Botched Sculpsure - what's the worst thing that could happen?

After performing many sculpture treatments, I have never seen a complication. The patient must realize there is some discomfort with this treatment which is tolerated differently depending on the patients pain tolerance. I have not seen any lumpiness following this procedure. One must be realistic about the outcome.

SculpSure has minimal negative side effects. The treatment can be uncomfortable and the result may not be what you hoped but the only long lasting effect I can think of might be formation of a nodule. Traumatized fat can form hard nodules which typically resolve with time. Mostly they are not visible, inly palpable. It may take several months to resolve or perhaps up to a year even. 

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

Thank you for your question.  SculpSure is a non invasive procedure designed to permanently eliminate stubborn fat in the areas where exercise and dieting have failed to work.  The worst that can happen with this treatment is not having your expectations met and you needing another treatment.
The procedure is  comfortable and very tolerable.  There is no risk of burning your skin if you avoid sunlight to the treatment ares at least 2 weeks prior to your treatment.  There is occasionally tenderness and cramp like feeling in the treated areas, but it's temporary and resolves.  There is definitely no risk of unevenness, bruising, numbness, etc and it's the safest procedure for permanent fat removal currently available on the market.  I recommend that you find an expert SculpSure provider near you as your results don't depend on the laser itself. It's the appropriate assessment, appropriate applicator placement, appropriate settings chosen for you and the appropriate consultation to see if you are even a candidate. Good luck and hope you give it a try.  Quick 25 minute treatment with over 90%. satisfaction rate speaks for itself.  Best, Dr.Avaliani

Thank you for your question. Because SculpSure is non-invasive and non-surgical, risks are practically non-existent for good candidates. There are no risks of skin discoloration, bleeding or other complications, and the only common side effect is a little soreness post-treatment. Patients with realistic expectations should find SculpSure to be a positive and safe experience. I suggest that you move forward and consult with a board certified facial plastic surgeon. 

Best wishes,

The biggest adverse effects would be not meeting expectations and a need for a second treatment. For best results, I recommend combining Sculpsure with treatments like Vanquish and Venus Legacy/Exilis for best results. In our practice, we do a Fire and Ice treatment of Coolsculpting and Vanquish and are getting great results. See an expert. Best, Dr. Emer

So far, I haven't seen any complications. The only issue is that perhaps you won't achieve your desired result with one treatment and need 2. While I would describe the treatment as minimal painful, you will have some post treatment discomfort so keep that in mind. 

Thankfully we have not seen any medical complications from SculpSure. We often spend more time correcting the uneven results from CoolSculpting from other physicians. Occasionally there can be some temporarily lumps of fat which dissipate after a few weeks. The also can occasionally be some soreness. SculpSure is a  very well tolerated and safe procedure.

Thank you for your question. SculpSure will not burn the skin and does not leave lumps or shelving. By using heat, we are actually seeing a feathering effect that is smoothing out further then the area treated leaving no unevenness. The only worst case scenario I have seen is on a higher BMI the patient may need additional treatments to really achieve their desired goal. Hope this helps!

Thank you for your question. SculpSure is a safe and highly effective procedure. The wavelength used is specific to targeting and eliminating fat cells, without affecting the surrounding areas. You may experience some soreness and swelling, which resolves within a few weeks.It is ideal for patients who are close to their weight goals, but have stubborn fat that will not go away with just diet and exercise. Those are the patients who will see a bigger difference with fewer treatments. Be sure to complete your procedure with a board-certified plastic surgeon for best results.