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News from Ballindamm
Premium Quarterly 02/2022
Best in shape
You usually notice it in your favourite trousers, which suddenly pinch more than they fit - little pads appear in places that have long been slim and firm. In addition, the skin becomes flabby and loses its elasticity. Very often, many women (and increasingly men) are then faced with the question of how they can regain a firm, youthful silhouette and what options are available to restore tone and contour to the body. In addition to a healthy diet and a type-appropriate exercise programme, aesthetic surgery can achieve the desired result. In 2020, one in twelve aesthetic treatments was liposuction, one of the most popular and effective procedures when it comes to removing unwanted fat deposits. But it doesn't always have to be an invasive procedure; minimally invasive treatments can also help you achieve your desired figure. Which method you ultimately decide on always depends on the initial situation and the result you want to achieve. Very important for all procedures: An informative consultation with a specialist, as every cosmetic operation harbours risks and dangers that need to be clarified.
Cold shock
If there's one thing fat cells don't like, it's the cold. And this is exactly where the cryolipolysis procedure (from ancient Greek: kryos = frost; lipa = fat; lysis = dissolution) comes in. Developed by scientists at Harvard Medical School in Boston, cryotherapy is based on the scientific finding that fat cells are more sensitive to cold than other cell types. Cryolipolysis utilises this effect and cools the body areas to be treated to a temperature around freezing point for a maximum of 60 minutes using customised cold vacuum applicators. The body reacts so sensitively to this that the fat cells die, while the skin and connective tissue survive the freezing cold unscathed. The dead cells are removed via liver function over the following six to twelve weeks, but the first results are already visible after the first application.
INFO & COSTS: Painless cryolipolysis is suitable for small, superficial fat deposits on the stomach, waist, back and upper arms. Back and upper arms, but not for weight reduction or larger fat deposits. Depending on the initial situation and body region, one to three sessions are required for a satisfactory result, there is no downtime and even sport is not a problem after the treatment. One session costs on average from 500 euros.
Heat helps
Scientific studies have shown that fat cells also do not tolerate heat and dissolve under its influence. A particularly effective method of destroying stubborn fat deposits using heat is laser lipolysis, also known as fat path laser. In laser lipolysis, the laser works with a wavelength that is precisely adjusted to the structure of the fatty tissue. The light focussed in this way heats the fat cells to up to 47 degrees and destroys them without damaging the surrounding tissue. The heating also stimulates collagen and elastin production, which in turn tightens the skin.
INFO & COSTS: This minimally invasive, pain-free method does not require surgery, but the results are almost comparable to liposuction, as larger fat deposits can be removed. Fat deposits in the abdomen and back in particular, but also the inner and outer thighs can be successfully treated with the fat removal laser. Depending on the area of the body, a treatment can take up to 60 minutes, and one session is often enough to achieve visible changes. For one hundred per cent fat removal, four treatments at intervals of up to two weeks are recommended; there is no downtime. Price per session: from 750 euros.
Energetic tightening
A very effective method for tightening tissue and improving skin quality is the minimally invasive radiofrequency procedure ThermiTight. For women as well as for men," explains Dr Neda Nabavispecialist in plastic and aesthetic surgery from Hamburg. A microprobe is used to deliver radio frequency energy and heat into the subcutaneous tissue and deeper layers in a controlled manner. Depending on the treatment objective, the temperatures are adjusted accordingly in order to tighten the skin, tackle small fat deposits and promote the formation of new collagen. A temperature controller is integrated into the probe which, together with an additional thermal imaging camera, enables targeted and safe treatment from the outside. Local anaesthesia at the beginning of the treatment makes it completely pain-free.
INFO & COSTS: "The radio frequency procedure can be used to sustainably tighten the thighs, upper arms and stomach. The ThermiThight method can also be used to reduce smaller pockets of fat, such as the annoying bra fat on the back," says Dr Nabavi. The final result is visible after around four months. The cost of a session is around 2,000 euros.