Don’t you wish that you could get rid of fat in a particular area of your body that does not see to react to diet and exercise?  Are you the type of person that does not like the idea of a surgical procedure to remove fat?

Help is now available at The Woman’s Group.  Our new Vaser MC1 MedContour System is just the solution.  This innovative technology was developed in Italy and has been in use in Europe and the middle East for a few years, but it has just arrived to the United States.  The machine uses focused high intensity ultrasound waves to target a fat deposit area an eliminate it.  The waste created through the process is flushed by the body through the lymphatic system.

How does it work?

Patients interested in treating areas of stubborn fat will undergo a series of 45 minute massage therapies.  The massage has two aspects: the treatment with the high intensity focused ultrasound waves and a  massage to move the waste products generated towards the lymph nodes.  Most patients require three to five sessions, depending on the amount of fat that needs to be treated, to obtain the desired results.  Four days after each treatment, the patient receives a short, five minute lymphatic massage to assist in the elimination of waste products.

Does the treatment hurt?

This treatment is not invasive, therefore it is performed on the surface of the skin of the area being treated.  No incisions are required.  Because the ultrasound waves penetrate the skin layers to get to the fat, heat is generated and the patient feels warmth in the area being treated.  Because of this, the skin will become somewhat red; however, this redness will disappear shortly after the end of the treatment.  Most patients liken this treatment to the feeling one gets from a hot stone massage.

 What results can I expect?

Most patients see as much as one inch reduction after each treatment plus enhanced skin tightness.  In addition, the appearance of cellulite can also improve.  It is not unlikely for additional reductions in girth to take place one day after the treatment.  Depending on the stubbornness of the fat, a patient may need several treatments.

 Are there any side effects?

 Other than your clothes fitting better, there are no side effects.  There is no pain involved and no discomfort after the treatment.

 Will the fat come back?

 Patients that have undergone the treatment have retained their new shape while they maintain normal eating and exercise habits.  We expect that if a patient has a significant increase in weight, the remaining fat cells will enlarge and the patient will see  an increase in girth.

 What areas can be treated?

At this time, this technology has been approved for use anywhere in the body except the face and breasts..  Patients have had great results in treating arms, backs, thighs, flanks and hips.

How many body areas can you treat during a single treatment?

 An area is equivalent to the size of a standard sheet of paper.  If the patient would like to work on the abdomen, this would be the size of the area treated. If the patient is interested in a bi-lateral treatment area such as thighs, arms or love handles, each side treated will be the size of half of a standard sheet of paper. Because it is important that the body be able to effectively process the waste created through the treatment, we only treat one area per treatment.  It is important to note that each treatment is followed by a short 5-minute lymphatic massage four days after the treatment.

 How close can you schedule treatments?

 Treatments can be scheduled as quickly as one week apart.

 How does this technology compare to other technologies available?

 There are a number of FDA-approved technologies in the market aimed at the same problem.  Among these are freezing, infrared light, diode laser, thermo electric and ultrasound.   The Woman’s Group research department studied all of these technologies and chose the MC1 Vaser as the most effective and comfortable to patients.

 How much does a treatment cost?

 The Woman’s Group is offering three treatments for the low introductory price of $500.  If after the first treatment, the patient is not satisfied, we will refund $250.  This price will not be in effect for long, so make your appointment now!

 Where can I find out more about the Vaser MC1 Medcontour Technology?

To see the procedure in action visit www.youtube.com and type "Med Contour" for English and "Cavitacion" for Spanish.

A number of physicians at The Woman's Group are now performing minimally invasive, robotic surgery using the da Vinci® System.  This new method uses only a few tiny incisions.  The benefits of this approach include less pain, fewer complications, less blood loss, lower risk of infection and shorter hospital stays (usually 24 hrs. or less).  All these sum up to a quicker recovery and return to normal activities.

Until recently, surgery for most gynecologic conditions was performed using a large abdominal incision.  While laparoscopic surgery had been effective for many routine procedures, the long-handled, rigid instruments used in laparoscopy were considered ineffective for delicate or complex operations such as hysterectomies.  The da Vinci's System  offers  capabilities to overcome these drawbacks.  Featuring 3D, high definition vision and miniaturized – wristed surgical instruments, the da Vinci system helps doctors  take surgery beyond the limit of their hands.

If your doctor recommends a hysterectomy to treat your condition, you may be a candidate for da Vinci Surgery. For more information, please see http://davincihysterectomy.com

When does menopause begin?

