Is lunchtime lipo simp

Each week our experts Dr AAMER KHAN and LESLEY REYNOLDS bring you the latest beauty news and anti-ageing advice

SUMMER is approaching and with beach holidays on the horizon, interest in body-shaping procedures is soaring. Last year in Britain we spent an astonishing £31million on treatments that promised to sculpt, contour and remove excess fat – and that figure looks set to increase.

Often promoted as an alternative to traditional liposuction, which requires an anaesthetic and often a hospital stay, these non-invasive treatments have been dubbed “lunchtime lipo” – but do they work?

BODY CONTOURING: THE TRUTH

It’s easy to be seduced by promises of fast fat loss. However although we’d love to say you can walk into a clinic and walk out two dress sizes smaller, all in your lunch hour, the reality is very different.

Most body-shaping treatments don’t remove significant amounts of fat, only liposuction can achieve this. The inch loss is not immediate and it can sometimes take months for the final results to show. In most cases only one part of the body can be treated at a time so you may need back-to-back sessions for two or more areas. The truth is fat-zapping treatments are not a magic bullet for losing weight or shaping up and will not prevent you putting on weight again after a procedure. However the good news is that if you choose the right treatment, you should be able to get rid of small problem areas that are resistant to weight loss and exercise.

ABDOMEN

Coolsculpting uses cryolipolysis – fat freezing – to sculpt and contour. During the procedure cooling panels are placed on the area being treated, freezing the fat cells so they crystallise. After three days the cells die and are eliminated naturally by the body.

Pros: Usually only one treatment is necessary and results are permanent, as long as you don’t put on weight.

Cons: When the device is removed there can be some tenderness, redness and bruising. It takes three months to see best results.

Cost: From £800

THIGHS

Body-jet is a minimally invasive procedure that is performed using local anaesthetic. A TIP pulsating water-spray is inserted under the skin to blast away fat cells, which are then removed via suction. Pros: More accurate body shaping and less bruising and swelling than traditional liposuction. This procedure also tightens