Eon: What You Should Know
Pros & cons
What to expect
How long healing takes
How soon you see results
How long results last
Eon vs. CoolSculpting
Fast facts
Eon is an FDA-cleared, nonsurgical laser body sculpting treatment. Described by its manufacturer, Dominion Aesthetic Technologies, as “smart” body contouring, Eon uses an automated robotic arm with smart sensor technology to scan the body and create a customized treatment plan for fat reduction on the abdomen, flanks (aka the love handles), thighs, and back.Â
Its touchless treatment head uses a 1064nm wavelength laser to deliver thermal energy into the adipose tissue. The laser energy heats and destroys fat cells below the skin’s surface, a process called apoptosis.Â
After these subcutaneous fat cells die, the body naturally eliminates them over time, though the lymphatic system. The procedure doesn’t require any anesthesia, incisions, cannulas, saline solutions, or medication.
Eon stands out from other thermal fat reduction treatments because it keeps the skin substantially cooler than previously thought possible: an air-cooling system and temperature monitoring ensure that the skin’s surface never rises above 39.5°, to maintain patient comfort.
The ideal candidate for Eon is a healthy adult with localized fat deposits. Like other body sculpting treatments, it's not a weight-loss solution.
Pros
- Eon is FDA-cleared for fat reduction on the abdomen, flanks, thighs, and back.
- Studies show promising results. According to clinical trials funded by the manufacturer, the average patient experiences a waist reduction of 1.6 inches (an equivalent to 2 belt sizes) after one session. In the same clinical study, patients lost an average of 21.6% of fat cells in the abdominal area, with some experiencing as much as 40% fat loss after a single treatment.Â
- More recent clinical trials on the flanks showed an average fat loss of 6.1 mm after a single treatment, and 100% of patients in the trial were satisfied with their results.
- The device's treatment head can treat up to six times the surface area that other body contouring applicators can treat, with no missed areas, which can make results more even.
- Most patients experience little to no discomfort during the treatment.
- The procedure has no known major side effects. It comes with far fewer risks and less downtime than surgical laser liposuction or Smart Lipo laser body contouring, which can (in rare cases) cause burns.
- It's suitable for all skin types and tones.Â
- Abdominal fat reduction can reduce the health risks of belly fat and be a strong motivator to kick-start a healthier lifestyle.
Cons
- It can’t be used on areas that are tattooed.
- As with other nonsurgical body contouring technologies, it takes three months or longer to see significant belly fat reduction.
- You may need more than one treatment to reach your fat loss goals.
The treatment doesn’t require any gels or applicators. Treating the entire abdomen takes 60 minutes, while the flanks can be treated in 40 minutes.Â
First, you'll lie down and put on laser goggles, to protect your eyes. Then your provider will map out the template that best fits the specific areas you want to target.Â
The device’s touchless robotic arm will use smart sensor technology to scan the topography of your abdomen or flanks and calculate a personalized treatment pattern. After a test scan, the actual laser treatment begins.
During each 20-minute cycle, the robot arm will slowly scan the treatment area, as the laser energy heats the fat cells below the skin to 51°C, causing them to slowly break down.Â
Multiple proximity sensors will ensure that the laser never makes contact with your skin, while temperature monitors and jet-cooling technology will help keep your skin at or below a comfortable 39.5°C (103.1°F).
This body contouring treatment comes with no downtime and doesn't require any post-treatment care.Â
It’s reasonable to expect that you’ll be up and moving around immediately after your treatment, and you'll be able to go about your normal activities.
As with other nonsurgical body sculpting treatments, results develop gradually, as the unwanted fat cells are eliminated by your lymphatic system.
You can expect to see significant results within about 12 weeks, with continued improvement for up to six months. Here's how to speed up your lymphatic system, to see results more quickly.
Because Eon induces apoptosis to actually destroy fat cells, the fat you lose is gone for good.
However, the remaining fat cells can still expand if you gain weight.Â
The best thing that you can do to maintain your results is to stay at or near your post-treatment body weight, with the help of a healthy diet and regular exercise. If you can maintain your weight, results can be permanent.
Both nonsurgical fat reduction treatments kill fat cells, so results should be similarly long-lasting.
The amount of fat reduction patients can expect from a single treatment session also appears to be similar. In clinical trials, over 73% of Eon patients showed greater than 20% fat reduction (and sometimes up to 40%) in their abdomen with a single treatment, while an independent study published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in 2015 shows that CoolSculpting reduces fat cell volume in the treated area by 14.7–28.5%.
However, there are a few key differences:
- Eon uses laser energy to heat and destroy cells, while CoolSculpting uses cryolipolysis, or fat freezing. (Eon employs cooling technology purely to keep the patient’s skin comfortable during the procedure.) Â
- CoolSculpting was the first nonsurgical fat reduction technology to earn FDA clearance, so it's more widely available in providers' offices than the newer Eon technology.
- Eon is currently FDA-cleared for fat reduction on the abdomen, flanks, thighs, and back, while CoolSculpting is also FDA-cleared for the upper arms, buttock rolls (also called banana rolls), and submental fat (a double chin).
However, Eon has several distinct advantages:
- It can treat a broader surface area than the CoolSculpting applicators used on the abdomen.
- The treatment is reportedly more comfortable for patients (the extreme cold of CoolSculpting can be uncomfortable, even painful, in the few minutes before the tissue becomes numb).Â
- Any side effects are mild and resolve quickly, while CoolSculpting carries a risk of paradoxical adipose hyperplasia (PAH), in which fat cells expand in reaction to extreme cold. A study published in a 2018 issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery puts the risk of PAH at 0.72%, or 1 out of every 138 cryolipolysis treatments. PAH can only be corrected with liposuction, sometimes coupled with surgical removal of scar tissue.
- CoolSculpting can also result in burns, if your provider doesn't apply the applicator correctly, while Eon's smart sensor technology makes its results less dependent on provider experience level and technique.Â
For these reasons, Eon seems to be a better choice for abdominal fat reduction and eliminating love handles.
Updated June 13, 2023