BodyTite is a new fat reduction procedure that is currently undergoing review by the FDA. Made by Invasix, BodyTite uses radio frequency (RF) to break up the fat. RF delivers a high-frequency electrical current to the fat cells which essentially dissolves them while causing little to no trauma to the surrounding tissues.
According to a recent study, it seems that the BodyTite procedure is safe and effective, however it should be noted that the study was done with a limited sample and follow up was limited to 3 months post procedure. The 26 patients who participated in the study all reported minimal postoperative pain, and significant improvement was made in body contour, weight and circumference. All patients reported skin tightening, though these improvements were subjective.
Courtesy of
The Doctors
Dr. Thomas Barnes, famous for his Tummy Shrinklift Procedure which he performed on the Today Show, practices in Newport Beach, CA and says, "BodyTite is a remarkable, new technology. I can tell you, if and when they get their FDA clearance, they may change the way that assisted liposuction is being done." Dr. Barnes goes on to say that it is "a remarkable, ingenious unit where you poke a little hole in the skin, you put the fluid in, like you're going to do liposuction, and instead of using liposuction, you advance these prongs, one above the skin, one below the skin, and the prong on the top makes a contact for the electrical energy from the prong that's under the skin that's also sucking at the same time. But it's really sucking melted fat and so what they came up with - which is ingenious - is to advance this double prong unit... so they can dynamically check the temperature... as they suck melted fat."
Laser lipo devices are good at melting fat prior to removal, but none of them melt the fat and suction it at the same time, which makes laser lipo take a little longer than traditional liposuction procedures. The combination of the two in one unit helps BodyTite stand out. "I'm hearing that they can melt the fat as fast as liposuction - because a lot of the laser lipolysis units are a lot slower than liposuction alone. So you don't have a longer procedure and you're delivering the heat necessary in order to improve the post op course," says Dr. Barnes.
Another significant benefit to BodyTite are the skin tightening effects. Dr. Malcolm Paul, past President of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) who also practices in Newport Beach, CA, says, "Many patients that we would have offered another procedure, a more aggressive procedure, they can get significant skin tightening from this alone." He cautions though that this is not for those who have "loose skin and no fat, and need a skin tightening procedure."
