Sculpsure Pain Management? What can doctors/patients do, if anything, to lessen the pain during treatment?

Thank you for your question. Our patients do not find discomfort with the SculpSure laser. In fact, many patients cite a pleasant feeling with the procedure because it emits a warm sensation. The SculpSure laser offers a range of settings that can be adjusted based upon the patient's experience. Always consul with a board certified facial plastic surgeon. 

Best wishes,

SculpSure uses externally applied laser to heat the fat below the skin to kill fat cells. As the heat increases, a cool cycle is created by the device and the heat is slowly increased as tolerated. The physician/operator has the control to diminish the energy for those who find it uncomfortable.

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

I have had the treatment myself and so I will comment personally, even though every patients pain tolerance is different. There is some burning and heat tingling primarily in the first 4 minutes while the machine gets to the desired temperature. I would rate this as a 5 out of 10. The person administrating the treatment, can decrease the heat if the person feels it is uncomfortable. I also recommend headphones and music. Certain areas of the body are more sensitive.

I rarely have patients with too much pain from Sculpsure. SculpSure has adjustable settings which can be adjusted to the patient's tolerance level. Coolsculpting has more pain but is still tolerable.  Vanquish should be combined with both to give better outcomes along with z wave/cellutone.  Ultrashape has no pain but takes a number of treatments for any results.  Please see a body contouring expert for a consultation to see what you are a candidate for. Best, Dr. Emer

Sculpsure treatments typically feel like heat or cramping. The "pain" experienced depends on the person. Some patients feel very little sensation at all. Others can never increase the heat from the start settings. Regardless of their setting all patients see results.  Treatment over bony areas or inner thigh are the most sensitive. Some patients have very low pain tolerance for anything, something that we see frequently with any procedure. Those people usually know who this ahead of time. 

I have not had a lot of issues with pain among my SculpSure patients. Most would describe it as mild discomfort if they feel anything at all. I have never had to pre-treat a patient for pain. Hope this helps.

There is no pain associated with SculpSure treatment and on average the user discomfort is a 3 out 10.  There is mild discomfort but after 4 minutes into it, every one can tolerate it given that it's only 25 minutes and for a great outcome. I  did not have a single patient who required any pain medication pre or post treatment.  Please remember that by reading a lot of stories about the treatment, your anxiety level may be increased, which also contributes to higher discomfort level during the treatment. Individual responses vary greatly. Some patients feel it while others simply fall asleep or read a book during the treatment.  I suggest you come to a provider that will explain the treatment, what to expect and  the discomfort management tools, etc. Wear comfortable or loose clothing and bring something that will help to keep you distracted. Please do not have this treatment when you are hang over or super tired or close to your period. Good luck and enjoy your body contouring treatment. Best.Dr.Avaliani

I have found that each patient experiences SculpSure differently.  Some have found it to be fairly uncomfortable, while other patients have fallen asleep having the exact same areas done.  Most patients tolerate it well, but sensitivity varies from patient to patient.  I've also found there is no predictability about which areas may be more sensitive than others.  Of my patients having both areas done, some claim flanks were a bit more sensitive, some say abdomen.  Your clinician should provide you with a full explanation of how the treatment will work and provide appropriate expectations.  I no longer tell prospective patients that it's pain-free, as everyone's definition of pain is different also.  

Hello and thank you for your question. Sculpsure is not designed to be intolerable. No pain medication is needed. Some areas are much more sensitive then others. The settings are increased or decreased by the patients tolerance. A higher setting does not mean a more successful treatment. The settings are increased by the patients zone. During the treatment you will feel depths of heating then cooling and those settings are keeping the patient in a range that is appropriate for the individual. The patient should not be in pain to have the treatment be effective. Hope this helps. Best, Dr Faraz