Beat the Bulge with Non-Invasive Ultrasound Therapy

Many of us know the frustration of stubborn fat. You eat well, you exercise, but you still have belly fat, love handles or muffin tops.

Although you may dislike these small, isolated areas of fat, having invasive surgery to remove them might seem excessive. However, Ocean Clinic Marbella offers a number of effective, non-surgical options for reducing fat, of which ultrasound therapy is one.

Average circumferential loss per area treated with ultrasound (i.e. waist/belly/hips) is 4.5 cms, providing real results for patients who don’t want to have liposuction.

What is ultrasound therapy?

Ultrasound therapy (also called ultrasonic cavitation) uses pulsed ultrasound energy to selectively destroy fat cells. The high-frequency sound waves disrupt the fat cell walls, causing the contents to be released into the fluid spaces of the body.

The waste material is picked up by the lymph system and circulated through the body until it can be processed by the liver and naturally eliminated with sweat, urine and faeces.

Meanwhile, the surrounding tissue, nerves and muscles are left completely unharmed by the procedure.

How is ultrasound therapy treatment given?

Ultrasound therapy is safe, quick and painless, with absolutely no anaesthetic needed. A soothing gel will be applied to your skin and a trained technician will glide the transducer over the treatment area.

The transducer delivers mild ultrasound pulses. It is a gentle and soothing experience, much like a hot stone massage. Treatments take an hour or less, so can be given during a lunch break.

One of the major benefits with ultrasound therapy, in comparison to surgical liposuction, is that there is absolutely no down time. Patients can return to work immediately afterwards and there will be no visible marks left on the skin.

What areas can be treated with ultrasound therapy?

Any area of stubborn subcutaneous fat (fat that forms under the surface of your skin) can be treated with ultrasound. This includes the belly, waist, hips, inner or outer thighs, bra roll, upper arms and double chin.

The best candidates for this treatment have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or less and can only pinch an inch or so of fat in the problem area.

How many sessions of ultrasound therapy are needed?

A minimum of three treatments, scheduled two weeks apart is recommended for each treatment area.

The results take several days to become fully visible, as the body processes and eliminates the fat.

Additional treatments can be of benefit for larger or denser areas of fat. Fat that has existed for a very long time and is especially stubborn may need up to six treatments.

Are there any side effects to ultrasound therapy?

Ultrasound therapy is approved by the FDA in America and by European safety regulators and has few reported side effects. Unlike other fat-reduction procedures that use heat or freeze fat, ultrasound does not come with the risk of burns.

Occasionally patients might experience a slight redness or irritation of the skin that resolves within a few hours. More common conditions include increased thirst and slight headache beginning a few hours after treatment; this is due to the body’s lymphatic system working to eliminate the toxins released from the fat cells.

Will the fat return after ultrasound therapy?

Ultrasound works to destroy a percentage of fat cells in places where there is an overabundance of them. The remaining fat cells will still have the capacity to expand, causing you to gain weight. However, by reducing the number of fat cells in problem areas, you will be less inclined to store weight there.

To maintain fat loss, and further sculpt your shape, eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly.

Interested in pain-free and incision-free fat reduction? Contact OceanClinic Marbella for a consultation.