Michael S. Kaminer

Guest Editor for the following articles:

Mar
2013
Vol. 32. No. 1

New Waves for Fat Reduction: High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound

Michael E. Kaminer, MD | Nazanin Saedi, MD

With the rising demand for body contouring, noninvasive devices for fat reduction have
become increasingly popular and have grown dramatically over the past decade. Highintensity
focused ultrasound (HIFU) has been used for nearly half a century for the
noninvasive treatment of tumors of various organs, but has only recently been evaluated as
a method for the selective destruction of adipose tissue. HIFU works by ablating subcutaneous
adipose tissue and causing molecular vibrations that increase the temperature of
local tissue and induce rapid cell necrosis. Several studies reveal the safety and efficacy of
HIFU for fat reduction in the abdomen and the flanks. These studies indicate consistent
reduction in abdominal circumference >2 cm after a single treatment. The adverse events
are limited to transient tenderness, bruising, and edema. Increased utility of HIFU for fat
reduction will likely increase over time.

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Mar
2013
Vol. 32. No. 1

Cryolipolysis: A Historical Perspective and Current Clinical Practice

H Ray Jalian, MD | Mathew M. Avram, MD, JD

Dermatologists have long used cold-based therapeutic approaches for a variety of applications.
Based on the differences in chemical composition, it is possible to selectively
target certain tissues rich with lipid, while sparing the surrounding tissue predominantly
containing water. With historical observations of cold-induced panniculitis suggesting the
feasibility of this strategy, cryolipolysis has emerged as a new methodology using controlled
cooling to selectively target fat. Both preclinical and clinical studies have established
the safety and efficacy of cryolipolysis for noninvasive body contouring. This review
will focus on the evolution of cryolipolysis from initial case reports of cold-induced panniculitis,
to preclinical and clinical studies, and the current clinical practice.
Semin Cutan Med Surg 32:31-34 © 2013 Frontline Medical Communications

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