SAN ANTONIO -- Developers of a new device claim it can melt fat away without surgery. Recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for safety, Zerona supposedly zaps fat with lasers. But does it really work?
KENS 5 followed Shirley Wood thorough the process to see the results.
Wood takes care of herself, exercising regularly and watching what she eats. But keeping her weight down has become a struggle.
"I think just as you get older it's harder to lose, especially in your midsection," said Wood.
Hoping to get rid of a few extra inches, Wood is turning to Zerona, the newest fat-fighting tool at the doctor's office. She has a realistic goal for what Zerona can accomplish.
"I'm turning 50 next month and I've got a goal of decreasing a dress size," Woods said.
Zerona is a non-invasive procedure that uses low-level lasers to contour the body and melt fat around the waist, hips and thighs.
"The laser makes the fat go into the circulation so you need to flush it out. You have to drink lots of water," explained plastic surgeon Dr. Michael Decherd, who is using Zerona on Wood.
The treatment consists of six sessions over two weeks.
Cold laser beams circle the mid-section 20 minutes on the front, 20 on the back.
"You don't feel a thing. It really is painless," said Wood as she underwent the treatment.
Recently approved by the FDA, Zerona guarantees you will lose three inches. If not, a patient can continue treatment until they do.
"People are absolutely loosing inches. That being said, it's not surgery results. Basically clothes fit better," said Decherd.
And it's not surgery prices.
The average price for six Zerona treatments is $1,500. Liposuction starts at $3,500.
No down time also makes Zerona an attractive choice for some.
"It's not invasive, that was important to me. I don't think anyone likes to be put under," said Wood.
Two weeks after she started, we were there for Wood"s last treatment where she was measured for results. Wood was pleasantly surprised.
Her waist dropped from 37 and a half inches to 33. Overall.she lost nine inches off her waist, hips and thighs.
"I'm so excited! Nine inches, that's awesome," said Wood.
And she met her birthday goal.
"These pants are almost a size smaller than I was wearing before. It's almost too good to be true. But you were there for the measurements, and obviously it's not too good to be true. It really does work," said Wood.
