Cosmetic procedures to improve the skin’s appearance and remove subcutaneous fat are a $10-billion industry in the United States, but a recent study published in Dermatologic Clinics argues that more comparable research trials are needed to verify the safety and effectiveness of these new procedures.
Devices such as lasers and ultrasound devices, which have been approved by the FDA and are in wide use, have been proven to be safe and effective in separate trials. However, according to lead author Murad Alam, MD, there is little research that evaluates the long-term effects of these devices.
The proven techniques that Dr. Alam identified in the study were:
- Injectable neurotoxins, such as Botox, which can smooth wrinkles and has been subject to numerous studies over the past 20 years.
- Liposuction to remove fat has been heavily researched and shown to be highly safe and effective.
- Lasers to treat the appearance of broken blood vessels, port wine stains and rosacea, as well as to remove brown spots and hair. These target cells with darker pigments and have been proven effective.
Other techniques, which have been approved by the FDA and have been shown to be effective and safe in the short term, require further study in order to measure their effects over longer periods of time. These include:
- Infrared lasers that shrink and tighten the skin. While it’s certain that some tightening occurs, more research is needed to determine how much tightening takes place and how long it will last.
- Lasers that destroy fat are safe, but so new that few studies have measured their long-term effectiveness.
- Cooling devices that destroy fat are safe and effective, but it won’t be known for several more years if the fat removal is truly permanent.
Dr. Alam advises potential cosmetic patients to consult with experienced practitioners who have access to the latest data, “rather than someone at a nearby spa who just has one laser, is minimally trained and is not able to evaluate the scientific evidence but eager to use this device for every patient complaint.” The best outcomes can be found with qualified plastic surgeons with extensive experience and multiple techniques.












