Does Ultrasonic Cavitation Work?

Subcutaneous fats are essential to provide body shape, cushion to organs and insulation to the body. For normal functioning of the body and regular reproductive cycles, women require a very minimal amount of body fat.

When excess fat is deposited in adipose tissues, it gives a bulky appearance to the body. As per medical science, in males, subcutaneous fat constitutes 15 – 20% of the total body weight, while in women it constitutes 30-40% of total body weight.

What Is Obesity?

Obesity is a chronic condition characterized by the presence of an excess amount of body fat. It is considered to be a metabolic as well as a lifestyle disorder which tends to disrupt several normal bodily functions leading to serious illnesses. Dealing with obesity aims at achieving a healthier weight rather than ideal weight. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that a waist circumference greater than 35 inches in women and 40 inches in men is associated with a higher risk of having obesity-related illnesses.

WHO Classification Of Obesity:

Body Mass Index (BMI)	Type of Obesity
25 – 29.9	Pre-obese
30 – 34.9	Obese Class I
35 – 39.9	Obese Class II
More than 40.0	Obese Class III

  

Causes of Obesity	Illnesses associated with obesity
A sedentary or inactive lifestyle Stress Over-eating or binge eating Genetic factors Hormonal imbalance Medications such as corticosteroids, oral contraceptives, and anti-depressants Cigarette smoking Emotional factors Lack of sleep Endocrine disorders	Type 2 diabetes mellitus Hypertension Hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol levels) Stroke Heart attack Gallstones Gout and gouty arthritis Osteoarthritis Congestive heart failure Sleep apnea

Background

Along with getting rid of excess body fat, achieving a visually appealing, slim and fit body, free from unnecessary cellulite is something which most people desire. People follow a regular diet and exercise regime to achieve a pleasing body image; while some people also opt for other fat reduction methods like slimming medications, teas, gels and lotions and even liposuction.

Non-surgical aesthetic fat reduction techniques are gaining demand among people since surgical methods of fat reduction are associated with longer recovery time and questionable long term results of the procedure.

A newer entrant in the aesthetics which is gaining popularity among people is the ultrasound-induced cavitation of adipose (fat) tissues in the human body. Before knowing how whether it actually works or not, it is important to understand what ultrasound cavitation is.

What Is Ultrasonic Cavitation?

Ultrasonic cavitation has emerged to be one of the most effective, non-invasive techniques for fat reduction. The word “Cavitation” is used to indicate a decrease in the volume of a localized adipose tissue.

Types Of Ultrasound Cavitations

Ultrasonic cavitation is of two types – focused and non-focused.

• Focused Ultrasound Cavitation – Enables concentration at a defined subcutaneous area with least damage to surrounding connective tissues, nerves, blood vessels, and underlying organs.
• Non-Focused Ultrasound Cavitation – The depth of ultrasound is unknown and the skin is exposed to maximum energy intensity.

Keeping disadvantages in mind, more recent devices have been designed to prevent unwanted tissue injury with least possible discomfort.

Does Ultrasonic Cavitation Work?

People who opt to undergo ultrasonic cavitation often question the efficacy of the procedure. To add to their doubts, very few studies have been conducted which support positive clinical outcomes of this procedure along with its long term effects.

Therefore, to evaluate the efficacy of ultrasonic cavitation and its long term benefits, a research study was conducted on 28 patients who underwent a maximum number of 8 sittings.

• The study reported that the procedure caused a significant reduction in baseline circumference as well as the body mass index (BMI) without any adverse effects such as burning or blister formation.
• The study also concluded that ultrasonic cavitation worked beneficially in reducing abdominal fat deposition.
• However, the results were not influenced by the amount of sitting received.
• Follow up of patients three months after completion of ultrasonic cavitation reported persistent effects of treatment and some amount of cellulite regression in about 64% of patients.
• The treatment also did not require any additional recovery period after sittings.

Although ultrasonic cavitation causes localized fat tissue disruption and visible reduction in subcutaneous fats, it causes minimal or often, no change in overall weight since it aims at “fat loss” and not “weight loss”.

The treatment procedure is relatively well tolerated by most patients and is associated with minimal discomfort such as mild swelling and redness of overlying skin which completely resolves within a few days without any specific intervention.

It is important for people undergoing ultrasonic cavitation to understand that different body types tend to react differently to the treatment. On one hand, there will be persons who notice a significant loss of fat and inches whereas some may notice no change at all even after a maximum number of sittings. Therefore it safe to consider that ultrasonic cavitation certainly works – but differently for different body types.

How Does It Work?

Ultrasonic cavitation procedure works in the following way:

• This treatment involves the initiation of ultrasound-induced compression and depression cycles at appropriate frequencies which generate a lot of energy causing cavitation and eventual rupture of fat droplets.
• Focused ultrasound cavitation produced mechanical motion within fat tissues in a localized area with results in disruption of cell membrane while controlling temperature elevation.
• Rupture of adipose tissues release triglycerides which are then transported to the hepato-biliary system by lymphatic drainage.
• Focused ultrasonic cavitation prevents subsequent deposition of fat in the specific treatment area.

The device used for ultrasound-induced cavitation produces high-intensity ultrasonic waves which cause structural alterations in subcutaneous fat without any negative effect on the overlying skin in contrast to thermal-based techniques which cause considerable pain, swelling and bruising.

Several clinical studies have proved the efficacy of non-thermal ultrasonic cavitation to reduce subcutaneous fat which results in a desirable body contour. Novel non-invasive techniques for fat reduction have become immensely popular in the field of aesthetic medicine although they have varying degrees of efficacy and safety.