How can SculpSure target only fat cells without harming other cells such as internal organs?

Thank you for your question. The procedure itself is very simple. The laser disrupts subcutaneous fat cells, heating them, and prompting the body to dispose of them.While the laser does heat the subcutaneous fat, the device counteracts this by using technology to prevent damage to the skin and keep the patient comfortable. The laser includes a dial to monitor the level of the laser in order to ensure the patient is within their comfort level at all times. I suggest that you move forward and consult with a board certified facial plastic surgeon. 

Best wishes,

Thank you for your question.Sculpsure is a noninvasive 1060nm diode laser treatment that removes up to 25% of stubborn fat in the treated area in 25 minutes.It is FDA approved for the abdomen and flanks. It is safe if you get pregnant in the future.



The body contouring effects are seen in as quick as six weeks with final results at 12 weeks.



The results are permanent as long as you maintain your weight and health.



The laser targets and destroys the fat cells only which are then naturally removed from the body. Since the laser does not affect the skin or muscle it can be used on all skin colors and there has been no reported incidents of burns when treated by a properly trained physician. It is protective since it alternates heating and cooling.



It has four applicators that can be customized to treat the areas of stubborn fat.



If a second treatment is needed we wait at least six weeks and usually closer to 12.





If you notice lumps after (which I've never seen) I would recommend massage. You should also alert your surgeon.  No compression garment required.





There is no downtime and you can resume your normal activities right after the treatment. There may be some soreness in the area for a few days for which you can take ibuprofen or tylenol. A cold compress can also be used.





Sculpsure is not used for skin tightening however some of our patients have seen this. If more skin tightening is needed we have combined this with thermi or Ulthera for a complete treatment. Sculpsure is recommended for stubborn areas of fat that are not being lost by diet and exercise. It is not a weight loss treatment





Since I have both a coolsculpting and sculpsure I am working on protocols of utilizing both of these depending upon what areas need to be treated and the response to the treatment.



I have used sculpsure on other areas other than the abdomen with very good results.





I also use a Vectra 3D imaging system to try and show people what their treatment areas could look like.





Since Sculpsure outcomes can be based on technique and experience, please see a board certified plastic surgeon that specializes body contouring to see if Sculpsure or other treatments are available to meet your goals.





Take care,





Dr Schwartz



Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

The procedure can be uncomfortable for some patients and at our practice, we have our esthetician sit with the patient during treatment, we provide icepacks around the treatment area, we have a TV in the room, we can adjust the treatment settings and we find that all of these in combination make for an overall comfortable experience. As for harming other organs, the laser only penetrates just underneath the skin surface and the light wavelength specifically targets fat cells in that area. 

sculpsure just like coolsculpting an vanquish only target fat cells due to their absoption profiles. There is nothing to worry about internally.  Best, Dr. Emer.

SculpSure uses a diode laser which generate optical radiation (1060 nm) that specifically targets the subcutaneous adipocytes (fat cells).  It penetrates less than 1 cm beneath your skin and not deep enough to reach any internal organs. 

Regarding your pain... we have treated many patients (including myself) and it definitely should not be painful.  Everyone has different tolerance to heat that's why this device has different energy setting to adjust (from 0.9 to 1.4 W/cm2), with the default setting at 1.1.  Furthermore, there are 4 applicators per treatment and the energy level can actually be adjusted individually to further customized to each specific area.  One thing is that your practitioner has to "un-link" before the treatment started, otherwise, all the 4 applicators would have to be adjusted together (as with the current firmware).  

If adjusting to the lowest setting is still not comfortable enough for you, you can ask him/her to press the "advance-to-cool" button, which will then cool you down immediately and last for 40 secs. I used this function twice and both my patients tolerated well and finished the treatment successfully.  

Hope this helps!  

There are different settings that can possibly be used during a SculpSure treatment and the energy level can be adjusted for each patient.  The treatment should never be painful, but there may be some mild discomfort with it.  If I were treating a patient and they were having intense pain, I would turn down the energy until it became more comfortable.  It is possible that the energy level used during your treatment was too high for you.  SculpSure will only destroy fat cells and does not reach below the fat layer or anywhere near internal organs.  

The laser only penetrates about 3cm so it doesn't come anywhere close to your organs. I am sorry that you were in such pain. That is unusual. Most of my patients find the pain to be minimal although there is some discomfort post treatment. Still, most find this tolerable. However, every patient is different and you may simply have a low pain thresh hold. Hopefully, you are happy with you results. 

SculpSure is a relatively new, elegant technology that limits the depth of penetration of the laser energy to disrrupt sub-cutaneous fat cells. The design of the SculpSure unit intermittently cools the skin to minimize discomfort but many patient's responses to pain can be variable. The laser only penetrates 3cm so it cannot affect internal organs, etc

Thank you for your question. Sculpsure does not penetrate deep enough to harm your internal organs. SculpSure is a hyperthermic laser fat removal system that works by directing laser energy into your treated fat areas directly under the skin. It does not reach the organs. This laser energy heats the fat cells and surrounding tissues, thereby agitating the fat which causes them to release from your tissues. For more information, I recommend getting a in person consultation with a in board-certified dermatologist.

Sculpure uses diode laser energy, which specifically targets fat cells, and the laser energy only goes to a specific depth into the subcutaneous fat layer. It does not penetrate into the deeper tissues or below the muscle layer, where your internal organs lie, so there is no danger of damage to these structures. As to your pain, I would say that your experience is very atypical. The goal is to get your fat cells to a certain temperature level, which should be between warm and very hot, but never to the point where it is burning or extremely uncomfortable. We always have  a staff member in the room with you, who can adjust your settings to ensure you remain comfortable throughout the treatment period.