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No needles, no pain. Laser rays used to break them down
 NO PAIN and no gain too. That may be an apt description for Intelligent Liposuction (I-Lipo). Billed as a non-invasive method of liposuction – no needles are involved – the procedure promises a painless way of shedding weight that stays off too.
Dr Francis Tjang, a general practitioner with a diploma in aesthetic medicine from the American Academy of Aesthetic Medicine, said: “Unlike liposuction which involves sucking fat out using big needles, I-Lipo is a painless procedure.” Dr Tjang, 54, also the owner and medical director of Orchard Medical Centre, said: “There is also no recovery period. You can go back to work and to other activities right after each treatment.”
In I-Lipo, laser rays are used to zap fat cells, causing them to break down and turn into oils. This substance – along with the disintegrated fat cells – are then expelled from the body safely though the perspiration, urine or stools. Expect to pay $2,400 for the recommended eight sessions – the minimum– for optimal results. Conventional liposuction can cost from $5,000 per targeted area.
Each I-Lipo session lasts about 40 minutes, and clients should go for a maximum of two sessions per week. During each session, the client rests on a bed with a treatment belt strapped on. The client is said to feel a warm gentle sensation as the laser rays go to work. The rays are directed to areas that the client wants to target. Said Dr Tjang: “You can target specific problem areas like fat in the arms, thighs and hips.”
The promise is that up to 4cm of fat can be shed per session, and the method is said to be as effective as conventional and laser liposuctions. Dr Tjang added that the treatment works best if exercise is added, although it is not necessary. It is best to exercise between four and eight hours after the treatment so the fats can be naturally expelled from the body. He added: “You can do any kind of exercise to increase your metabolic rate to accelerate the removal of fat via the body’s lymphatic system.” The lymphatic system ensures that fluid and waste leave the body.
No scars
A patient, Mr David Tay, 48, who works in marketing, has had eight sessions of the I-Lipo treatments on his tummy since March. He said he has lost 8cm and 8kg in total. And they have stayed off. Mr Tay said: “It is a very comfortable experience and the best part is, there are no scars or bruising. “I am really scared of pain so I didn’t dare try traditional liposuction.” He said he had tried exercising previously but without much success. Dr Tjang explained: “When you exercise, you don’t just target a particular area and that is why it takes much longer to lose weight.” He added: “I-Lipo specifically targets certain areas and it destroys fat cells as well. “The expelled fats then become ready energy which the body’s metabolic system burns off.”
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