Want a Flatter and Toned Stomach? Try UltraShape

Ever wondered how some celebrities have toned, washboard abs? Of course a strict diet, intense personal trainer and hours of working out helps them maintain a solid body—but some celebrities also sneak in non-surgical (and surgical) liposuction treatments. 

Jessica Alba, who has been repeatedly named one of the hottest celebrities on several magazine lists, had non-surgical liposuction treatments a few years ago. She reportedly underwent these treatments to get rid of stubborn fat on her thighs and abdomen. Even though Jessica is one of the fittest celebs in Hollywood, she still has some body gripes like the rest of us.

One of the most effective non-surgical liposuction treatments right now is called UltraShape. Find out what the most common questions are and if the treatments sound right for you and your goals.

Source: Viralands.com. Jessica Alba underwent non-surgical fat reduction treatments to treat her thighs and abdomen.

What is UltraShape?

UltraShape is a non-surgical fat reduction treatment that uses ultrasound waves to target and implode fat cells in areas of unwanted fat.

After your physician applies a thin layer of ultrasound gel on this area, they move the UltraShape hand-held device across the area of treatment. This device focuses on the superficial, middle and deeper layers of fat. Common areas of treatment include: the abdomen, thighs, hips and arms.

What results will you see?

You’ll see a reduction of three centimeters of fat after three treatments.

How long does it take to complete all UltraShape treatments?

Each treatment takes about 30 minutes to complete. Usually three UltraShape sessions are needed to complete the program. Each treatment is performed once every two weeks. That means you’ll finish all treatments after six weeks.

Who’s the ideal candidate for UltraShape?

UltraShape is right for you if you want to see a small but noticeable and permanent reduction of fat without going under the knife. If you’re actively trying to trim up and you’re close to your goal weight, UltraShape treatments can help reduce your stubborn fat. After 3 treatments, you can see 3 centimeters of fat reduction. If you have really loose skin and a lot of fat that you want gone, liposuction procedures like SmartLipo or BodyTite may be the better option if you want more dramatic results.

Patients who are pregnant or have any skin infections on the area of treatment are not suited for UltraShape treatments.

Are the results permanent?

Yes they are. The fat cells that have been destroyed don’t return, as long as you maintain your weight after treatments. If you do gain weight later on, the fat will accumulate in other areas of your body instead of the treated areas.

Is UltraShape painful? Will I need to set aside time to recover after treatment?

UltraShape treatments are painless. There’s no need for anesthesia when you come in for treatment. You don’t have to take time off work or regular activities to recover unlike surgical procedures.   

How much does it cost?

The cost will vary at each clinic. On average, each treatment can cost $750-$1,200 depending where you go.

Watch UltraShape treatments performed live on Periscope

Want to see UltraShape treatments in action? We’ll be in Miami on Saturday, June 27 to demonstrate how UltraShape works at a workshop. We’ll be filming it live on Periscope so you can watch, learn and ask Dr. Mulholland questions. Follow us on Twitter to find out when the broadcast begins!

Follow us on Twitter: @SpaMedicaCanada and Periscope: @SpaMedicaCanada

Watch Dr. Mulholland Perform Live Cosmetic Procedures on Periscope

Don't kick yourself for missing another Dr. Mulholland workshop.

Follow us on Twitter and catch us live on Periscope.  See Dr. Mulholland perform live cosmetic procedures at the Trump International Hotel in Miami on Saturday, June 13 and Sunday, June 14. 

The live demos will begin on:

Saturday, June 13 at approximately 3 p.m. ET
Sunday, June 14 at approximately 11 a.m. ET

Login and watch, join the interactive program and ask Dr. Mulholland questions as he runs through Cynosure technology.  Watch him as he performs a SmartLipo procedure along with an IPL, The Elite and a Picosure facial.

The Periscope App 

Periscope allows you to view live broadcasts from your phone, desktop or tablet. You can watch Dr. Mulholland’s workshops in real time from around the world.   

If you ever had pressing questions about certain treatments like Botox or SmartLipo, then you have your chance to ask Dr. Mulholland whatever it is you’ve been wondering about.

Simply follow @SpaMedicaCanada on Twitter and then download the Periscope app from your iPhone, tablet or Android device and search for SpaMedicaCanada to tune in. If you're watching from your laptop, follow our tweets and click on the periscope links to view the broadcast.

If you are unable to join us in Miami, be sure to watch us live this weekend on June 13-14 from The Trump International Hotel.

3 Areas Where You Won’t Lose Fat Without Plastic Surgery

Losing weight is a tough feat that requires a lot of discipline, but what if you’re looking to lose fat in specific areas like your arms or neck? This is called targeted exercise or spot reduction—but according to science, it doesn’t work. You can’t choose specific areas like your chin to shed your fat. Factors like genetics determine where you’ll see weight loss on your body. So unfortunately, those obscure chin exercises like tilting your head up and down won’t help in getting rid of a double chin.

Intense workouts that help you shed body fat overall helps, but sometimes it doesn’t help in specific areas of the body and face. Below are some areas where fat builds up, but can’t always be reduced through exercise.

Source: SpaMedica. Before and after photos of a patient who had BodyTite liposuction to her neck and chin.

Chin

Ever had someone take an unflattering picture of you from a lower angle? It’s a pretty easy way to make you look like you have a double chin.

Looking like you have a double chin in photos might suck, but what if your double chin is just something you’ve always dealt with? Sometimes a double chin is related to carrying excess weight, but it can also be hereditary. If you see that a few of your family members also have double chins, chances are that it’s in the family.  Age is also another factor in having a double chin. As we get older, our skin and muscles loosen. When the muscles around the chin and neck loosen over time, the chin and neck lines aren’t as defined anymore.

