Cavitation (Creation of Void)

Cavitation (Creation of Void)

Cavitation is the explosion of low-frequency ultrasonic sound waves by heating the fat in the fat cells. Gaps form within the fat tissue. The oil, which becomes liquid, passes into the lymphatic system and is excreted.

Methods based on melting fat tissue in the body have actually become one of the most preferred interventions, both metabolically and aesthetically. In this sense, one of the technologies that has become widespread in practice in the last 15 years as non-surgical aesthetics is cavitation. This term, which is used in fluid mechanics to mean that a substance suddenly changing from a gaseous state to a liquid state creates cavities by corroding a solid object it encounters, has been translated into Turkish as "discharge" by physicists.

Although the working mechanism of the term cavitation for medical purposes is similar to the one described above, it actually contains serious differences. Low-frequency ultrasonic sound waves heat the fat in the fat cells, causing them to burst. Thus, gaps are formed within the fat tissue. The oil, which becomes liquid, passes into the lymphatic system and is excreted.

With repeated sessions, cavitation can provide significant slimming without requiring any anesthesia. However, like every technology, cavitation also carries some risks.

Ultrasonic sound waves are frequently used, especially in liposuction surgeries (e.g. VASER), to ensure that fat is separated more easily, with less trauma, without affecting the surrounding vessels and nerves, and to reduce time and labor required. Cavitation also provides an important solution for patients who do not want to undergo surgery (Liposonix, Cavi-Lipo, Ultrashape). For this purpose, after the fat is mobilized from the bed it is in, it is carried through the lymph system and removed. My personal opinion is that this fat should be removed surgically because it is very important to clean the body of such a large amount of fat, which suddenly passes into the lymph circulation and from there to the venous system, and not to create a burden on the kidneys and liver. It should be done in limited and divided sessions. On the other hand, it is necessary for patients to consume excessive amounts of water in order to burn and excrete fat.

Therefore, to reiterate, such technologies for burning fat are safer when they are preferred to eliminate irregularities such as cellulite on the body surface rather than to lose weight.

Cavitation may not provide ideal results for everyone, and may be harmful to some patient groups. Therefore, in some respects, it may be more logical to choose liposuction.

Burns have been reported, albeit rarely, in cases where the sound waves used in cavitation are too close to the skin surface. It is also recommended not to apply it to patients who have any implants in their body (breast implant, bone-based plates - platinum, pacemaker, etc.). Application to patients who have recently undergone surgery and have incision lines, patients with significant internal diseases (thyroid, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, etc.) and elderly people increases metabolic risks.

It can be applied in a more limited and safe manner in patients with mild to moderate surface irregularities or cellulite on the body surface, or in patients with hardness or dimples remaining after liposuction.

Cavitation application takes approximately 30 minutes to 1 hour. It is very important to consume plenty of water in the days before and after the application.

Patients may also experience color changes in their urine and feces during the excretion of fat. However, especially in case of thickening, the amount of liquid drunk should be increased. In order to keep the safety limit high, one session per week is recommended.

I recommend liposuction for faster and more effective results instead of cavitation to patients who want to have multiple sessions in a single week.

Since cavitation facilitates the release of fat before liposuction, it can also reduce surgery time and trauma. For this reason, it is frequently used before liposuction.