A New Approach for Adipose Tissue Treatment and Body Contouring Using Radiofrequency-Assisted Liposuction

Abstract

A new liposuction technology for adipocyte lipolysis and uniform three-dimensional tissue heating and contraction is presented. The technology is based on bipolar radiofrequency energy applied to the subcutaneous adipose tissue and subdermal skin surface. Preliminary clinical results, thermal monitoring, and histologic biopsies of the treated tissue demonstrate rapid preaspiration liquefaction of adipose tissue, coagulation of subcutaneous blood vessels, and uniform sustained heating of tissue.We live in a culture preoccupied with both weight and body contour. North America also is a society in which obesity is an epidemic. It is no surprise then that liposuction continues to be the most commonly performed aesthetic procedure in the world. In 2007, 450,000 liposuction procedures were performed in the United States alone by board-certified plastic surgeons, and another 150,000 by nonplastic surgeon physicians, for a total 600,000 lipocontouring procedures, accounting for approximately 5% of all elective surgeries in the United States. It is estimated that the number of liposuction procedures will more than double over the next 5 years.Coincident with the dramatic rise in liposuction procedures, the aging ''baby boomer'' population, with decreasing skin tone and advanced laxity, are seeking body contour procedures. A technology that effectively allows the physician to remove and contour adipose tissue with less bruising, swelling, and pain while simultaneously providing for significant soft tissue contraction would enjoy popular appeal.Traditional tumescent, small-cannula, suction-assisted liposuction (SAL) is based on mechanical disruption of adipose tissue by a suction cannula moved manually through the subcutaneous space aspirating small fat clusters of adipose tissue through the openings in the cannula [4,9,11,12,21]. This traditional liposuction procedure of avulsing fat through a mechanically induced negative pressure requires a degree of effort on the part of the physician and can be quite traumatic for the patient.Traditional SAL is less effective in secondary liposuction procedures and in fibrous areas, which do not enjoy significant skin contraction [13,14]. The evolution of smaller vented cannulas, wetting solutions, and syringe aspiration techniques has refined the art of liposuction [5-7, 13, 14, 16-18, 22]. In an attempt to improve the postoperative patient recovery profile of pain, swelling, and bruising, and to enhance skin contraction, physician effort, and effectiveness in secondary and fibrous cases, newer generations of energyassisted liposuction technologies have been developed.The technique of ultrasound-assisted liposuction, in which cavitational ultrasound energy is delivered through a probe to adipose tissue specifically cavitated and liquified, is shown to be less traumatic than SAL and may result in more skin contraction [2,15,20,23,24]. Power-assisted liposuction (PAL) is a commonly used technology that uses a variable-speed motor to provide reciprocating motion to

Radio-Frequency Assisted Liposuction (RFAL)

“…Data and feedback compiled from a few hundred RFAL patients illustrate that the treatment is safe for small and large areas [3,4,[16][17][18][19]. Most patients were able to return to a regular routine a few days following the treatment.…”

“…Bleeding of the dermis can be observed after the treatment and no skin necrosis is observed at the 6 months follow-up. [4] Fig www.intechopen.com…”

“…RFAL technology provides a higher power and more efficient energy transfer than laser energy systems and thus, allows the treatment of larger volumes of the subcutaneous tissue with optimal thermal profiles, facilitating the significant tightening of the tissue. Recently introduced radio-frequency assisted liposuction and soft tissue contraction technology has shown tremendous promise for thermal contouring [3,4,[16][17][18][19]. When considering skin contraction, it is important to differentiate two-dimensional horizontal x-y tightening of the skin surface from three-dimensional x-y-z tissue tightening of the subcutaneous tissue, where the skin is also more firmly connected and adjacent to the deeper anatomical structures.…”

Non-Excisional Face and Neck Tightening Using a Novel Subdermal Radiofrequency Thermo-Coaugulative Device

“…Radio-Frequency Assisted Liposuction (RFAL) was introduced 3 years ago for body contouring and tissue tightening [7]. This minimally invasive procedure has shown significant contraction capability when deployed in liposuction and lipo-contouring procedures [7][8][9][10][11][12][13].…”

“…This minimally invasive procedure has shown significant contraction capability when deployed in liposuction and lipo-contouring procedures [7][8][9][10][11][12][13]. RFAL technology harnesses the adipose tissue and septofascial fibrous structure of the subcutaneous space for thermal tightening and remodeling of subcutaneous tissue.…”