Companies that are currently marketing creams containing aminophylline have been careful not to make claims that their products will reduce fat. Improvement in the overall appearance of treated areas could be limited to enhanced smoothness and suppleness, which may disappear when daily application of the cream is discontinued. At the present time, there is no scientific evidence that any topically applied creams or lotions can either temporarily or permanently reduce fat. In fact, double-blind studies have been done which show no significant improvement from this treatment. Proper diet and exercise are still the most effective ways to achieve fat reduction.
Liposuction is often the best and most permanent treatment for localized fatty deposits.
Introduced in the United States in 1982, liposuction removes fat that has been dislodged by the surgeon, using a suction cannula attached to a vacuum device, from the legs, buttocks, abdomen, back, arms, face and neck. The increasing popularity of liposuction is due to the simplicity of the technique. For optimal results from liposuction, the patient should be near his or her average weight with extra fat localized in specific areas. It is also important that the patient's skin is elastic with the capacity to shrink evenly after surgery. Liposuction in the more superficial layer of fat can still be performed on selected patients having decreased skin tone.