Zerona: What You Need to Know

Medically reviewed by Robert T. Buchanan, MDBoard Certified Plastic Surgeon
Written byAndrea KarrUpdated on August 16, 2023
RealSelf ensures that an experienced doctor who is trained and certified to safely perform this procedure has reviewed this information for medical accuracy.You can trust RealSelf content to be unbiased and medically accurate. Learn more about our content standards.
Medically reviewed by Robert T. Buchanan, MDBoard Certified Plastic Surgeon
Written byAndrea KarrUpdated on August 16, 2023
RealSelf ensures that an experienced doctor who is trained and certified to safely perform this procedure has reviewed this information for medical accuracy.You can trust RealSelf content to be unbiased and medically accurate. Learn more about our content standards.

Fast facts

45% Worth It rating based on 60 reviews

$1,575 average cost

No downtime

No anesthesia


Zerona (Page Image)
Zerona (Page Image)

Zerona is an FDA-cleared, noninvasive body contouring procedure that uses low-level laser technology to reduce excess fat. The treatment was orgicinally developed by Erchonia to help speed up recovery after liposuction. Now it’s also offered as a standalone slimming option, though some providers still prefer to combine the two procedures.

Since the light intensity of this treatment isn't high enough to heat your body's tissues, it's considered cold laser technology. But unlike cryolipolysis treatments like CoolSculpting, which uses extreme cold to freeze and kill fat cells, Zerona works by passing laser energy through the tissues to merely damage the cells, creating pores in the cell membranes. The pores release the fat cells' contents, which are naturally eliminated through the lymphatic system. 

The manufacturer recommends a series of six Zerona treatments within two weeks, every 72 hours or less, for optimal body slimming results.

Like other body sculpting options, Zerona laser treatment is not a weight-loss solution: it’s intended to reduce stubborn fat deposits on areas of the body like your waist, chest, back, neck, upper arms, thighs, love handles, hips, and ankles, as part of an overall healthy lifestyle. 

It's also not a skin-tightening or cellulite treatment.

RealSelf Tip: Zerona is sometimes called "laser lipo," but it's a very different procedure than laser liposuction, which liquifies fat before sucking it out through a thin tube (a cannula).

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Pros

  • Zerona laser therapy is a nonsurgical, pain-free fat reduction treatment, with no downtime.
  • It can enhance the slimming effects of healthy lifestyle changes, like drinking more water, eating a healthy diet, and getting more exercise. “It can be an excellent way to jump-start a weight loss program,” says Dr. Buchanan. 

Cons

  • Zerona is recommended only for people who are already close to their ideal weight, with pockets of stubborn fat.
  • It's a big commitment: a minimum of treatment sessions in two weeks is recommended, coupled with a healthy diet, daily exercise, and significant water intake, to help flush the fat cell contents. Some patients even need 12 or more treatments over six weeks to see significant results.
  • Zerona doesn't always work. A majority of RealSelf members who tried it have rated it Not Worth It, primarily because they didn't see results. One member even had 16 treatment sessions, with no perceptible fat loss.
  • While Zerona is touted as a treatment with no known side effects, some RealSelf members (like Beeok) have reported serious adverse events, some of which have been reported to the FDA.

  • Average Cost:
  • $1,575

The pricing of Zerona depends on the experience level and location of your provider, and how many treatments you get. Some RealSelf members report finding packages of six Zerona treatments at substantial discounts.

To ensure that your provider is reputable, ask for confirmation that their Zerona machine is registered with the manufacturer and what kind of training the person administering the treatment has had. As Dr. Jamé Heskett, a physician in New York City, says in a RealSelf Q&A, “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.”

You can finance your treatment with CareCredit.

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You’ll lie on a table, typically for 20 minutes on your front and 20 minutes on your back. Your provider will aim the Zerona lasers at the target area, three to six inches away from your skin.

You won't have any discomfort during the procedure. “The only sensation some patients report is an awareness of something on the skin, perhaps a slight tingling, never pain,” says Dr. Joshua L. Fox, a dermatologic surgeon in Albertson, New York.

You may feel a little woozy afterward, especially if you don’t drink enough water. The good news is that you shouldn't have any tenderness, bruising, or swelling, and you can resume your normal activities right away.

For best results, your provider may recommend that you also:

  • Take Curva, a supplement developed by the manufacturer of Zerona, to aid in fat breakdown
  • Drink at least 64 oz. of water daily to help your body process the fat cell contents
  • Eat a healthy diet balanced in carbs, fat, and protein
  • Get at least 15 minutes of vigorous daily exercise
  • Avoid caffeine and alcohol for the duration of your treatments

Related: The Best Surgical and Nonsurgical Fat Reduction and Skin Tightening Procedures for Every Trouble Spot

Results can take several weeks to become apparent, as your lymphatic system eliminates the fat that's been expelled from the cells. According to the manufacturer, some people see results after a few treatments, while others need to complete the full treatment cycle before noticing a change.

A randomized study of 60 patients that was published in Lasers in Medical Sciences in 2019 suggests that the optimal treatment cadence for Zerona results is 12 treatments, twice weekly for six weeks. The patients in that treatment group lost an average of 2 inches in waist circumference and 1.1 kilograms in body fat mass.

Doctors on RealSelf have mixed takes on Zerona results. Dr. Larry S. Nichter, a board-certified plastic surgeon from Newport Beach, California, thinks the Zerona laser promises results that it can’t achieve. “We tried it on six members of our office staff—including myself—and there were no significant changes, despite following all directions faithfully. We have stopped offering this treatment and have returned our machine.” 

“Some doctors have seen variable results—with some patients losing significant amounts and others losing not as much,” says Dr. Robert T. Buchanan, a Highlands, NC, plastic surgeon. “This appears to be both patient and provider dependent.”

To maintain your Zerona results, you'll need to follow a healthy diet and get regular exercise.

Since the treatment causes fat cells to shrink as their contents are released, rather than fully killing them, it's possible for them to expand in the future if you gain weight.

If you're weighing Zerona vs. CoolSculpting, it's worth noting that the latter has a significantly higher Worth It Rating.

While Zerona and CoolSculpting are both fat reduction treatments, they're very different from each other. 

Instead of using low-level laser therapy to shrink fat cells by allowing their contents to be released, CoolSculpting uses cryolipolysis (fat freezing) to kill fat cells, which are naturally removed from the body through the lymphatic system.

Related: CoolSculpting Is Upgrading Its Fat Reduction Technology, with CoolSculpting Elite. Here’s What to Know About the Latest Device.

Updated August 16, 2023

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