Synergistic effects of Combined Therapy: nonfocused ultrasound plus Aussie current for noninvasive body contouring

• Main Authors: Canela VC, Crivelaro CN, Ferla LZ, Pelozo GM, Azevedo J, Liebano RE, Nogueira C, Guidi RM, Grecco C, Sant'Ana E
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dove Medical Press 2018-04-01
• Series: Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology
• Subjects: cellulite; therapeutic ultrasound; skin tightening; localized fat; flaccid skin; therapeutic current.
• Online Access: https://www.dovepress.com/synergistic-effects-of-combined-therapy-nonfocused-ultrasound-plus-aus-peer-reviewed-article-CCID

Vivianne Carvalho Canela,1 Cinthia Nicoletti Crivelaro,1 Luciane Zacchi Ferla,1 Gisele Marques Pelozo,1 Juliana Azevedo,2 Richard Eloin Liebano,3 Caroline Nogueira,4,5 Renata Michelini Guidi,4,5 Clóvis Grecco,4 Estela Sant’Ana4 1Ibramed Center for Education and Advanced Training (CEFAI), Amparo, SP, Brazil; 2CDE Medical Imaging Department, Brazilian College of Radiology (CBR), Amparo, SP, Brazil; 3Department of Physiotherapy, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos, SP, Brazil; 4Research, Development and Innovation Department, Ibramed Research Group (IRG), IBRAMED, Amparo, SP, Brazil; 5Biomedical Engineering Department, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil Background and objectives: Nowadays, there are several noninvasive technologies being used for improving of body contouring. The objectives of this pilot study were to verify the effectiveness of the Heccus® device, emphasizing the synergism between nonfocused ultrasound plus Aussie current in the improvement of body contour, and to determine if the association of this therapy with whole-body vibration exercises can have additional positive effects in the results of the treatments.Subjects and methods: Twenty healthy women aged 20–40 years participated in the study. Ten patients received Combined Therapy treatment (G1) and the other 10 participants received Combined Therapy with additional vibratory platform treatment (G2). Anthropometric and standardized photography analysis, ultrasonography, cutometry and self-adminestered questionnaires of tolerance and satisfaction levels with the treatment were used.Results: Compared with baseline values, reduction of fat thickness was observed by ultrasonography in the posterior thigh area in the G1 group (P<0.05) and in the buttocks (P<0.05) and the posterior thigh areas (P<0.05) in the G2. All the treated areas in both groups showed reduction in cellulite degree in the buttocks, G1 (P<0.05) and G2 (P<0.05), and in posterior thigh areas, G1 (P<0.05) and G2 (P<0.05). Optimal improvement of skin firmness (G1, P<0.0001; G2, P=0.0034) in the treated areas was observed in both groups.Conclusion: We conclude that the synergistic effects of the Combined Therapy (nonfocused ultrasound plus Aussie current) might be a good option with noninvasive body contouring treatment for improving the aspect of the cellulite, skin firmness and localized fat. If used in association with the whole-body vibratory platform, the results can be better, especially in the treatment of localized fat. Further studies with larger sample size should be performed to confirm these results.Keywords: cellulite, therapeutic ultrasound, skin tightening, localized fat, flaccid skin, therapeutic current