A woman is said to have reached menopause when she has not had a period for a full year.  The average age of menopause is 51, but can be earlier or later in some families of women.  Menopause is preceded by a transition period called perimenopause, which lasts from three to eight years and is characterized by irregular periods, mood instability and hot flashes. It is possible for a woman to move directly into menopause with none of the perimenopause symptoms.

What are the typical symptoms of someone who has entered the menopause phase?

Eighty five percent of women have minor or no symptoms.  The other fifteen percent experience hot flashes, mood disorders, vaginal dryness, insomnia, and/or memory problems.

What are the most common approaches to treating the symptoms that come with menopause?

Mild symptoms are managed with good diet, exercise, black cohosh, progesterone cream, and melatonin to help with sleep.  When symptoms affect a woman's ability to carry on her daily routine, we consider hormone replacement therapy – estrogen and progesterone, for women who have a uterus and estrogen only for women without a uterus.  We may add testosterone if depression and decreased libido are problems. The creams, gels, or patches are the preferred routes of delivery because  they bypass the GI tract and get directly into the bloodstream.  There is currently no evidence that bio-identical hormone preparations, made by compounding pharmacies, should be used. A predisposition for osteoporosis may also influence our decision to recommend hormone replacement therapy.

Do most women experience the same menopause symptoms?

Menopause symptoms can vary from woman to woman.  Most women have very minor or no symptoms.  The rest will have moderate to severe symptoms in a variety of combinations that include hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, pain during intercourse, depression, memory loss and insomnia.  It is important to note that many other medical conditions can mimic the symptoms of menopause, so patients should undergo a thorough physical exam to rule out other underlying medical conditions.

If I am well into the menopause phase and I have not experienced any symptoms, am I likely to experience them later?

The symptoms of menopause can last for several years after you have stopped having periods, but they usually go away with time.  It is unusual for you to develop symptoms for the first time years after you stop menstruating.

Most women aren't aware that osteoporosis is a silent condition that can accelerate after menopause and can cause back pain, curvature of the spine, and loss of height.  In worse cases, it can cause hip or vertebral fracture, that can lead to limited mobility, pneumonia and even death.  Women can be predisposed to osteoporosis due to genetic factors.  For instance, women from European descent with fair skin, small frame and  light eye and hair color are more prone to this condition.  In addition, factors such as low body weight, Vitamin D and Calcium deficiency, the presence of certain medical conditions, such as thyroid disease, and the use of certain medications, such as Prednisone,  may also increase the probability of osteoporosis.  Certain life style habits like the lack of weight bearing exercise, excessive alcohol intake, and smoking are also risk factors. 

 Osteoporosis may  already be present prior to menopause, but bone loss increases for the first 10 years after menopause, which occurs at an average age of  51 for most women, therefore; we  recommend that women get a baseline bone density study once they have ceased to menstruate for a period of one year.  If a woman has thinning bones or osteopenia, a precursor to osteoporosis, we perform a risk assessment and discuss lifestyle factors that can reduce her risk of progressive bone loss.  If she already has osteoporosis, we immediately start treatment with a bisphosphonate and if she complies with this treatment, her osteoporosis often reverts to normal bone density.  At the very least, we are able to stop any further bone loss.  

 A bone density study will yield a “T” score, used to gauge the presence of this condition.  Also, at the time  that we perform a bone density study, we calculate the patient’s FRAX Score.  The FRAX Score was developed by the World Health Organization to assess the various factors that may predispose someone to fracture even if he/she DOES NOT have osteoporosis.  The FRAX Score was necessary because statistics show that some patients may incur fractures even when their “T” scores are greater than -2.5, which is he cut off for osteoporosis.  If your FRAX Score shows an overall fracture risk of greater than 21% or a hip fracture risk of > 3%, then you should be treated for osteoporosis regardless of your “T” score.

 Some patients cannot take bisphosphonates once per week or once per month because they experience  severe gastroesophageal reflux.  In these cases, there are other treatments available including a yearly intravenous  infusion of the drug  Reclast or an injection every 6 months of the drug Prolia. There are also other drugs and medications currently under  development. 

Osteoporosis surveillance is an important aspect of mid-life care.  To maximize your bone health now, do weight bearing exercises 45minutes to one hour most days, take Calcium and Vitamin D (amount of Calcium depends on daily dietary intake) and discuss other risk factors you may have with your doctor.