How deep does the Sculpsure laser go?

Question

Hi I had Sculpsure done 4 weeks ago and anxiously awaiting my results. Does the expected 24% reduction of fat vary from person to person based on their own mass or does the laser have a maximum amount it can penetrate and destroy? Thanks!

Ross A. Clevens, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question. Sculpsure results are gradual as the body eliminates the unwanted fat over time. Patients can expect to see fat reduction in treated areas of up to 25$ of the fat in about 6-12 weeks after just one treatment. I suggest that you consult with your board certified facial plastic surgeon to follow-up with your recovery progress.

Best wishes,

Best wishes,

Jaime S. Schwartz, MD, FACS · Answer

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.

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 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

Robert M. Lowen, MD · Answer

Yes, because everyone has a different amount of fat to begin with. SculpSure removes 24% of the treated fat. It is designed to heat a certain volume of fat and is temperature controlled during the 25 minute cycle to transmit the amount of energy to that volume of fat that will result in about a 24% loss based on MRI studies. It does not treat the entire volume of your fat if you have more than the treatment volume. For that you would have to have another treatment.  It was found that too much fat cell death, more than 24%, resulted in side effects in the tissue that you would not want.  That was determined experimentally, not on people.If you have a small fat volume you will see more relative results sooner than if you have a lot of fat volume.  As you can see from the before and after gallery, 1-2 treatments gives a nice result on people with moderate diet and exercise-resistant fat on the abdomen and love handles.

Nikesh K. Patel, MD · Answer

SculpSure can take an average of 24% of fat. This is what the studies showed over a variety of patient treatments. You some variation based on your body and if you have more than a few centimeters of fat where you were tested it may be more dofficult to easily see your results or even on a day to day basis as your body is going to progressively improve over time. Nonetheless you need to wait a full 3 months to see the levels of results that are commonly seen

Jeff T. Healy, MD · Answer

SculpSure targets the subcutaneous fat, which is the fat between the skin and the underlying muscles.  Up to 24% of the fat cells can be destroyed in a single treatment.  Having said that you have to remember that at least 76% of the fat cells will still be left behind.  So for patients that have more fat, additional treatments may be required.It takes at least 12 weeks to see the final results after a SculpSure treatment.  See your doctor for recommended follow-up visits and you should be able to see the improvements on your before and after photos.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

The results take 6-12 weeks to appreciate with a good diet and exercise.  We combine with VANQUISH to get even better outcome.  I suggest a second treatment 4 weeks after the first.  Best, Dr. Emer.

Sean Doherty, MD, FACS · Answer

Every patient is different but SculpSure results take anywhere from 6 to 13 weeks. Personally, I find that most patients need two treatments to achieve their optimum results. Hope this helps.

Nicole Hayre, MD · Answer

The fat loss is based on losing up to 24% of the individual
treated body mass at the time of treatment. If you and doctor think you can
benefit from additional treatments you could have the same area treated again-
this should give you an additional loss of up to 24% of whatever fat was
remaining.

Patricia Faraz, MD · Answer

Hi Stgriffith,SculpSure can take up to 12 weeks to see full results and multiple treatments may be necessary. The 24% can vary from person to person depending on their BMI. I will say our patients have been very happy with SculpSure, even our patients with a higher BMI. Best to you, Dr Faraz

Patrick W. Blake, MD · Answer

In general, expect a 2-3 cm loss over 6-8 weeks. I don't really talk about the 24% reduction because that amount is dependent on the amount of fat you had to start. In the trials, the patients were fairly thin so that 2-3cm was about 1/4 of their fat. If you are a bit more overweight, 2-3 cm will not be 24% reduction. I think the skin tightening effect in middle-aged to older folks does a lot. For younger folks hitting the gym and working on their target areas really helps get better definition. Hope that helps.