Fat Reduction : The Process

The UltraShape™ “walk-in walk-out” procedure takes place in our London office after a consultation session between you and Dr. Cole and/or his nurse. We evaluate the treatment area and determine the size of the treatment area, and the cost.

Patients must have at least 3 centimeters of fat thickness over the treatment area in order to be a patient. This is determined by using a fat caliper and pinching the tissue. You can get an idea yourself by pinching the area between your thumb and forefinger, and estimating the distance between them.

Please note that this treatment is not a substitute for healthy lifestyle or weight loss. Life style issues of diet and exercise remain very important to maintaining your physical health and body shape. This treatment may help you moderate those problem areas that don’t seem to want to go away. Even if you are moderately overweight, have a stable body weight and are basically happy with yourself, you can use this technology to reduce and contour areas that cause you concern. Realistic patient expectations are always important. Dr. Cole and his team will advise if you are a good candidate for this procedure.

Before treatment you will be weighed, measured, photographed (for your medical records only), and the area to be treated marked. You will lay down on the treatment table and the area taped up to maximize the thickeness of the fat in your treatment area for your maximal comfort and best results for each treatment.

The nurse will begin by using the radiofrequency hand piece to massage and warm the skin and deeper fat tissue in preparation for the ultrasonic fat reducing component. The radiofrequency, when applied to the treament area, stimulates collagen formation and skin tightening which will progress over the ensuing weeks and months. As the fat is reduced with each treatment, the radiofrequency component will ensure the overlying skin is also tightened to enhance the final contouring result. This is also very useful over the abdomen of women where pregnancy may have caused some stretching and loosening of the abdominal skin in this area.

After 15 minutes or so, the hand-held ultrasonic transducer will be used to gently deliver focused, therapeutic ultrasound energy over the region. In this way, the fat cells will be selectively and safely disrupted. The entire procedure is guided by Dr. Cole’s nurses and UltraShape’s advanced tracking technology, to ensure smooth, uniform contouring

An oil is used on the skin to ensure good coupling for the ultrasonic energy, so that the sound waves go cleanly into the underlying tissues to disrupt the membranes of the fat cells to begin the process of releasing the fat from the treatment area. This length of time for this portion of the treatment will depend on the size of the area being treated. It may take 30 minutes to an hour or more. You can relax, be engaged in conversation, or watch a movie during this time.

After the ultrasonic fat cell disrupting component of your treatment is completed, the radiofrequency massage portion is again repeated to repeat the skin tightening as well as massage the fat cell contents out of the area and into lymphatic system to begin the process of draining the fat away, which will take a few days.

During the next couple of days you should decrease your caloric intake as your body processes and metabolizes this fat through the liver. As soon as the session is over, the nurses will clean the oils from your skin, and you can immediately resume your daily routine. There is no recuperation period, and no need for follow-up visits. Patients state that there is no post-treatment pain or discomfort. The skin surface remains smooth and the fat texture remains homogenous.