Diastasis of recti abdominis muscle (DRAM) is a common condition occurring postpartum and thought to be a cause for back pain and pelvic instability. Electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) had been used in abdominal muscle rehabilitation in combination with exercises in DRAM. This study looks at the effect of EMS in treating DRAM in comparison to a control group receiving no treatment. DOWNLOAD NOW

The growing demand for non-surgical, non-invasive procedures for fat and circumference reduction and for cellulite treatments has led to the development of various energy-based technologies. Bi-polar radiofrequency (RF) technology combined with additional technologies, such as vacuum, massage or infrared (IR) light is widely used in various body contouring treatments in the medical aesthetic market. The current study is based on a retrospective efficacy analysis of an RF device, combining two RF modalities, coupled with suction. DOWNLOAD NOW

For many years, medical practitioners have thought that cells die in one of only two ways: Either necrotic cells die violently when their outer membrane ruptures, or cells undergo programmed silent cell death through a mechanism called apoptosis. In 2001 Cookson and Brennan published an article in Trends in Microbiology describing a new means of cell death that occurs usually within the context of an infectious process called pyroptosis. This method of cell death exists in a continuum between the opposite processes of necrosis and apoptosis, and it exhibits characteristics of both. Pyroptosis is caspase mediated, but its initiator is caspase-1 instead of caspase-2, -8, -9, and -10, which initiate apoptosis. Because the full pyroptotic process takes time, the severe swelling that characterizes tissue response to necrosis is absent. Pyroptotic cell death is not totally silent, however—lysosomal exocytosis is also a marker; therefore varying degrees of inflammation can be seen with this mechanism. DOWNLOAD PAPER

Radiofrequency (RF) technology has ushered in a new paradigm in body contouring for patients with mild to moderate skin laxity who desire fat removal without exacerbating skin laxity issues. A bipolar internal RF device, used as an adjunct to liposuction, has been found to be simpler and more accurate than previous technologies. The aim of this study was to review the authors' clinical experience with bipolar RF-assisted liposuction (RFAL). DOWNLOAD PAPER

Increasingly, patients are seeking minimally invasive methods to tighten skin and remodel adipose tissue. A large treatment gap exists among 3 types of patients: the younger demographic, who desire soft tissue tightening without traditional operations, scars, and downtime; patients with soft tissue laxity who are not “severe enough” to justify an excisional procedure, but not “mild enough” to rely on liposuction with soft tissue contraction alone; and those with recurrent laxity who already underwent traditional excisional procedure. In these populations, aesthetic surgeons risk undertreating or overtreating with traditional methods. DOWNLOAD PAPER

Radiofrequency Assisted Lipo-coagulation (RFAL) BodyTite is a contact, impedance, internal and external thermal regulation controlled, internal, minimally invasive, non-excisional procedure providing soft tissue lipo-coagulation and contraction that has been used for over 10 years to optimize skin and soft tissue contraction during liposuction procedures. The device deploys a bipolar applicator inserted into the liposuction zone. The internal, coated, electrode is positively charged and emits a coagulative, ablative injury that results in adipose liquification and Fibroseptal Network (FSN) contraction. The RF flows from the internal electrode after ablation and coagulation up to the external negatively charged return electrode moving on the skin, which heats and tightens the papillary dermis non-ablatively. The body areas that most benefit from this BodyTite technology and procedure include those areas most in need of non-excision contraction include the abdomen, upper arms, inner thighs, bra-line, neck and jaw line. Studies, show, that the combination of BodyTite internal thermal coagulation and external Morpheus8 (see Part 2) at the time of liposuction can result in 40–70% area skin contraction, greatly improving the soft tissue contours and Body shaping outcomes following lipo-contouring procedures. DOWNLOAD PAPER

The new Morpheus8 is a novel external RFAL device that uses the proven softtissue contraction of BodyTite in an external, non-invasive procedure. This external RF applicator, which is also powered by BodyTite, inserts up to 40 positively charged, coated electrodes 8 mm into the subcutaneous, soft tissue envelope. A monopolar ablative lesion is generated from the tip of the electrode, stimulating contraction of the FSN and adipose coagulation. The RF then flows up to the distant negative, return electrodes on the surface of the skin, providing a non ablative thermal stimulation to the papillary dermis. The “burst” feature of the Morpheus8, delivers simultaneous multiple levels of internal coagulation in a single one second pulse, amplifying the adipose ablation and contraction effect. Studies, show, that the combination of BodyTite internal thermal coagulation and external Morpheus8 at the time of liposuction can result in 60–70% area skin contraction, greatly improving the soft tissue contours and Body shaping outcomes following lipocontouring procedures. DOWNLOAD PAPER

This chapter outlines the basic science and specific principles of operation for radiofrequency (RF) technologies with a focus on minimally-invasive applications enhancing liposuction procedure. Before discussing the parameters, settings and techniques for radiofrequency-assisted lipolysis (RFAL) and fractional RF subdermal treatment, it is important to understand the fundamentals of the basic science of RF technologies and applications. The chapter accurately describes the physics of the processes occurring during RF-based treatment, and the factors affecting its safe and efficacious outcome. The discussion of RF-based devices will use terminology and definitions provided by FDA guidance for electrosurgical devices. Measurements and computer simulations conducted by the authors to illustrate importance of different parameters for the specific treatments of skin and subcutaneous fat are also presented. DOWNLOAD PAPER

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) technology is well accepted in the medical aesthetic field for the treatment of various skin lesions, including pigmented and vascular lesions. The light penetrates into the skin and is selectively absorbed by lesion chromophore. Absorbed energy is converted into heat, coagulating the lesion, which naturally fades following the treatment. The current article presents a retrospective efficacy evaluation of an IPL device with high peak power. DOWNLOAD PAPER