In the age of using diet pills and cosmetic surgery as shortcuts for enhancing body shape and attempting to improve self-image, it comes as little surprise that ultrasound technology is now being used as a substitute for liposuction. Solta Medical announced recently that they have developed a new technology, Liposonix, which uses high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) to trim down the waistline of those who prefer a less invasive way to get their love handles under control, and who struggle to take off the extra belly fat through diet and excercise.

Commenting on this new breakthrough, Doctor Anne Chapas, Assistant Clinical Professor at New York University School of Medicine said, “When diet and exercise just aren’t enough to lose that last inch, the Liposonix custom contouring treatment is a terrific option for patients to achieve the shape they want without the expense, discomfort and recovery time of invasive procedures, such as liposuction.”

The advantages of this new treatment for fat around the waistline include its effective but non-invasive interaction with the patient. The Liposonix procedure takes less than an hour to complete. It permanently destroys fat cells without causing damage to skin. Within three months following the procedure, the body naturally removes the bulk of the destroyed fat tissue, producing a leaner midriff in the patient.

Ultrasound technology has traditionally been used in diagnostic procedures, where ultrasound imaging allows therapists to get a closer look at tendons, muscles, and other body structures below the surface of the skin. Ultrasound therapy is also used extensively in reducing pain and speeding recovery by sending sound waves into the target areas to be absorbed by injured tissue. This new use of ultrasound breaks from the traditional mold by venturing into the world of cosmetics as an alternative to liposuction as well as exercise.

Giving a vote of confidence to this new medical breakthrough, Doctor Grant Stevens, Associate Clinical Professor of Plastic Surgery at USC, touted the maturity and usefulness of the new process: “Liposonix technology was developed over a period of 10 years by leading scientists and ultrasound experts with more than 200 years of combined experience in the development of therapeutic and diagnostic ultrasound devices. I feel confident that I can now offer my patients an effective non-invasive treatment that specifically targets the stubborn fat in the abdomen and love handles that so many of my patients want to lose.”