Effect of Tecartherapy in the Treatment of Localized Fat and Sagging Abdominal Skin - Clinical and Experimental Study
Condition: Fat Disorder; Fat Redistribution
MeSH terms: Lipid Metabolism Disorders
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      The excess of localized fat causes changes in the body contour and consequently changes in
      the properties of the skin and in the connective tissue, providing sagging skin.

      Tecartherapy known as High Frequency Capacitive and Resistive Electrical Transfer Therapy
      (Tecartherapy) emerged to contribute to the treatment of these aesthetic affections, it is a
      non-invasive electrothermal therapy that acts on cell biostimulation through tissue heating
      and can help to reduce fat localized and improve the aspect of flaccidity, through the
      stimulation of neocollagenesis and neoelastogenesis.

      This is the aim of this research is to evaluate the effects of Tecartherapy on localized fat
      and abdominal skin flaccidity with clinical and histological results.

      The sample will have 61 participants, who will be evaluated pre and post treatment through
      evaluation protocols, photographs and questionnaires. The research will have two treatment
      groups. Being Group 1: Tecartherapy and Group 2: placebo (equipment turned off). 10
      Tecartherapy sessions will be held once a week in the abdominal region and flanks. The
      parameters used will be: for an area of 300cm², 1MHz, Capacitive Mode: 60mm Disk, Default
      100W, Time of 10 minutes, keeping temperature up to 42ºC, Resistive Mode: 60mm Disk: Default
      110W, Time of 10 minutes, keeping temperature up to 42ºC, with a total treatment time of 20
      minutes for the 300cm² area.

      After treatment, a biopsy of the subcutaneous tissue and skin will be performed in a
      volunteer, the tissue will be collected during the surgical procedure of abdominoplasty for
      histological analysis. The reassessment will be carried out three times, being 30, 60 and 90
      days after the initial session, with the repetition of all mentioned exams and photos for
      analysis of the results, of all participants.
    

Detailed description: 
      The search for efficient aesthetic treatments has been growing in a large part of the female
      public, among them the most common are body remodeling with a reduction in localized fat and
      improvement in the appearance of the skin when the individual has some degree of skin
      flaccidity.

      Such unsightly conditions are characterized by intrinsic and extrinsic changes in the
      individual, with localized fat being associated with a disturbance between consumption,
      expenditure and supply of related nutrients, poor diet, sedentary lifestyle where
      triglycerides will be stored in excess in pre-dominant areas, and skin flaccidity
      characterized by the reduction of fibroblasts, compromising the activity of collagen and
      elastin proteins responsible for support and elasticity, which may be related to external
      factors such as pregnancy, weight loss, among others. For the treatment of these aesthetic
      affections, different treatment options emerged, both invasive and non-invasive.

      Among the treatment options commonly used in dermatofunctional physiotherapy that can
      contribute to body remodeling and improvement in the appearance of the skin are ultrasound,
      carboxytherapy, shockwave therapy and radiofrequency, among others. Within the radiofrequency
      range is Tecartherapy, High Frequency Capacitive and Resistive Electrical Transfer Therapy
      which, however, is already known scientifically with good clinical and scientific results in
      orthopedic physiotherapy for the rehabilitation of muscle injuries. However, some researchers
      have proposed that the physiological effects of Tecartherapy may favor the treatment of
      various unsightly conditions, especially wrinkles and skin sagging, as well as the treatment
      of cellulite and localized fat.

      According to authors, the heat generated by Tecartherapy acts on the fat cell and the
      extracellular matrix, in order to produce reversible and irreversible damage to the cells.
      This situation can lead to changes in the stability of the phospholipid membrane, which are
      usually followed by cell breakdown and lysis, lipolysis.

      In the skin, Tecartherapy can favor the stimulation of the dermis by radiofrequency and
      induce an immediate retraction of collagen fibers and promote the activation of fibroblasts
      by a mild thermally mediated lesion that induces the synthesis of new collagen fibers
      (neocollagenesis) and elastic fibers ( neoelastogenesis).

      Thus, given the possible physiological effects of Tecartherapy and the scarcity of studies on
      the effectiveness of the technology in the treatment of localized fat and skin sagging, this
      study is justified with the objective of investigating the effects of the technology,
      determining its clinical and histological results in these unsightly conditions.
    

Intervention name(s): Tecartherapy Intervention; placebo tecartherapy
Intervention type(s): Device; Device
Intervention description(s): therapeutic therapy with effective application, connected equipment; tecartherapy with equipment turned off
Other intervention name(s): Intervention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Single Group Assignment
Intervention model description: tecarterapia intervention and placebo
Masking: Single (Participant)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: fat disorder; fat redistribution