 319-363-9004; iamedicalspa.com/.
