News

HealthFirst-Lipo-selection

Thursday, June 29, 2006

UNDATED (WJRT) (WJRT) -- (06/29/06)-- What if you could transform your abs from shapeless to six-pack without dieting but through surgery?

HealthFirst reporter Leslie LoBue says it's now possible to get six-pack abs without ever doing a single sit-up.

Only a handful of doctors in the world are using a new procedure that reshapes stubborn fat.

"As I have gotten older, I still work out five times a week. I eat right. I do everything can do," said Kari Sellers.

That includes cosmetic surgery. Kari Sellers was the first person in the country to try a procedure called high-definition lipo-selection. "Well, I wanted it to look like I had abs. It didn't matter how many sit ups I did, I Just couldn't get my stomach to look like I wanted it to look."

Now, you'd never guess that her six-pack is really sculpted fat. "In essence, we sculpt or selectively remove fat that we want to remove, leaving thin layers behind. Those layers give the appearance of muscular definition," explained plastic surgeon Dr. John Millard.

Dr. Millard is the only surgeon in the U.S. who performs the procedure. Ultrasound energy is used to liquefy the fat. It's then sucked out, leaving just enough to mimic muscle. It's best for men and women who are not overweight but want to micro-manage their appearance.

"In other words, they are not looking to look thinner per se. They are looking to look better," Millard explained.

"I am not smaller than I was. It's just now that I have a waist, you don't have that tight waist problem with your slacks. They all fit nice," Sellers said.

The results should last as long as her weight remains the same.

As with all cosmetic surgeries, high-definition lipo-selection has risks. Some include infection, blood clots, fluid loss and damage to the skin or nerves. So far, more Than 40 other patients have had it. Recovery time is about five days to return to work, two weeks to see a difference, and four months to see the final results. The procedure costs between $8,000 and $15,000.