Wednesday, June 18, 2008

What I Want for Christmas


Stop the presses! I've already found my Christmas present.

Yesterday's Wall Street Journal reported that Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp. will acquire LipoSonix Inc. for over $150 milion. Why do I care? Because LipoSonix has this way cool machine that uses laser technology to break up fat cells and destroy them in the body. That's right--no more liposuction surgery. No fat-melting injections of who-knows-what's-in-the-needle. This is all on the surface. The machine kills fat cells without harming other good cells.

Only one problem. LipoSonix is not yet approved in the U.S., although it's used in Germany, Austria, Italy and Spain. According to WSJ, "The FDA has shown reluctance to allow body-shaping drugs and technologies because of uncertainty about how dead fat cells are metabolized and eliminated from the body."

Medicis Pharmaceutical hopes to start selling LipoSonix systems around 2011. But that's only if the FDA approves the thing. And that could be difficult, due to the clinical trials that will need to be done.

"Before patient treatment begins, the target body area is sprayed with water. The operator places a hand-held device on the body and then activates a scanning system with a foot switch. When the scanner stops, the operator repositions the device, repeating the treatments until the area is covered. It takes 35 to 45 minutes to treat a large abdominal area." Patients report feeling only "a slight tingling or prickly sensation."

Hey, I can take a prickle or two.

Anybody else out there willing to volunteer for the trials?

9 comments:

Richard L. Mabry, MD said...

BC--Unless you've gained a lot of weight since I last saw you, you don't need one of these, even if they do turn out to be safe and effective (which I sort of doubt).
Limit the chocolate consumption, continue to run, and you'll be fine. I'll see you in Minneapolis.

Pam Halter said...

Oooh, count me in!

Anonymous said...

Oh sooo completely, incredibly, and every other superfluous adverb ready. Bring it on. (You, Brandilyn? Richard's right no doubt.)

Anonymous said...

Oh, do they do thighs and double-chins??? If so, I'm in!!! lol

Southern-fried Fiction said...

ME, ME, ME! Oh, pick me!!!! I've hit the age where it takes 3 weeks of intense starvation to lose 2 ounces and 1 meal to gain a pound. And I work out 5 days a week. So I really, really need this puppy!

Jenny said...

Okay, this is really wrong. No one on here volunteering needs this--but I do!
Bet the real reason the FDA is being so slow in their approval is they are afraid of the stampedes!
Move over Ane and Kim, my self-contained life-preserver tube and matching twin thigh and bun flotation devices outweigh both of yours put together! Gonna let my blubber bounce me to the front of the line so they have some real material for all those tests. Just wish they'd start today so I'd have a shot at fitting into an airline seat comfortably for the trip to Minnesota. Did you hear they're talking about charging extra for those overly endowed in the "trunk" department? It was almost like they were pointing a finger at me and saying "And that will be another $100 for your extra carry on."
Keep me posted, BC! You've given me hope!
Abundant blessings,
Jenny

rhonda mcknight said...

I'm pretty fat and the idea of someone killing fat cells and promising not to mutate the ones I need is pretty scary. For what it'll cost, I could probably mortgage my house and do Jenny Craig and hire a trainer. It seems to be working for Kristie, Valerie and now the Queen.

I think the FDA is holding out on us. Surely they've developed a fat melting pill and there's got to be an easier way to have a baby.

Anonymous said...

I think I could be talked into it! But in the meantime - I'll try the Fat Flush diet and cleanse...I'd love to lie on a table and have it all done for me though!

Perhaps a tour to Italy for the services? Tee Hee

Unknown said...

Oh, yeah! I'm in!