September 2007 | www.parungao.com
708.660.3223
Forward to a friend
Have stubborn fat that just won't budge?
Are you at or near your normal weight, but can't seem to trim the fat from your hips, thighs or “love handles”? Even when you lose a few pounds, do you have problem areas where those bulges just won't go away? Liposuction might be right for you.
What is liposuction?
Liposuction, also known as suction-assisted lipoplasty or suction lipectomy, is a minimally invasive plastic surgery procedure that slims your body by suctioning away excess fat.
The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) reports that 403,684 liposuction procedures were performed on women and men in 2006, making liposuction the most popular surgical cosmetic procedure in the U.S.
What can liposuction treat?
Liposuction can trim the fat from your abdomen, outer and inner thighs, buttocks, breasts (in men and women), neck and under the chin, upper chest near the armpit, “bra bulge” in the mid-back, upper arms, back of the thighs, knees, as well as calves and ankles. Men also find liposuction can get rid of “love handles.”
What about other fat-loss methods
like mesotherapy?
Mesotherapy, or injection lipolysis, is a controversial fat-reduction method that is getting a lot of attention these days. This technique involves hundreds of injections and is being touted as an alternative to liposuction. But is mesotherapy safe?
On May 14, 2007, the ASAPS issued a warning against the use of injection fat-loss treatments: “Although marketed as fat-loss treatments, these procedures are scientifically unproven, lacking any objective data on safety and efficacy. In addition, none of these procedures has received FDA approval, with the ingredients poorly defined. The procedures may also be offered by persons without sufficient medical training, thereby putting patients at risk of harm.”
“Safety needs to come first,” said ASAPS President Foad Nahai, MD. “We do not have definitive information on injection fat-loss treatments. The bottom line for patients is this: Don't allow yourself to be injected with an unknown and untested substance.”
“For now,” said Alan H. Gold, MD, president of the Aesthetic Surgery Education and Research Foundation, “the only proven method for eliminating unwanted fat cells is suction-assisted lipoplasty [liposuction], a procedure that has a long and successful track record for both safety and effectiveness.”

Subscribe/Unsubscribe
You received this e-mail because you asked to be included in parungao.com mailings. If you would like to unsubscribe from this e-mail, please use the SafeUnsubscribe® links at the bottom of this email.
Many women seek liposuction to streamline “saddlebag” hips, as well as to trim their thighs and buttocks. Even a normal-weight man can have “love handles.” Liposuction is very effective in treating these stubborn fat deposits.

New clinical trial studies injection
lipolysis treatment
On Sept. 4, 2007, the Aesthetic Surgery Education and Research Foundation announced that it has received approval from the FDA to initiate a clinical trial investigating the safety and efficacy of one type of injection lipolysis treatment.

“Treatments most properly called injection lipolysis have been commonly associated with the terms mesotherapy or fat-dissolving ‘Lipodissolve.’ Injection lipolysis ... is not currently approved by the FDA for subcutaneous injection for any purpose,” the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery notes.
Ask Dr. Parungao
I've lost weight and want to trim my tummy.
Is liposuction a good choice for me?
That depends on how much weight you've lost, as well
as your skin elasticity and muscle tone. If you've had
bariatric surgery, for example, and have loose, hanging
skin, liposuction could actually make the problem worse
by removing volume from the area.

In that case, you're a better candidate for a tummy tuck, which removes excess skin and tightens your
abdominal muscles.
Have a question? Ask Dr. Parungao.