BACKGROUND
Radiofrequency and high-Intensity Focused Electromagnetic (HIFEM) field procedure are well-known, stand-alone, body-shaping modalities, yet their simultaneous application has not been investigated.
OBJECTIVE
The aim is to evaluate the efficacy of a novel device simultaneously delivering HIFEM and radiofrequency for subcutaneous fat reduction and muscle toning.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Forty-one subjects with an average age of 39.7 ± 11.5 years were recruited. The subjects received 3 abdominal treatments (one per week). Magnetic resonance imaging images of the treated area were evaluated at baseline and at 1-, 3-, and 6-month visits for changes in subcutaneous fat, muscle thickness, and abdominal separation (AS). Anthropometric data and digital photographs were collected. Subject satisfaction and therapy comfort were evaluated.
RESULTS
The muscle mass increase peaked at 3 months, showing 26.1% thickening. The fat thickness reduction was most prominent at 3 months, showing a 30.8% reduction. The AS decreased by 18.8% at 3 months after treatment. The waist circumference reduced by 5.87 ± 3.64 cm at a 3-month follow-up. Six-month data showed maintenance of these outcomes. The treatment was considered as comfortable with high patient satisfaction.
CONCLUSION
The analysis of magnetic resonance imaging images and waist measurements showed that the therapy combining HIFEM and radiofrequency is highly effective in reducing subcutaneous fat and muscle thickening.
Background
Several studies investigating high-intensity focused electromagnetic (HIFEM) treatments have recently been published. However, due to the novelty of the procedure, long-term data are still missing.
Objectives
The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in abdominal tissues on average 1 year after a series of HIFEM treatments, to determine the long-term durability of patients’ original body responses.
Methods
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scanning were performed on 21 patients a mean of 332.6 [88.5] days after their original HIFEM treatment series. The scans were evaluated by a blinded radiologist for abdominal muscle thickness, subcutaneous fat changes, and abdominal separation. The results were compared with the MRI/CT-assisted measurements taken at baseline and 6-week follow-up. Correlations between collected data sets were calculated and tested. The incidence of any adverse events related to earlier treatments was monitored.
Results
When comparing the 1-year follow-up measurements with the baseline, the MRI/CT-assisted calculations revealed mean reductions of 14.63% (2.97 [2.11] mm) in fat, 19.05% (1.89 [0.88] mm) in muscle thickening, and 10.46% (1.96 [1.71] mm) in diastasis recti. All changes were significant (P < 0.05) and not related to weight fluctuations (P > 0.05). The baseline width of diastasis positively correlated with the degree of improvement at follow-up. No adverse events were reported.
Conclusion
The HIFEM-induced muscle hypertrophy, fat reduction, and reduction in abdominal separation were maintained 1-year posttreatment. This suggests long-term durability of the original bodily response, which needs to be verified by continuing follow-up of this group and by further studies.
Level of Evidence: 4
Although somatization disorder and conversion disorder are linked in DSM-III and DSM-III-R, they have very different histories. To directly compare these disorders, we reviewed the records accrued for 2 years at a large medical center and identified 65 somatization disorder patients and 51 conversion disorder patients. They differed substantially. The large majority (78%) of conversion disorder patients and nearly all (95%) of the somatization disorder patients were women. Ages at onset occurred throughout the life span among conversion disorder patients but mostly before the age of 21 among the somatization disorder patients. Somatization disorder patients were more likely to have had a history of depression, attempted suicide, panic disorder and divorce.
Unlike the subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), which is located superficially under the skin, visceral adipose tissue (VAT) accumulates predominantly intra-abdominally in the vicinity of internal organs. Besides the differences in distribution inside the human body, the visceral fat and subcutaneous fat also differ functionally. It has been described that VAT is metabolically more active, more sensitive to
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.