It may soon be possible to banish love handles over lunch if a device developed by a group of Israeli researchers is given government approval. The handheld ultrasound device removes the need for painful invasive surgery by using ultrasound to pound away at fat cells. Unlike liposuction, the fat does not have to sucked out as it is re-absorbed into the bloodstream within 3-weeks. Furthermore, the procedure is quick and does not require a general anesthetic. The scientists behind the device say that it will cause far less “collateral damage” to surrounding blood vessels and tissues, and will allow surgeons to target relatively small areas of fat. The device has only been tested on pigs at present, although the researchers are confident that it will prove just as effective on humans.
SOURCE/REFERENCE: Reported by www.bbc.co.uk on the 19th November 2001
