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www.theconnectionsnj.com
Health and Wellness
PAGE 44
Our caring medical team is ready to see you. Right now. Our entire AFC/Doctors Express office and staff are organized to help you be seen immediately and then feel better fast. Any day of the week, early or late, we’ll take the time to fully understand your situation and provide exactly the care you need. Occupational Medicine & Workers’ Compensation DOT Exams Most Insurance Plans Accepted On the corner of Tea St and W. Union Ave. (Rt. 28) Located in the Shop Rite Shopping Plaza 601 W. Union Ave. Bound Brook, NJ 08805 732.469.3627 | Open 7 days: M-F 8-8, S-S 8-5 DoctorsExpressBB.com An American Family Care Company No Appointment Needed X-Ray & Lab Services On Site Vaccinations & Physicals KYBELLA- REINVENTING THE WHEEL By: Andrea Strauss, M.D. F.A.C.S. Recently the FDA approved a drug called Kybella ® for the reduction of fat in the submental area (under the chin). Kybella ® is composed of deoxycholic acid, a bile salt made by the liver to help dissolve the fat that you eat. Although touted by the manufacturer as revolutionary and first of its kind, the aesthetic industry has been using a com- pounded formula which includes deoxycholic acid for fat reduction for decades. First developed in Italy in the 1980’s, Lipodissolve™ (also called Lipotherapy™) involves a series of microinjections of PC/DC (phosphatidyl choline and deoxy- cholic acid). Together they act to break the bonds in fat cells. Fat then liquifies and is eliminated by the body. Lipodissolve™ first became popular in the United States in 2002 as celebrities such as Brittany Spears praised its benefits. Lipodissolve™ is not a substitute for liposuction. It is best done on those with small localized deposits of fat, or on the back where the fat is in a “honeycomb” pattern. Lipodissolve™ can be performed on the face and neck, abdomen, back, upper arms and thighs. Use on the inner thighs and lower eye- lids should be limited and it is never injected below the knee. Typically the series involves 3-4 sessions. The sessions are spaced 2-4 weeks apart but results are similar if done at longer intervals. Although some loss of fat may be noticeable in as little as 7 days following the first injections, the full effect of fat dis- solution and skin shrinkage may take 3-6 months. Following treatment an inflamma- tory reaction occurs. One can expect itching or burning for 15-60 minutes, redness for a day, bruising and/or swelling for 3-5 days and discomfort which diminishes over 2-3 weeks. Lipodissolve™ may result in the formation of nodules under the skin which usually resolve with massage over 2-3 weeks. Lipodissolve™ cannot be per- formed on those who are pregnant or breast feeding, have a bleeding disorder, on blood thinners or are immunocompromised (organ trans- plant, chemotherapy, HIV). Those with uncontrolled diabetes, high blood pressure, heart or kidney dis- ease or who have Bipolar disorder or Clinical depression should get medical clearance before undergo- ing treatment. For more information about Lipodissolve™ or other methods of fat reduction call Plastic Surgical Associates at 908-725-4600 for a consultation or visit our website at www.plasticsurgicalassociatesnj.com. Andrea Strauss MD is a Board Cer- tified Plastic Surgeon on staff at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset in Somerville, NJ with a private practice at 11 Mon- roe Street, Bridgewater, NJ 08807.