How does Acoustic Wave Therapy Work?
Dimpled or uneven skin is a nagging problem for millions of women, including those who work hard to keep fit. With Acoustic Wave Therapy (AWT), women can achieve smoother skin in the areas where skin dimpling commonly forms at the thighs, buttocks, abdomen and arms. AWT was adapted from European technology originally designed to ease the pain associated with poor circulation and stiff joints. MedSurge Advances, the exclusive U.S. distributor for AWT, has now begun offering the equipment necessary to perform AWT to a select number of physicians, with nationwide rollout later this year. How AWT Treats Skin Dimpling
While dimpled skin can be traced to genetics, hormones and lifestyle, the problem's immediate cause is the accumulation of lipids in the fat cells. Swelling from lipid accumulation exerts pressure on the circulatory system, causing a slowdown both in the intake of nutrients and the drainage of waste products. Poor exchanges lead to a gradual stiffening of the connective tissue, which shortens as it stiffens, pulling the skin down. At the same time, the clusters of enlarged fat cells pull the skin up. The consequence of this push/pull mechanism is the appearance of dimpling. Physicians have long used acoustic pulses to help patients ease the pain associated with poor circulation and stiff joints and tendons. AWT has adapted this technology to improve the appearance of the skin. Patients are treated twice per week for three weeks, with sessions generally requiring less than a half hour. Additional treatments are necessary for about 20 percent of patients. Patients may wish to have a maintenance session once every three months after completing the program. Clinical tests demonstrate results
Clinical results in Europe and the United States show that AWT patients typically experience improvement in skin texture, improvement in skin elasticity, dermal firming and circumference reduction, said Dr. Bill Johnson of the Prevention First medical spa, who conducted the first clinical trials of AWT in the United States earlier this year in association with MedSurge Advances. "My patients have seen dramatic results in reducing cellulite from Acoustic Wave Therapy. Women who have tried everything from diet and exercise to various over-the-counter remedies have seen results for the first time from AWT," Johnson said. "I've literally had patients come into my office with tears in their eyes to thank me for introducing them to this treatment."
Acoustic Wave Therapy mechanically vibrates connective tissue in affected areas of the body, improving the skin's appearance by causing the connective tissue to stretch, which increases its elasticity;
producing localized edema that increases vascularization (the organic process whereby body tissue develops capillaries), ensuring better exchanges to the connective tissue;
producing an inflammatory reaction that triggers the release of healing mediators, creating fibroblastic proliferation leading to a new, thickened band of collagen being deposited in the upper and mid portions of the skin.How was Acoustic Wave Therapy developed? Physicians have long used acoustic pulses to help patients ease the pain associated with poor circulation and stiff joints and tendons. Now, with Acoustic Wave Therapy (AWT), this technology has been adapted to improve the appearance of the skin. Storz Medical, based in Switzerland, developed AWT, and Dallas-based MedSurge Advances brought this therapy to the United States. What results are achieved with the Acoustic Wave Therapy program? Visible firming and smoothing of the skin is evident in before-and-after photos. Initial clinical study results show that AWT patients typically experience: improvement in skin texture
improvement in skin elasticity
dermal firmingWhat is the AWT treatment program? Patients are treated twice per week for three weeks. Sessions typically last less than a half hour. Additional treatments are necessary for about 20 percent of patients. We recommend that patients have a maintenance session once every three months after completing the initial program.
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