Is SculpSure painful? Why is no one talking about this?

Thanks so much for your question!  Sculpsure, as you know, uses laser technology to destroy fat cells, and creates heat for 25 minutes and cycles through periods of heating and then recovers with a cooling blast for 10 seconds. Every patient is different. In our experience, the heating cycle is short enough that it remains very tolerable.  Some areas are more sensitive than others. Some women will say it feels like mild cramping from a period. The heat can also be adjusted in sensitive patients. The cooling blast can also be delivered to the area at any time to help alleviate any discomfort for our patients. 

SculpSure has several adjustable levels of heat intensity which can be moved up or down based upon how sensitive a patient is. There is a very slow ramp-up period which allows us to ensure that we reach the correct heat level so the patient has an effective, yet well tolerable treatment.

SculpSure uses lasers to heat fat and destroy it.  As such, there will be sensation of heat that may be uncomfortable to some.  Think about it like a hot shower.  Some people feel the water is unbearable while others feel it is soothing and very comfortable. The heat comes in waves and therefore is not constant in nature. The heat can also be adjusted in sensitive patients. It is also possible to ask for a cool blast if the heat becomes unbearable. I would recommend that you discuss the fear of pain with your board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon and ask how they plan to address these concerns.  You can always stop the procedure if it is too uncomfortable.  

I've been performing Sculpsure since it was first introduced and even had it performed on myself so I've seen the range of sensations from people.  Many people don't feel much at all but a bit of warming, but I've found that the majority feel some tingling and pinching sensations in some areas while the treatments is ongoing.  Very few people feel a lot of stinging and burning.  Because Sculpsure's intensity can be adjusted this doesn't have to be a problem.  I've found that I can manage the treatment by going up and down during the session to make it comfortable.  The secret is that you want to make it as warm as you can tolerate so that it is most effective.  Your physiican should be able to help you through this by adjusting the intensity and giving you some cold blasts throughout the procedure if things get too intense.  Just remember, its like taking a hot shower; when you first get in you have the water pretty warm and then slowly get it warmer as your body and skin get used to it.  Just like this most of my patients get used to the heat right at the beginning and then have an easy time through the rest of the procedure.

Thank you for your question, AmandaJ85. Our patients have never had that sensation. SculpSure provides no numbness or burning sensation; in fact, SculpSure utilizes a warming pleasant feeling to ensure that the patients have no discomfort. Please be sure to consult with a board certified facial plastic surgeon with plenty of experience in administering the laser to do your part in avoiding any situation like this. I am not sure how this could have happened.Best wishes,

I appreciate your question.Sculpsure can be a little uncomfortable but should not be painful.It needs to be done by trained professionals that can adjust the power on the laserThe best way to assess and give true advice would be an in-person exam.Please see a board-certified plastic surgeon that specializes in aesthetic and restorative plastic surgery.best of luck!Dr Schwartz

SculpSure treatments do get to a certain temperature of heat before giving a "cool blast". We rely heavily on the patient telling us what they can and can't tolerate with the heat. That can be manually adjusted by the person administering the treatment. Thanks for the question!

SculpSure uses a warming laser to target fat
cells, so you should expect to feel warmth. The laser works in two phases:
first it warms the tissues for four minutes, then it cycles between warming and
cooling phases, to hold the underlying tissues at a steady temperature. The end
of that first warming phase is usually what our patients describe as “peak
warmth” during the treatment. Occasionally, we find the default setting is a
tad too warm, or not warm enough for patients. Usually when an area is too
warm, the patient tells us it’s a specific spot, or one or two panels. The
SculpSure control panels allow us to individually adjust the laser energy by
panel, so we can turn down the one(s) that are too warm, and turn up the ones
that don’t feel warm at all. This allows the provider to create a warm, but
comfortable treatment.

We’ve never had a patient say the treatment
was uncomfortable after adjustments were made (i.e. we’ve never not been able
to correct a patient’s treatment back down to a comfortable level of warmth,
after they have alerted us to an issue). However, it is normal for the treatment
to require some adjusting, as each individual is unique.

The device has some pain associated with it but its very tolerable.  Most patients fine it equal to coolsculpting and less painful than liposonix.  Ultrashape is the least painful but takes a series of treatments for results.  Best, Dr. Emer.

Each person has a different tolerance of pain, so one person may feel that a procedure is painful while another may not.  I have had the SculpSure procedure and did not find it painful.  There are cycles where it feels cold interspersed with warmth.  The settings during the procedure can also be altered if someone is feeling pain as opposed to the the warmth of the laser.  It should not be unbearable for anyone.