bella
body
contouring
body
road test
We road-test a new non-invasive body shaping treatment.
words by lauren Alexander.
BellaContour treatments over a period of
two weeks at Sydney’s Lily Room clinic.
Due to time commitments she was not able
to undergo her second repeat treatment
48 hours after her first, as recommended, instead returning
nine days later for three sessions over six days.
Before her first treatment she filled out a record of
her medical history and discussed the area to be treated,
deciding on the abdomen. Apparently treatments to the
thighs require a greater number of repeat sessions to achieve
optimal results.
During the discussion the procedure was explained,
along with what she could expect, and she also had the
opportunity to ask questions.
She then stripped down to her bra and was given a
pair of disposable panties to wear. The problem area was
photographed and five marker pen lines drawn on her
abdomen. Then five circumferential measurements were
taken and she was weighed. The photos and measurements
were uploaded to the BellaContour computer.
The subject lay down and gel was applied to the treatment
area. Four electrodes were taped in place above and below
the navel and activated to target the subcutaneous fat cells.
The subject was instructed to advise the operator if the
sensation caused any discomfort. The level of treatment was
increased every few seconds as her tolerance level increased.
During the course of the treatment, the direction and pull
of the sensation changed several times. She describes the
sensation as mildly uncomfortable but not painful.
The second phase of treatment works at a deeper level.
The operator held a handpiece against the skin and the
subject advised when she felt the area become hot, and then
it was moved to a different location, ultimately covering the
entire treatment area. She says this wasn’t uncomfortable
because she could control how much heat she experienced.
Each phase took about 20 minutes. At the end of the
procedure she was measured again and the data fed into
the BellaContour computer. According to the computer she
had lost 3 centimetres at the top marker line, 2.5cm at the
next, then 1.5cm, 2cm and 2cm, totalling an 11cm loss. Our
subject says the experience was a positive one and she felt
she had lost bulk in the abdominal area.
Ten days later she returned for another session, when
new measurements revealed that she had maintained her
original loss in some areas, lost more in some and increased
in others. She also had lost more than a kilo since her
previous visit, without dietary restriction.
During her third visit three days later she reported
feeling more heat than with her previous treatments. After
this treatment she felt her tummy was flatter than before.
During her final visit our subject found the heat sensation
was much more intense. The operator explained this was
due to the fat cells and surrounding tissue being in a more
liquefied state.
After treatment she was weighed and had lost a further
kilo. Our subject says that while the results were not dramatic,
she was pleased when she went shopping for a new pair
of jeans and found some that fitted nicely and looked more
flattering than any she had tried for years.
bella
1 1 6 / / b e l l a
B E A U T Y
O
ur subject underwent a course of four
