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Shaping up: Dr D S A Surindher with the non-invasive isometric body contouring machine  Pic Ramesh H S

Losing those extra pounds is an obsession for most people and they'll go to any length to lose all that flab.

But for those who hate to go to the gym and those who dread surgeries, non-invasive methods come in handy.
 
However, doctors maintain that gymming and liposuction are still the best options.

Body toning

"Non-invasive surgeries are more about losing the extra inches and not necessarily about losing the weight. Of course, in the process you lose weight, but the main focus is on toning the body and bringing it back into shape," said Dr D S A Surindher, cosmetic surgeon at Cosmetics India.

He says non-invasive methods can help only those who have extra inches on only some parts of the body or those who are beginning to put on weight.

"These methods act in a more localised way. For instance, if you have a double chin or a bulging tummy, the focus is only on that and the inch loss happens only on those parts. It actually tones your muscles and hence contours your body.

"You have to again look at what your requirement is. I would suggest it is best for those who are just beginning to put on weight and do not want to go to the gym. Here you just have to lie down and listen to music, while the machine works on you, and you do not sweat," he said.

Liposuction

Dr M S Venkatesh, head of the department of plastic surgery, M S Ramaiah College, agrees that surgeries such as liposuction have an edge over non-invasive techniques.

"I would say that non-invasive techniques and diets compliment liposuction. But they cannot take its place. Non-invasive techniques are localised," he said.

Dr Venkatesh is also not convinced about the safety of non-invasive techniques.

"In one method called mesotherapy, injections are given. Many of these injections are not approved by the  American Food and Drug Administration," he said.

Exercise is best

Exercises continue to beat non-invasive treatments, because of the add-on advantages that exercise gives, other than weight loss.

"When you jog or run on a threadmill, your heart also works more. The cardio-vascular benefits of exercising, cannot be got by non-invasive treatments. In these treatments you only reshape your body," said Dr Surindher.

Body contouring

Non-invasive treatment
>>Isometric body contouring: Electric current is gently passed through the muscles which stimulate them, causing them to contract and relax. You can take 35- to 45-minute sessions, twice or thrice a week for 6 to 8 weeks.
>>Ultrasonic contouring: Ultrasonic waves are passed through the body, which burns the body fat.

Minimal invasive treatment
>>Injection lypolysis or mesotherapy: Injections are given to melt the fat. The fat passes out through the urine.
>>Laser lypolysis: A small probe is used to melt the fat and drain it out.

Surgery
>>Liposuction: This is a surgery where the fat is physically removed.