Is cavitation effective? Yes, absolutely. Cavitation is effective against cellulite and to eliminate localized fat. Let’s justify this answer.
By now we know that in this sector, that of aesthetic medicine, we can find great equipment, but also many deceptions. There is a great lack of knowledge and that is probably why there is so much mistrust.
The best way to avoid deception is to be informed, although we recognize that it can sometimes be tedious, especially due to the lack of information provided by manufacturers.
In the case of cavitation, it is a technology with a solid track record. It is not a new treatment that came out of nowhere. We are talking about a technique whose benefits have been demonstrated in different studies that we will be citing throughout this article.
How does cavitation work?
First, let’s try to unravel how cavitation works.
Imagine you go to a party and start blowing up balloons until they burst. Now, think of those balloons as air bubbles inside a liquid. Here you can see what happens during a cavitation session.
The ultrasound emitted by the cavitation equipment reaches the accumulated fat cells through the skin. The waves form bubbles within the fluid surrounding the fat cells. These bubbles grow and grow, until they burst. And in doing so, the force generated breaks the cell walls.
The fat inside the cells is released and ends up being transported and eliminated by the lymphatic system and the liver.
Seen in this light, it seems very simple to get rid of localized fat in areas such as the abdomen, thighs and buttocks. But it’s not that simple.
Cavitation gives real results
Yes, fortunately, we have a wide variety of studies that confirm that cavitation delivers the results it preaches. For example, in a 2013 study¹ on the effects of cavitation, the conclusion is that “ultrasound cavitation induced a statistically significant reduction in adipocyte size, (…). Clinically, ultrasound treatment resulted in a significant reduction in abdominal fat.”
In 2020, at Cairo University, they conducted another study² comparing the results of cavitation and radiofrequency in treating women after childbirth. The conclusion was the already known, that both techniques are effective for the treatment of abdominal obesity, but that ultrasound cavitation is more effective in reducing the thickness of abdominal fat.
At Sisneo, we always recommend a combination of treatments to obtain superior results. Well, in another study³, from the year 2022, what they did was to analyze the result obtained by combining cavitation and radiofrequency. They formed two groups, some received cavitation and others cavitation and radiofrequency. The final conclusion was that the combination of both techniques “generated a reduction in localized adiposity superior to the isolated use of ultracavitation”.
How to enhance the result of cavitation
Once the machine has done its job, it is now the responsibility of the person being treated to finish the job. That fat that has been released is partially eliminated naturally by the body, but another part needs some help.
- Most of the fat released is eliminated through the lymphatic system. This system is like a drainage network of the body, in charge of transporting liquids and wastes from the tissues to the blood. The released fat is converted into triglycerides, which are transported by the lymph to the liver.
- In the liver, triglycerides are processed and converted into energy, or excreted through bile. Subsequently, bile transports this waste to the intestines, where it is eliminated from the body through the feces.
Some of the fat may not be eliminated immediately and may be reabsorbed by the body if no additional measures are taken. This occurs because the body is always in a state of equilibrium and can re-store the released fat if it is not used properly.
- To prevent it from being reabsorbed, drink plenty of water (about 2 liters per day) to help keep the lymphatic system in good working order, facilitating the elimination of toxins and released fats.
- Regular exercise also helps increase metabolism and promotes the utilization of released fat as a source of energy. Activities such as walking, running, swimming or any cardiovascular exercise can be very beneficial.
- Lymphatic drainage massage sessions can help accelerate the elimination of released fat.
- A balanced diet low in saturated fat can help prevent fat reabsorption and improve the efficiency of the body’s metabolism to eliminate triglycerides.
- Continuing cavitation treatments and combining them with other techniques such as radiofrequency or mesotherapy can both prevent resorption and enhance results.
Bibliography
- Bani D, Quattrini Li A, Freschi G, Russo GL. Histological and Ultrastructural Effects of Ultrasound-induced Cavitation on Human Skin Adipose Tissue. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2013 Oct 7;1(6):e41. doi: 10.1097/GOX.0b013e3182a7f222. PMID: 25289235; PMCID: PMC4174158.
- Assim, Yasmin & El-Aziz, Khadiga & Elrefaye, Ghada & Youssef, Ashraf. (2020). Effect of ultrasound cavitation versus radiofrequency on abdominal fat thickness in postnatal women. Eurasian Journal of Biosciences. 14. 3337-3347.
- da Silva RMV, Santos JC, de Carvalho WLM, de Vasconcellos LS, de Castro ABF, Borges FDS, Carreiro EM, Meyer PF. Effects of Ultracavitation and Radiofrequency on Abdominal Adiposity. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2022 Jan;15(1):E66-E71. PMID: 35309273; PMCID: PMC8903231.
