There are many people out there who are interested in weight loss and toning surgeries that don't require an extensively involved procedure. These people are typically interested in laser-based and injection-based fat reduction procedures such as LipoDissolve. A new type of this procedure called SmoothShapes is being launched in Paris at this time.
SmoothShapes is an interesting procedure that combines multiple methods of fat reduction to help tone the body without extensive surgery. The procedure combines both laser and light methods of combatting cellulite with mechanical massage and vacuum techniques that further reduce the fat and tone the body.
People are interested in procedures like this because they result in a small bit of weight loss combined with the toned look that people are seeking to have today. This is designed for people who are seeking small but definite changes to the appearance rather than for people who are serious about major weight loss surgery.
Question of the Day: Are you interested in a new fat-reduction procedure like SmoothShapes?
Lipodissolve is a procedure which has gained a lot of attention as a non-invasive procedure designed to provide some of the same effects as liposuction, reducing weight on the body and providing a more toned and slim appearance. However, the cosmetic surgery industry seems to be divided as to whether Lipodissolve is a good product or one that should be avoided by patients. One doctor recently argued that those surgeons who are opposed to the use of Lipodissolve are biased by the fact that the product may take away from their more invasive surgery practices.
This doctor makes the point that the main argument used by anti-Lipodissolve surgeons is an invalid argument. These surgeons are warning consumers that the FDA has not approved Lipodissolve for use in the market. However, this doctor points out that the FDA does not approve procedures (only products) and that Lipodissolve is a procedure. Therefore it's not something that the FDA would have any reason to approve.
The reality is that there are pros and cons to Lipodissolve as compared with liposuction. There are more risks involved with liposuction but there may also be more rewards. Patients have to weigh their own needs against the information provided by their doctors in order to determine which of the procedures (if either) is right for them.
Question of the Day: What is your initial stance on the question of Lipodissolve?
A doctor in the UK has been prosecuted after advertising and selling a fat-reduction product that is not approved for use in the UK. The drug appears to be similar to products such as LipoDissolve which are intended as injectables that break up the fat in the body and help to trim inches off of the waist and other fatty areas. However, this product has not been tested for cosmetic use and should not have been sold to people for that purpose.
The drug is called Lipostabil and is approved in Germany for non-cosmetic medical purposes. This UK doctor was advertising it under both the product name and the name Fat Jab. He was warned against continued advertisement of the illegal product and continued to offer it to his patients anyway. He has been found guilty in the court system and has been fined. Patients in the UK and the surrounding area are being warned to be wary of advertisements for this type of product.
There has been a lot of interest in fat-dissolving treatments such as LipoDissolve which are designed to offer a minimally-invasive alternative to weight loss surgery. There has also been a lot of controversy about treatments such as this with many people reporting that the treatments simply don't work. The problem seems to be that many people don't realize that these are not really designed specifically to be weight loss treatments. Instead, LipoDissolve is intended as a fat-reduction tool for people who are basically in shape but suffer from certain problem areas of fat.
People who are overweight are not going to see a significant weight reduction from the use of a minimally invasive treatment. This really boils down to common sense. There aren't too many things in life that are "quick fixes". A non-invasive procedure can be useful for someone who doesn't need a lot of work done but the idea that someone who is morbidly overweight will achieve the same effects is akin to the idea that there's a magic pill out there for weight loss. It's just not realistic to think that you're going to get to do no work and reap all of the benefits.
LipoDissolve and the products on the market like it may be useful for people who have gotten into good shape and just need to lose that final bit of fat. For people who are truly overweight, plastic surgery / weight loss surgery is probably going to be a better answer. Either that or you really need to put the work in to lose the weight naturally. Them's the facts.
Question of the Day: Yay or nay on products like LipoDissolve?
At the end of 2007, VeinDirectory.org had the opportunity to attend the American College of Phlebology Congress in Tucson, Arizona. At the conference, they interviewed a number of different doctors and businesses specializing in the treatment of varicose veins. Some of those interviews can be seen on videos over at the Vein Directory Blog.
However, it's important to note that the doctors who treat problems such as spider veins and varicose veins are in the business of doing cosmetic work in addition to their medical work. Because of this, many of these doctors do skin rejuvenation and dermal filler work in addition to the vein treatment work that they do. Below you will find four videos that showcase the different types of cosmetic treatment that a vein treatment doctor may be able to provide.
Video #1: Dr. Roger Murray primarily does vein treatment work but also does cosmetic work including lipo and LipoDissolve treatments.
Video #2: Dr. Scott Hall has a 95% effectiveness rate in medically treating problematic veins but also does work in the area of dermal fillers using products including Radiesse, Restylane, Sculptra and Botox.
