Non-invasive ultrasonic removal (NUFR)

Non-invasive ultrasonic fat removal (NUFR) is a revolutionary method of fat removal and body shaping. NUFR removes fat from areas of the body such as the stomach, flanks, thighs, neck, back, male chest and buttocks. The process has been developed and utilized in several countries all over the world as an alternative to liposuction.

The new technology focuses the ultrasound frequencies to only target fat cells in the body and essentially melts away the fat. The broken down fat cells are moved through the body through the bodies metabolic system. Because the ultrasound can target fat cells on the surface of the skin, no surgery is to remove unwanted fat.

History

The technology that led to the development of NUFR was a series of improvements on the liposuction procedure. In the traditional liposuction procedure, a tube-like device, or cannula, is inserted into a small incision on the skin. The cannula is connected to a vacuum and the fat is sucked out of the body.

From traditional liposuction came the development of ultrasound-assisted liposuction. In this method, an incision is made in the skin and the ultrasound emulsifies, or liquefies, the fat cells, making it easier to suction out the fat. In many cases, water is inserted into the body along with the ultrasound device to assist with liquefying that fat. Since the ultrasound is used, only the fat cells are emulsified, leaving the surrounding tissue and blood vessels unharmed. An example of this method is Vaser®. The FDA in the United States approved Vaser in 2002. NUFR took ultrasound-assisted liposuction to the next level.

Popularity

liposuction

The traditional liposuction method has been a widely popular procedure all over the world for men and women alike. It was first introduced in the United States in 1982, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Since then, in the United States, tens of millions of people have had liposuction. In 2004 alone, 9,210,627 people had the procedure and in 2003, Americans spent $711 million dollars on liposuction .

The popularity of liposuction is because of two main factors. One factor is that people on TV and in magazines are constantly trying new techniques and procedures to look younger and more beautiful. Airbrushing techniques for advertisements send false portrayals of beauty to people who may believe the airbrushed images to be reality. Not only is there pressure among the celebrities to look their best, but also that pressure reaches the every day population.

Another factor persuading people to turn to liposuction is the increase in TV makeover shows, such as Fox’s “The Swan” and ABC’s “Extreme Makeover”. On these shows, people who feel they are not attractive are given several plastic surgeries, including liposuction, along with new hairdos and makeup. In the end, the transformed individual is revealed looking “beautiful”. The final reveal could influence people who feel unattractive to follow the same path and get plastic surgery in order to achieve similar results as the TV shows.

NUFR

Even though NUFR is not approved for use in the United States yet, it is extremely popular in 47 other countries , including Canada, Mexico, Britain, and many others. One system used in Canada, Mexico and Britain is called UltraShape . UltraShape is “non-invasive fat reduction and body contouring using ‘non-thermal’ selective focused ultrasound technology”. A London plastic surgeon, Chris Inglefield, performed a clinical study using UltraShape on 118 patients in 2005. Results showed that 93% of the patients claimed to have “excellent” results. Also, Mexico has conducted a clinical study using the same system; however, the product in the study was called SonoSculpt. The study included 30 people and all of the results were effective in removing fat. Developments are currently being made to improve the way the body metabolizes the emulsified fat cells .

The popularity of the new system can be due to the fact that there is no down time for the patient since the system is not a surgery. "The convenient 'walk-in, walk-out' procedure allows patients to see measurable circumference reduction and body contouring without the hassle and risk associated with other, more invasive approaches,” . This is very appealing to people who cannot afford to take one to two weeks to recover from the traditional liposuction procedure.

Technology

For several years, the ultrasound has been safely and effectively utilized in the medical world. For NUFR, the ultrasound waves have been specifically focused to only target fat cells, or adipocytes, in the subcutaneous layer beneath the skin . “The pulsed acoustic waves of ultrasonic energy converge in a confined focal volume causing a non-thermal, mechanical destruction of fat cells” . The adipocytes are emulsified by the ultrasound frequencies, leaving everything else in the body, nerves, blood vessels and connective tissues, intact. The destroyed fat cells are then, which are mostly triglycerides, are dispersed into the fluid between the cells and then moved through the vascular and lymphatic systems to the liver where they are metabolized and excreted by the body .

Procedure

Before the procedure can take place, there is a consultation with the physician to decide if NUFR is the right method for the patient based on the patients desired results. Then, in a walk-in, walk-out session, the physician will examine and mark the area that will be targeted. The physician will then use a hand-held transducer to emit the ultrasound energy to the targeted areas of fat by simply moving the transducer over the skin . Once all the areas of concern have been targeted, the patient can go on with their day as usual.

Recovery

There is no recovery time for NUFR. The system is not a surgery, so there is no anesthesia, no pain and therefore, nothing to recover form. “[Patients] literally receive the treatment and then immediately resume their daily routine." .

Benefits

NUFR

The benefits of NUFR are that 2 to 3 inches of fat can be removed from the abdomen, flanks, thighs, buttocks, and other various areas. Also, the body can be shaped to a more desired appearance.

Compared to liposuction

Compared to liposuction, NUFR has several benefits. Firstly, there is no surgery. This means there is no anesthesia, which comes with many risks, and no recovery time . This also means that the price is going to be much less since the certified physician does not have to be a surgeon and no surgery is being performed. Secondly, there are not any side-effects, such as excessive bleeding, bruising, or swelling because there is no incision made in the skin. Also, unlike liposuction, “the advanced tracking and guidance software ensures complete and homogeneous energy delivery providing smooth, uniform body contouring results.” . This means the results of NUFR are going to be smooth skin as opposed to liposuction which can cause uneven, lumpy, or even dented skin. After the procedure there are no required maintenance treatments .

Concerns

The reason the FDA has not yet approved a method of NUFR is because there are some concerns. The body naturally removes various cells that naturally die in the body, however, it is not as natural for the body to remove 2-3 ounces of dead fat cells. If the FDA approved a system like UltraShape or SonoSculpt, there would most likely be a limit on how much fat can be targeted during one session .

Another concern that the patients may have is that NUFR cannot remove as much fat as liposuction. NUFR can remove around 2-3 ounces of fat in one session, which is about 2-3 inches from any given area, whereas liposuction can remove kilograms of fat in one session. This means, NUFR would be most beneficial to people looking to sculpt only a couple inches from their body .

Future of NUFR in the US

With so many other countries already implementing NUFR, it is only a matter of time before it will be approved by the FDA and available to the public in the United States. In an effort to raise awareness in the US, the “results of an independent multi-treatment clinical study of the UltraShape Contour I, the first clinically proven non-invasive focused ultrasound solution for fat reduction and body contouring, will be presented at the American Society for Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) annual meeting on October 30, 2007 in Baltimore, Md. The presentation is entitled ‘Non-invasive Ultrasonic Selective Fat Cell Lysis and Body Contouring’ and will take place during the scientific session ‘Body Contouring: Are We There Yet?’" .