What risks are involved with Sculpsure? Does it provide any amount of skin tightening and should areas with scars be avoided?

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. 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 her 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 treatmentSince 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 SurgeonDirector-Beverly Hills Breast and Body Institute

Because the skin is purposely cooled to protect it while the laser is heating the underlying fat, no skin tightening is expected. Risks are small and would be related to heat, such as skin irritation, or lumpiness in the subcutaneous fat which should spontaneously resolve. The laser is designed to turn off if the contact with the skin is interrupted. Excess heat is avoided during the procedure by adjusting the laser output to stay in a certain zone determined by patient feedback.

Sculpsure is Extremely safe and doesn't have any real risks when performed properly by a physician.  It uses lasers to melt fat which have been used by many different devices for the skin and the fat in the past like smartlipo/laser liposuctin and for laser peels.  It also has applicators that apply constant cooling to the skin making it even more save and comfortable so that the treatment is easy and quick at 25 minutes.  While heating the skin can cause some tightening, Scuplsure also cools with the applicator. No studies have been performed to show whether Sculpsure works to tighten the skin because it is so new, but skin tightening at this point and with the way that the machine works will be minimal.  So if you have a lot of skin laxity you will have to use something else like Thermi which seems to be very effective for tightening skin.Sculpsure is not recommended on scars at this time because the lack of data, but if you have scars then there is likely less fat under the scar than under the surrounding tissues.  The applicators can be simply adjusted to be around the scar so that it is not affected or involved during the treatment.

Thank you for your question.I have had the procedure performed two weeks ago without any risks.  The only common side effect is mild soreness after the procedure.  Sculpsure does not advertise that the laser tightens the skin.  The heat provided is not enough to tighten the skin, on the other hand the Smart-lipo does offer some skin tightening.  Scar areas can have the applicators applied to it,  but might need to use lower energy because it might have decreased sensation in that area.Thank you

Being that SculpSure is a non-invasive treatment, there is little risk involved.  However, you may experience temporary side effects such as a mild discomfort and/or swelling. SculpSure is not a weight lose procedure but it has been proven to have about a 25% reduction in the treated area along with skin tightening. Like any medical proceudre, it's best to consult with your surgeon regarding treatment areas and existing scars. Good luck!