I got SculpSure done yesterday and experienced a lot of pain. Is this normal?

Question

I got SculpSure done yesterday and experienced a LOT of pain. I was crying during it. They said they had never seen this reaction before. The only thing I can think is I just started my period yesterday as well. Do you think they did something wrong? I want to make sure it will still work. It’s still very tender today too.

Ross A. Clevens, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question. It is not typical to experience that level of pain and discomfort, however, you should continue to work closely with your board certified facial plastic surgeon and medical team to identify your healing progress and work through your healing instructions.
Best wishes,

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

SculpSure is a non invasive procedure that uses lasers to heat fat and destroy it. Hence, the sensation of heat can be uncomfortable depending on your pain tolerance. This in combination with your period (a time of heightened sensation) could explain why you experienced so much pain. I suggest following up with the physician who performed the SculpSure if any pain continues. Best, Dr. Emer.

Michael I. Echavez, MD · Answer

I would say for most people that have a SculpSure treatment, the procedure has some discomfort but should not be painful.  The energy settings can be adjusted for each patient so that the pain level should not be high.  I am not certain what level you were treated on.  Some people do have some tenderness for the first few days.

Weighless MD - Brookfield · Answer

Thank you for your question.  Pain during SculpSure can vary quite a bit, but in general is usually tolerated without tears.  Sometimes a slight repositioning of the frames or reduction in frequency can drastically improve patient comfort.  In general, I have found most of my patients have less pain during the second treatment and sometimes need a higher frequency to get to a zone score of 4.   Make sure you follow all the post procedure instructions for massage and hydration.

Jamie Olesen, MD · Answer

Having treated many patients with Sculpsure, I have noticed quite a spectrum of how people respond to the procedure. I believe the variety stems from individual pain thresholds. Some people find it quite tolerable and nearly painless; however, the majority of patients experience moderate discomfort. In my clinic, about 5-10% of patients do find it significantly painful - even with proper applicator placement. If the applicator is placed to close to a bony prominence, this can cause significant pain and the applicator should be adjusted (or shouldn't have been placed there in the first place). 
The silver lining for you, having gone through that pain, is that you were in Zone 4 for the majority of the treatment and I bet you will have stunning results!

Julius Kpaduwa, MD · Answer

No it is not normal. There is only a small amount of discomfort during the procedure. Please  contact your provider if the pain persists.

David U. Lipsitz, MD, FACS · Answer

Most clients we treat are able to tolerate the intervals of mild discomfort associated with SculpSure. However, pain is very personal and can depend on a variety of factors. For SculpSure, there tends to be more reports of worse discomfort just prior to menstruation and when clients are dehydrated. The laser level is completely adjustable though and your provider should be able to customize your treatment.

Craig Schwartz, DO · Answer

In our experience what you encountered is not typical. Unfortunately, there is an extremely wide spectrum of pain tolerance in patients, going from no pain at all to the extreme of unbearable pain. While SculpSure certainly has some discomfort associate with treatment, the vast majority of our patients find it tolerable, and get through their sessions quite well. We do use an Air Chiller to help make it more comfortable, and we certainly find that distraction of any kind, whether simple conversation, or listening to music or watching a video helps. It is possible that you were more hypersensitive because you were on your period. I would discuss this with your provider, and see if they can do anything further to increase your comfort, including the possibility of providing pre-treatment medication.

Patricia Faraz, MD · Answer

I am so sorry to hear that you had this type of response. This type of response is not common. While SculpSure can be completely tolerable to one person, it may be less tolerable to another. You should not have continued a treatment that was this painful to you. Being premenstrual can definitely leave you more sensitive, but not in this type of pain.We use a zimmer in our office which is an air unit that will cool the areas you have discomfort. Also it is very important during your treatment to not tense the area. The more relaxed you are the less discomfort you will experience.Best to you,

Rosalind Hudson, MD · Answer

According to one pain expert (rheumatologist) in our region, up to 10% of women have "heightened sensory perception". Their sensory nervous system is more aware...to sounds, visual stimuli, tactile sensations, heat/cold or pain. 
In my experience with SculpSure patients, about 10% find the heat cycle painful. I give them two frozen gel packs, and the intense cold "gates" the intensity of the heat.  
I start a very distracting conversation and they get through it. Sometimes they are even able to go to higher settings,  since they don't feel necssarily any hotter.
The SculpSure reps report that intensity is associated with results. However, I have seen great results too with patients who felt NO discomfort at all. Each individual will have their own pain tolerance or intolerance.

I got SculpSure done yesterday and experienced a lot of pain. Is this normal?

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