Buhle Samuels, Omuhle Gela, Kwezi Ndlovu and Zola Nombona – these are just some of the celebrities we’ve seen share their trips to an aesthetic clinic to get slimming injections, stretch-mark removal treatments and other treatments such as lazer lipo.
But what exactly is aesthetic medicine and how safe is it?
TRUELOVE spoke to qualified somatolgist and aesthetician Mary-flora Leeu from Sandton-based aesthetic clinc Grand Daisy Laser Lipo and Aesthetics to find out more.
Please explain what aesthetic medicine is?
Aesthetic medicine is a broad field with vastly different types of treatments to enhance a patient’s appearance. Treatments include removing unwanted wrinkles, scars, hair and fat from the body. These treatments can also offer health and wellness benefits for the mind and body.
The broad aesthetic medicine field includes surgical procedures like liposuction and facelifts and non-surgical treatments like Botox, chemical peels, laser hair removal, Cavitation and CoolSculpting.
How safe are these procedures?
The procedures are very safe, you may have a bit of redness after a session but there are little to no side effects.
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Please explain the difference between ultrasonic cavitation, fat freezing and slimming injections?
Ultrasonic cavitation
Ultrasonic cavitation is a procedure that relies on sound waves to flush the fat from the body, it uses low frequency sound waves to heat and vibrate the layer of fat cells below the skin surface. The pressure eventually causes the fat cells to liquefy and release their contents into the bloodstream, the body is then able to process these fatty acids through its proverbial waste-disposal plant: the lymphatic system. It’s non-surgical and no needles are involved.
Fat Freezing
Fat cells are frozen for a period of time in the aim to reduce them. They are more susceptible to damage from cold temperatures than other cells, such as skin cells. The cold temperature injures the fat cells. The injury triggers an inflammatory response by the body, which results in the death of the fat cells. Macrophages, a type of white blood cells and part of the body’s immune system, is “called to the injury location,” to rid the dead fat cells and debris from the body. It is also a non-surgical procedure.
Slimming injections
These injectables consist of various vitamins, nutrients, and other ingredients purportedly used to aid in weight loss. This vitamin can help increase metabolism and force our fat cells to release more energy. This can help reduce adipose tissues as well. A regulated dosage of injections can help burn fat and reduce weight.
How many sessions would a typical person need to achieve their goals with the above mentioned treatments?
Everyone is different, so it would be difficult to say. People come in at different sizes with different goals and different problem areas; they eat differently, have different levels of fitness and so on.
If I had to put a number to it, I would say that on average a client will lose 2-6 cm per session. This is accompanied by a meal plan to assist the client maintain the weight loss with every session. Diet plays a big role in a person's results. The treatments work together with this lifestyle change - this is how one would maintain the the losses even after the sessions have been completed.
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How sustainable are these procedures for maintaining a certain appearance?
It’s dependent on what you eat, and I think that this is true in every circumstance - regardless of how someone lost weight.
A patient will gain the weight back if they go back to the old habits of eating. We can all assist to remove the weight but it’s up to the individual to keep the weight off.
What are the benefits of medical aesthetics?
Long ago, gym and diet were the only options one had to lose weight. But because of technology and innovation, there are options that are safe, comfortable and that can easily fit into one's schedule without necessarily having to exercise intensely.
- Targeted weight loss
- The procedures are painless and there’s no downtime to resume normal schedule
- It’s therapeutic for some
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