After undergoing two cesarean sections, Kathie Lee Gifford was left with a much-hated roll of tummy fat in an otherwise slender body. Although she was afraid of how her fat would look on TV, she agreed to bare her midriff on the “Today” show to undergo tummy massage with the Exilis - a two-headed melting and tightening machine.

Undergoing treatment, Kathie revealed a delineated area of abdomen that was slick and shiny after application of a gelatinous substance. A technician inscribed repetitive circles on the area with a device that looked like a vacuum cleaner attachment.

After four treatments, Kathie lost close to 2 inches of abdominal fat. She said, “I feel different and my friends say I look different.”

Kathie’s midriff problem is exactly the kind of problem that the Exilis is designed for – a stubborn area of fat that is resistant to removal; upper thigh saddle bags are also appropriate targets. The Exilis is not geared for someone with overall obesity.

Traditionally, the only way to remove fat volume from the body (aside from diet and exercise) has been liposuction, which requires an incision and downtime from regular activities. The Exilis, on the other hand, is touted as a painless 20-minute procedure that claims to gently melt and tighten without benefit of anesthesia, tranquilizers or numbing cream.

The doctor who performed these treatments on Kathie Lee explained, “Exilis uses radiofrequency waves to melt the fat from the outside in. When the fat melts, it is carried out by the lymphatic system; you just pee it out basically. But there are two heads on the machine. One head melts the fat and the other head tightens the skin. So it works on any area of the body, even if you have no fat but just loose skin.”

Exilis is usually given in a series of about four treatments spaced at two-week intervals. The cost of the treatments ranges between $1500 and $2000. The only treatment prohibition is for people who have pacemakers or defibrillators. The Exilis does not decrease cellulite, but a machine using cellulite is in the works.

The Exilis device is FDA approved in the United States for the primary treatment of dermatology and general surgical procedures for noninvasive treatment of wrinkles. For more information about Exilis or liposuction, contact the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery to find a board-certified plastic surgeon in your area.