The laser that zaps fat

David Richardson

April 10, 2006

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A FAT-BUSTING laser could make cellulite, acne and even heart disease dissapear, scientists say.

The device - developed in the US - is able to heat-up fat in the body without harming the skin above it.

The heated fat is then broken down and excreted by the body.

Prof Rox Anderson at Massachusetts General Hospital, led experiments using pig fat and skin samples.

He said results showed that the process could have many medical applications in the future, including treating acne. He added: "The root cause of acne is the sebaceous gland, which sits a few millimetres below the surface of the skin.

"We want to be able to selectively target the gland and this research shows that, if we can build lasers at this region of the spectrum, we may be able to do that."

Cellulite

Cellulite and other body fat could also be targeted, as well as the fatty plaques that form in arteries, leading to heart attacks, he said.

The professor added: "We can envision a fat-seeking laser and we're heading down that path now."

The results of the research were presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery.

Judy O'Sullivan, a cardiac nurse from the British Heart Foundation, said the research sounded exciting but added that there was a "long way" to go before it could be seen as an effective treatment for heart disease.

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Anthony Dunat, Montreal (10/04/2006 at 11:42)

A fat busting laser is just another after the fact medical fix. With side effects unknown.
Wouldn't a better solution be to teach our children what a healthy diet is in the first place, so that they don't go on to become overweight adults with plugged arteries?
How old is the expression "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of (fat) cure"? They were right!!

Ruy Burgos-Lovece, Carrboro, North Carolina, US (10/04/2006 at 12:13)

We are fat because highly intelligent people with Ph.D.'s are paid high salaries to make marketing campaigns designed to compell us to become high volume Food Consuming Units (FCU); it's good for the corporations. What happens to the FCU's after becoming efficient food consumers (i.e. "fat") can be dealt with by the diet industry; it's good for the corporations, again. This laser will also be marketed by the corporations, at least it might, just might, be good for the FCU's too, for a change.

Ilia Vinogradov, Chicago (10/04/2006 at 12:18)

You can imagine side effects of such a thing. It is like having severe infection or cancer chemotherapy - you have destroyed cells with all their content in the bloodstream. Liver overloaded etc. Not a pretty site.

Potential long-term effect - increased risk of autoimmune diseases...

Everything to look and get rid of acne.

Debra, Ottawa, Canada (10/04/2006 at 13:03)

The majority of people don't appear to understand how to eat or exercise properly. Maybe they should learn. It'd be the greatest gift they could give their children. (If they want to laser their fat away, I don't want to be paying for it....)

Dale Estell, San Diego,ca (10/04/2006 at 13:21)

Iam interested when its available to use for the fat and maybe the heart part also.Please let me knowmore infoas it comes ,please.

Sincerely;
Dale Estell

sprouty, Manchester (10/04/2006 at 14:08)

It heats up the fat, which is then broken down and expelled by the body? Why don't I just cram myself into a microwave, that will do the same thing.

Alternatively, I could just eat properly and get some exercise. Nah, that sounds too painful...

Dave, Ladysmith, Wi (10/04/2006 at 15:35)

Where do I sign up???

Kristy, Tennessee (10/04/2006 at 15:54)

Even those people who eat healthy and exercise are at risk for cellulite. As we all know, cellulite cannot be easily reduced and gotten rid of by living a healthy lifestyle. I personally would like this new invention to reduce the cellulite on my thighs!!! No matter what I do I cannot seem to make this GO AWAY!!!

Jim Roache, Canada (10/04/2006 at 16:53)

Could, might, may, possibly --- why does media always jump the gun of this medical stuff?

I understand researchers pumping up thrir findings - usually looking for funding.

Every day, we hear or read about possible miracle developments when we can't cure the common cold. Tiresome.

daddy, japan (10/04/2006 at 17:20)

step on it, will ya?

nathan, buffalo (10/04/2006 at 18:14)

i'm having bullseyes tattooed on various parts of my body this afternoon.

ew, us (10/04/2006 at 23:19)

i think all of you have good points. exercise and healty eating are te only ways to reap overall health benefits. but i am a runner(up to 60 miles a week)and a vegetarian, but I wouldn't mind losing some of the cellulite from my thighs. it's not the wuick fix, but a way to help those with this pesky problem.

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