Providers use the Zimmer ZWave device to noninvasively tighten and firm skin. It works by emitting radio shockwaves into the skin in order to stimulate new collagen production and increase blood circulation.Â
ZWave can be used alone, to help reduce the appearance of cellulite and stretch marks, but it’s often paired with fat reduction treatments like CoolSculpting or SculpSure.
“Zimmer ZWave’s radial pulse therapy makes it a perfect adjunct for CoolSculpting, as it helps break up destroyed fat cells and make your results more uniform,” says San Diego dermatologic surgeon Dr. Kimberly Butterwick. It evens out the final result, reducing lumpiness and unevenness.
Some doctors prefer to use it instead of doing massage by hand, the typical way doctors break up fat cells in an area treated with CoolSculpting. This manual method doesn’t guarantee a perfectly uniform pressure, which is where ZWave can make a difference. “The ZWave is much more accurate when it comes to evenly distributing results across the treated area, and the use of radial pulse technology can absolutely enhance results,” says Dr. Butterwick.
Still, some providers say that it doesn’t make or break fat-reduction results. “It doesn’t matter whether it’s ZWave or massage, so long as the [cryolipolysis] applicator is placed properly and the area treated correctly,” says New York City dermatologist Dr. Michele Green in a RealSelf Q&A.Â
Other doctors on RealSelf question its effectiveness. “We trialed this device in our office for aiding massage post-CoolSculpting. We didn’t find it [to] be particularly effective and didn’t buy it,” says Upper Arlington, Ohio, plastic surgeon Dr. Robert Heck in a RealSelf Q&A. “I don’t think it will hurt you in any way—rather, [it] just won’t do anything to be too excited about.”
