Efficacy Analysis Of Acupoint Catgut Embedding For Body Contouring On Mid-aged Female Patients

Objective:A randomized clinical trial was designed to investigate the efficacy of catgut embedding for body contouring.Two types of thread were being compared:ethylene glycol acid(EGA)threads and sheep gut collagen(SGC)threads.Both threads were compared in terms of results on individual body parts(lower abdomen,umbilicus,upper abdomen,thigh calf and upper arm),and in terms of overall result(addition of all body parts).Within each group the number of patients with a positive and negative results was also analyzed for each body part and overall(addition of all body parts).Method:40 patients met the inclusion criteria and were randomly divided into 2 groups of 20 patients each:an EGA group and a SGC group.The EGA group was treated with ethylene glycol acid threads;the SGC group was treated with sheep gut collagen threads.All treatments included the following acupoints:ST21???ST36????Ren12???LI11???Ren6???UB20???UB21 ???ST25??.In addition other acupuncture points were used according to TCM syndrome differentiation.Treatments were applied once a month for two consecutive months.Results were evaluated on local anatomical circumferences and overall results comparing the original circumference of the trunk and limbs in[cm]at dedicated places.The efficacy of both treatment methods was evaluated by comparing baseline parameters with the parameters collected 1 month after the first and second treatment in each group.Results:The difference in age,sex,height,weight,BMI,medical history,circumference of individual body segments and of total measurements before treatment had no statistical differences(P>0.05)between two groups.The baseline of the two groups was consistent and comparable.The difference in individual measurements before and after treatment was statistically significant(P<0.05)at the umbilicus,Ren12,the hips,and the left and right calves in the SGC group.The difference in individual measurements before and after treatment was statistically significant(P<0.05)at the umbilicus,Ren12,Ren 5,the upper right arm,the left and right thighs in the EGA group.The difference in total measurements(addition of all body segments' circumferences)before and after treatment was statistically significant(P<0.01)in the two groups.Conclusion:There were no significant differences amongst both groups before,during,and after the treatment.In terms of number of patients with efficacy on individual body segments SGC threads outperformed EGA threads.In term of efficacy on the whole body,both threads have comparable results(80%for EGA,85%for SGC).In terms of results on an individual body part,both threads showed positive results on all body parts.We can then conclude that both threads yield positive results on all body parts.The best body results having been observed on(1)lower abdomen at Ren 5(EGA threads,P<0.05)with a 2.96%reduction in circumference,(2)the right thigh(EGA threads,P<0.05)with a 2.84%reduction in circumference,(3)the right calf(SGC threads,P<0.05)with 2.63%decrease in circumference.80%of patients were observed to have efficiency at the right thigh using EGA threads,and on the left and right calf using SGC threads.75%of patients were observed to show efficiency at the umbilicus and upper right arm using SGC threads,and at Ren5 and the left thigh using EGA threads.