NY Times: Targeting Fat Without Surgery

This week’s New York Times article titled, “Zap or Chill?  Targeting Fat without Surgery” was brought to my attention by my friend, an anesthesiologist at Yale, who was really raising the issue of why the public does not understand that most of this nonsense is just that — nonsense!   He hasn’t lived in the world of plastic surgery where “The American Journal of Vogue” holds more importance to some patients than The American Journal of Plastic Surgery! 

Apparently one laser-based device, the Zeltiq, which promises to tackle love handles without surgery, was presented on “The Doctors.”  I did not see the show, but I know the plastic surgeon on the show personally, Dr. Andrew Ordon, and I can assure you, he is experienced  enough to know what does and does not work!  But the public sees it on TV and advertised and marketed to be the miracle for love handles or muffin tops.  The positive marketing tools:  an office procedure, no anesthesia, not too expensive, quick recovery, projected magical results; even the most rational person would sign up. 

In my book, The Brown Fat Revolution, I present the first mainstream cycling diet — cycling of carbs and proteins — which stabilizes insulin and fat deposition.    Once you adhere to this diet, you will see the muffin top melt and the love handles disappear.  Both are made of yellow fat, which shreds right off in weeks.

There are no miracles in plastic surgery!   The best way to take control of your shape is to eat well.   Love handles and muffin tops are made in the kitchen.   Standard liposuction and liposculpture can be very successful after one has achieved her best shape by controlling what goes in her mouth.  So, the best way to target fat without surgery is to eat well.