Melt the Fat Away

Today, the airwaves are bombarded by procedures that promise to make the fat go way. Laser, Liposuction, Lipodissolve, Lipozap and smart lipo are a few such procedures. So how is the consumer to decide which procedure is best for him/her?

A good place to start is to find out if the procedure being promoted or offered is approved by Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A procedure must go through strict testing over long period of time before deemed safe and effective by FDA.

The more sophisticated consumer can perform a web search on a number of websites, such as WebMD.com, to read more about the procedures, side effects, effectiveness and etc.

There are also news articles in the media about these various procedures. For example, in a report titled “A Shot to Melt the Fat” printed in US News and World Report on June 18, 2007 it was discussed that procedures such as LipoZap and Lipodissolve have been found to be ineffective in removing the fat. Several patients have been quoted saying after undergoing several sessions of procedures, spending thousands of dollars and taking days off work, the results of lipodissolve and lipozap have been minimal and temporary, at best.

On a report titled “Body of Evidence: Popular Laser Treatment to Remove Fat Draws Skepticism” printed in Wall Street Journal on March 8, 2008 it was discussed that Laser Liposuction is merely a marketing gimmick and offers no advantage over traditional tumescent liposuction.

Today, the most effective way to remove excessive fat is by a traditional, tumescent liposuction technique. As much as 5 liters of fat can be removed safely and permanently. The procedure is out patient and recovery includes a few days of rest and no strenuous activities at home.

Until further research and improved technology, Lipodissolve and LipoZap have not been found to be as effective as traditional liposuction, and are therefore not recommended.