Preliminary Results Using a Magnet-Embedded Compression Garment after Liposuction Surgery

• Published in: The American Journal of Cosmetic Surgery
• Main Authors: Dedo, Douglas D., Biemer, Theresa A.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: SAGE Publications 2005
• Subjects: South Pole; South pole
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/074880680502200302; http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/074880680502200302

Introduction: Magnetic fields have been touted as a cure and method of treatment for a variety of illnesses and medical conditions, and revenues from the sales of health-related magnetic products reportedly add up to billions of dollars. Magnets and the magnetic fields they create are marketed as having no associated risks; however, the medical community questions their benefits, and the Food and Drug Administration has not approved static magnetic fields for the treatment of any medical ailment. Methods and Materials: This study evaluated the postoperative effects of a magnetic garment on patients undergoing liposuction. For each standard postoperative compression garment, one half was fitted with elasticized magnetic neoprene material and the other half with nonmagnetized neoprene. The manufacturer sent the garments to the authors without identifying which sides had the active magnetic strips. Results: Preliminary results of this study showed no statistical difference in bruising, swelling, or postoperative results between the magnetized and the nonmagnetized treated areas. Although theories abound concerning the effects of magnetic field on optimizing the supply of nutrients and oxygen to the magnetic field area, this clinical study did not support any significant difference in the rate of wound healing. However, this study did show that pain and tenderness were markedly reduced on the side covered with the magnetic field. Eight of the 9 patients noted a decrease in pain and discomfort postoperatively on the left side, which was the half of the garment with the magnetized neoprene strips. The greatest reduction in pain was observed in the first 24 hours of treatment with the magnets, and the improvement increased with the passage of time. This study also found a reduction in the amount of analgesics needed by the patients using magnets during the treatment period. Discussion: Magnetic volume is important in delivering a therapeutic effect. Having more volume means that more tissues are experiencing the magnetic field. The neoprene magnetic strength is low in gauss units but high in Maxwell units because of the configuration of the north-south pole orientation described. Conversely, a unipolar magnet with a high magnetic strength delivers a low magnetic volume and is not considered important for therapeutic use. To date, researchers are uncertain whether low-level magnetic fields are hazardous to biological tissues. There has been some concern about safety issues for long-term whole-body exposure, but this may not be applicable to brief exposure to small areas of the body associated with static magnets. The theoretical basis for the physiologic response from static magnets has not been clearly identified. A search and review of the medical literature resulted in a limited number of studies. Few studies have evaluated magnets for relief of chronic pain for disease states and musculoskeletal pain, and even fewer have addressed mechanism of action.