Source: ASAPS

April 21, 2006

Orlando, FL (April 21, 2006) — The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) announced today that a panel titled “Non-invasive Body Contouring: Fact or Fiction,” will be held at the Society’s Annual Meeting, April 21-25 in Orlando, FL. The panel will be moderated by Franklin L. DiSpaltro, MD, of New Jersey, and will include Spencer Brown, PhD, Dennis Hammond, MD, and Peter B. Fodor, MD. Panelists will discuss three potential non-invasive alternatives to surgical body contouring: mesotherapy (Lipodissolve), Thermage (Thermacool or Thermalift) and LipoSonix. All three techniques may provide plastic surgeons with minimally-invasive treatment options, but are not yet sufficiently backed by clinical data, an important distinction that needs to be communicated to patients.

The featured non-invasive therapies utilize three distinct methods. Mesotherapy involves the injection of various compounds into the skin to “dissolve” fat. Thermage uses radiofrequency to tighten facial skin for a “non-surgical face lift.” LipoSonix uses a high-intensity ultrasound device to target and destroy unwanted fat cells while sparing intervening tissue and skin.