Expert tummy trimmers... accent-firming tested!

The aesthetic practitioner expert Dr Nina Couvaras

The strategy: Accent Firming Radiofrequency, £150 per treatment. A course of six is recommended.

Where to find it: Face by Lund Osler, 38 Knightsbridge, London SW1 (020 7245 6979; www.lundosler.com).

The low-down: the Accent hand-piece emits radio currents to warm and tighten the skin's surface as well as deeper tissue, where it breaks down fat cells and boosts firmer collagen synthesis. Although the skin is heated to 42°C, a cooling system makes the treatment bearable - similar to a circular skin polish. Swelling and redness subside in a couple of hours, results peak after two to three months and last up to two years. ‘Accent is the best non-invasive treatment I've used,' says Dr Couvaras. ‘You can lose up to 4cm during the first 20-minute treatment.' Can anyone have it? ‘Most patients I see have a fairly good diet but find stomach fat is stubborn. I'm strict, though,' she warns. ‘I don't treat patients with a BMI over 30. And if someone tells me they don't exercise, I send them away to work out first.'

[quote]Radiofrequency isn't for those with liver problems, glandular disorders, diabetes, psoriasis or eczema, or for people with metal implants such as the contraceptive coil or hip replacements, as heat can dislodge them. Although Radiofrequency won't rival a tummy tuck, it can give you a six-pack in six weeks, claims Dr Couvaras. ‘I've had good results in women of all ages,' she says.

Try this... Throughout the course: drink 1.5 litres of water daily, cut down on saturated fats and oily food and take milk thistle supplements to support the liver while it processes the fat dispersed from cells. Do 30 sit-ups and leg raises daily, sitting on your hands with your legs bent. ‘Do them while your bath's running,' encourages Dr Couvaras.

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