Hopefully you are thoroughly researching all body contouring, nonsurgical fat reduction, or body sculpting options available to you.  You’ve likely come across methods that claim to be “non-invasive,” which simply means that those procedures “do not cut the skin or enter the body.” However, the term “non-invasive” does NOT refer to the effect or impact of the procedure on the body in either the long or short term. All other treatments for fat reduction have side effects during and immediately following the procedure, except for the Zerona Z6 low level laser. But even worse is the long-term negative implication for ANY treatment that kills or destroys fat. Let us consider both short and long-term side-effects.

LONG TERM – Extensive research studies (some references below) have clearly shown that adipose tissue (fat) is actually an endocrine organ, and our bodies need it for a variety of functions including (but not limited to) metabolism regulation, immune system functioning, and hormone creation and storage. While we might all think how great it would be to just kill the “unnecessary” fat that seems to haunt us, it turns out that the fat is actually quite necessary and killing it is a really bad idea. The Zerona Z6 only helps shrink the fat cells down to a healthy size, allowing them to function better, and without harming them in any way. 

There is also mounting evidence (see below the chart) that removing fat cells from the body actually causes the body to create more, and in new places.  Additionally, the remaining fat cells in the body tend to get even bigger.  This does not happen when the cells just shrink from emptying (as they do with natural weight loss).  

SHORT TERM – Side effects during and/or immediately following the procedures are pretty straight forward.  Each body sculpting or body contouring method out there is slightly different and carries different side effects, some more serious and higher risk than others. For categories where more than one brand is listed, the information may not apply to all brands.  We listed it this way so that you can get a general sense of the categories.  See chart below:

*(1) Although this study ( https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26210190/) is referring to liposuction (lipectomy), it’s likely that removing fat from the body in other ways (like killing or destroying it) would likely lead to the same outcome:

“…[There is] only a transient effect of abdominal lipectomy in body fat and weight in women, which fades a few months after the operation. These results corroborate the evidence from experimental and clinical studies, which support fat redistribution and compensatory fat growth, as a result of feedback mechanisms, triggered by fat removal.”  

*(2)  Fat redistribution following suction lipectomy: defense of body fat and patterns of restoration

*(3) “ However, surgical removal of adipose tissue may be detrimental for metabolism, because subcutaneous adipose tissue has not been associated to metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus. In addition, animal studies have shown a compensatory growth of adipose tissue in response to lipectomy. This review summarizes the implications of obesity-induced metabolic dysfunction, its relationship with the different adipose tissue depots, and the effects of lipectomy on cardiometabolic risk factors.”  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26300495/

Paradoxical Adipose Hyperplasia (PAH) –   https://www.andersonsobelcosmetic.com/blog/how-common-is-paradoxical-adipose-hyperplasia-after-coolsculpting/