What to do about double chins: Neck liposuction helps define your chin and neck area. Newer liposuction techniques like SmartLipo, BodyTite or VaserLipo reduces the amount of fat under your chin and tightens your skin all at once.

“These procedures are performed under local anaesthesia with light oral sedation and a very small incision under the chin. These various techniques use laser energy, ultrasound energy or radiofrequency electrical current to liquefy the fat internally and create some heat. It stimulates skin and dermal contraction,” says Toronto plastic surgeon Dr. Mulholland.

Source: SpaMedica. Before and after photos of a patient who had blepharoplasty.

Under Your Eyes

Spot reduction sounds like it can work (it doesn’t), but there’s no way you’re going to get rid of the fat under your eyes through targeted eye massages and exercises. Fat under the eyes can make someone look older or more tired than they actually are. This thought isn’t the same in all cultures—this article reports that people in South Korea have sought surgery to make their under-eye skin plumper. 

This trend called “aegyo sal” (it translates to eye smiles or cute skin) is believed to make a person look more attractive and youthful in Korea. That’s not quite the case in North America. People go through eye creams and procedures to reduce the fat or puffiness under their eyes.

What you can do about fat under your eyes:  Blepharoplasty, also known as eyelid surgery, can reduce the fat under your eyes. Incisions are made below the lash line for the lower lids and then excess fat and skin are removed. “If excess fat is only present in the lower lids, it may be removed through an incision inside the lower lids conjunctivum with no external incision or scar,” says Dr. Mulholland.

Source: SpaMedica. Before and after photos of a patient who had male breast reduction

Male breasts

Gynecomastia, also known as male breasts or “moobs”, is a condition where a man has excessive amounts of fat in the breasts. This happens due to different things like diet, environmental or hereditary factors. This swelling and enlargement of the breasts can be seen in newborn males, boys and older men. While this condition subsides for some boys, about 8% of boys continue to face this condition. Gyneocomastia isn’t life-threatening, but it can negatively affect a boy or man’s self-esteem.

What to do about male breasts: If losing weight doesn’t help, male breast reduction is a solution to gynecomastia. During this procedure, energy-assisted liposuction techniques like SmartLipo and VaserLipo can be used to reduce the size of male breasts for a flatter, more masculine looking chest.

Working out is great, no doubt. But sometimes, exercise just won’t cut it when you’re looking to cut the fat in certain body areas. Leave a comment here or book an appointment online if you have any questions regarding these procedures.

Liposuction: 3 Things You Have To Know About It

Source: SpaMedica. Before and after photo of a liposuction patient.

Some people would say liposuction is the “easy” way to lose some weight. On the surface, sure, it looks like the procedure is a great way to trim up and shed off pounds. I mean, what’s the point of going on a hardcore diet and exercising everyday when you can avoid all that stuff by getting liposuction?

This is a super common misconception. First off, liposuction  is not a “quick” way to lose weight. It’s actually not a weight loss method. Also, it’s not a procedure where you go in, get some fat taken out and your results will automatically appear within the next day.

There’s maintenance and things you’ll have to consider when it comes to diet and lifestyle to keep your liposuction results. Dr. Mulholland, a Toronto plastic surgeon, shares his expertise on what you should expect to do after liposuction so things don’t come as a surprise.

A balanced, healthy diet will help your body heal quickly after liposuction

This idea is the same for any other surgery. Having a healthy diet (don’t be too hard on yourself by restricting calories though) helps your body heal fast and without complications. Gradual weight loss of less than 20 pounds will also benefit your liposuction results. The areas and contours you’ve gained will shrink and enhance your overall looks. Weight gain, of course, can sabotage your liposuction results. Not only will the fat return to the areas you’ve had treated, fat can also travel and accumulate in areas where you normally didn’t have.

What your diet should be like depends on your own individual health. Your liposuction surgeon is in the best position to recommend what your diet should be after the procedure.

Dr. Mulholland appeared on Cityline to discuss and perform BodyTite Liposuction.

You can return back to regular activities soon after liposuction.

“Patients can return to relatively low-impact activities the day after the procedure,” says Dr. Mulholland. With energy-assisted liposuction procedures like BodyTite or SmartLipo, the risks of pain, bruising and swelling are reduced. This provides patients with a faster opportunity to get back to regular activities. Some patients have had liposuction on multiple areas of their body and can go back to very light activities the next day. It’s not a bad idea to have 2-3 days dedicated to resting and recovery after liposuction, though.

If you’re into active physical activities like running and weight training, you’ll have to wait 4-6 weeks after your procedure to jump back into these activities.

Weight fluctuation is common after liposuction

As mentioned earlier, liposuction is not a way to lose weight. It’s a way to help you shape up contours and remove unwanted fat from pockets of your body that you don’t want. Dr. Mulholland says to focus on your contours and the inches you’ve lost, not your weight.

With that noted, you will lose some weight after liposuction. It’s also possible to see your weight fluctuate. Some reasons that cause weight gain are related to the stress of surgery and stress hormones—this shows up in the form of water weight. However, it’s a good idea to have a close follow-up with your liposuction surgeon to make sure everything’s fine if you have any worries about your weight.

These are just some of the things to consider before you decide to take the plunge and have liposuction. Do your research, pick a board-certified plastic surgeon with years of experience and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Leave a comment or book a consultation online if you have any questions about liposuction.