Erchonia's "fat zapping" low-level laser provides alternative to liposuction

June 6, 2008—Erchonia Medical has launched Zerona, a low-level laser designed to remove fat and contour the body without invasive surgery, and this week channel 12 in Cincinnati, Ohio featured the "fat zapper" on the evening news. The TV report quotes Dr. Shalini Gupta of Cincinnati's Dermatology Laser & Vein Center as saying, "What it basically does is, it melts fat and it stimulates the fat cells to weaken their cell walls, and the fat just kind of leaks out of the cells and your lymphatics actually gets rid of it."

The launch of the Zerona laser coincides with the conclusion of Erchonia's pilot study, recently presented to the American Society of Lasers in Medicine and Surgery. The study's data revealed that in two weeks of trials with the Zerona—without surgery, diet restrictions or any other adjuncts—patients lost an average of five to six inches from their waists, hips and thighs.

In contrast to high-power, high-heat lasers that are used in various surgical procedures, the Zerona produces a low-level, or "cold," output that has no thermal effect on the body's tissue. Instead, the non-invasive laser helps the body absorb fat by stimulating biological function. Excess fat is then removed naturally by the body without the negative side effects and downtime associated with more invasive procedures such as liposuction.

Renowned plastic surgeon Rodrigo Neira, M.D. participated in the pilot study. He said, "Extensive research shows that fat congregates in interstitial spaces for a certain amount of time. The Zerona laser stimulates the body to rid itself of that excess fat using the body's normal processes. We were amazed with the results after using the laser on patients over a period of just two weeks."

Erchonia is now looking for FDA clearance for the product. Other of the company's lasers have achieved FDA market clearance (510K) for liposuction in 2004, acne in 2005, chronic pain in 2001, and just recently for breast augmentation in April 2008.