Video #3: Dr. Joshua Fox works in a practice that does a full rnage of cosmetic procedures including everything from removing spider veins to treating skin disease. He also does medical work including allergy testing and medical vein treatment.
Video #4: Dr. Jeffrey Buckman does vein treatment work through Vascular Diagnostics Limited but also does cosmetic work through BK Cosmetics. The latter does a full range of skin rejuvenation treatment using the scientific / medical approach of trained physicians.
Question of the Day: Were you previously aware of the fact that vein treatment doctors do cosmetic work such as this?
The UK has just started seeing the effects of a new kind of lipo treatment called laser lipo. This procedure basically takes the idea of SmartLipo and moves it up a notch. Using lasers, it is even less invasive than the already minimally-invasive SmartLipo or LipoDissolve treatment.
According to reports, the effects of the treatment can be seen immediately upon completing the first treatment. However, it is recommended that approximately eight laser lipo treatments are done to achieve the results that are desired.
The specific product recently approved in the UK is also available in other parts of the world including Japan and Canada. As the technology is tested out, it could gain a following in the United States and around the rest of the world.
Question of the Day: What appeals and doesn't appeal to you about the idea of laser lipo?
There are many different things that we might want to do to improve our appearance. A lot of these are about getting bigger - breast implants, lip augmentation and fuller cheeks come to mind. However, a lot of what we want to do is to get stuff removed from our bodies.
Here are some of the unwanted things that a doctor can help you remove:
- Hair. Laser hair removal is a commonly requested procedure by both men and women. Whether they want to be entirely hairless or just to get a certain spot to look hair-free, they want that hair gone.
- Tattoos. Laser tattoo removal is another popular choice. The tattoo may once have been pretty but it doesn't have to stick around forever.
- Weight. We all want to lose a little bit of this don't we? That's why SmartLipo and LipoDissolve are such popular treatments.
- Wrinkles. Botox and dermal fillers are all about getting ride of those wrinkles.
- Age spots. Laser resurfacing and chemical peels are popular choices by many people and a good reason is to get rid of age spots that are showing up on the skin.
Question of the Day: What do you want removed by your doctor?
Every now and then we hear a horror story about a skin rejuvenation procedure gone wrong. A chemical peel burns someone badly. An overdosed Botox injection causes a face to go immobile. A tattoo removal doesn't work. Although these cases are rare, they occur. And the main reason that they occur is because the person who does them really isn't qualified to be doing them.
That's why it's important to make sure that you find a doctor who is medically trained to complete your procedures.
Wouldn't you think that anyone performing medical procedures, even non-invasive and minimally invasive procedures, must have medical training? You'd think so, but you'd be wrong. Many states don't have laws in place about these procedures yet because they're so new that the existing legislation doesn't suit the procedures.
But states are starting to catch up to our styles.
Many states are beginning to recognize the importance of requiring medical licenses for people practicing medical procedures like Botox injections and LipoDissolve treatments. You can learn a little bit more about this changing legislation here. But until the laws are tight enough to keep you safe, you should double-check that you're working with a qualified doctor.
Question of the Day: Do you know the current laws about this issue in your state?
When you think about going to the doctor to improve the shape of your body, what image comes to mind? Chances are that you think about going to a plastic surgery doctor to discuss weight loss surgeries like liposuction and tummy tucks. That's definitely one option that's available to you. But it's not the only one that is out there.
Body shaping procedures that are minimally invasive are becoming increasingly popular among the general public. Rather than go in for a full-on session of plastic surgery, people get treatments that don't take so long and which still provide pleasing results. SmartLipo and LipoDissolve are some of the names that we've heard of in this area of body treatment.
An article in the Imperial Valley News recently took a closer look at non-invasive body procedures. They say that these procedures are great for getting rid of love handles and for reviving the elasticity of the skin. The one treatment that they mention is Thermage but there are others like it to choose from. You should talk to a doctor about the specifics.
Question of the Day: Which body-trimming procedure interests you most?
As the year comes to an end, let's take a moment to look back at some of the best news, stories and tips that were reported on in 2007:
Celebrity Stories: We're always interested in hearing about which celebrities are doing what for their skin treatments. In January we learned some of J. Lo's skin secrets. Also early in the year we learned about Brangelina's acne concerns and Marcia Cross's work with skin cancer awareness. In more recent months, we have focused on celebrity botox including that done by men like Christian Slater and Simon Cowell.
Botox Stories: Botox hasn't just made the headlines when celebrities have used it. It's also been featured in a number of other reports. These include Botox theft, Botox for earlobes and Botox for charity.
LipoDissolve Stories: One of the most popular new treatments being done by skin care doctors today is the weight loss treatment called LipoDissolve. We saw some myths about it get dispelled, some people report on its success and rumors that Britney Spears was using it to trim up.
