My second treatment with SculpSure was painful even at the lowest setting. I only lasted 5 min. Is this normal?

Thank you for your question. It is not abnormal for the patient to find a certain level of discomfort unbearable as we all have unique pain tolerances and reactions to each procedure. My suggestion is that you next consult in person with a board certified facial plastic surgeon and discuss a treatment plan for beginning your next SculpSure procedure with a lower setting.

Best wishes,

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

Every pain experiences pain differently. Also, factors such as hormone levels and hydration seem to affect patient's experience. Speak with your technician about your discomfort so that he or she can lower the setting for your next treatment. Best of luck.

It is unusual, but some patients cannot tolerate a SculpSure session.  Since you were successful with the first session, I would be willing to try again and see what happens.  Do not take any sedation or numb the skin before a session, the feedback is critical to obtaining the best possible result.

Hello Gmajune,Having pain with your 2nd SculpSure treatment is unusual. Being treated too close together, premenstrual, and taking medications that cause sensitivity can be a few factors that can contribute to being more sensitive with your 2nd treatment. Talk to your provider and see if there has been any changes since your 1st treatment. Hope this helps!

Sedation beforehand with some medications will help manage the pain since this is painful for you.Talk to your doctor.

This is a very unusual reaction for #2. I have seen it fir #1 but not for #2. You probably need to space it out further so the fat has been absorbed and there is no reaction going on 3 ? 4 months. We do not like to anesthetize the skin because the feedback sensation level is a safety feature.

Thank you for your question. I'm sorry to hear that you had such discomfort with your SculpSure treatment - most patients can easily tolerate the procedure on a very low setting; perhaps you are super sensitive for some reason, or your treatment frames were placed near or over bone. When the treatment frames are placed over bone there can be increased sensitivity - however, if you tolerated your initial procedure just fine, I'm not really certain why you had such difficulty this time. If the treatments were spaced close together (less than 6 weeks), you may have had some residual swelling or tenderness that perhaps made this treatment less tolerable.  

Some patients tolerate SculpSure treatments better than others. In your case there could be other factors that may be influencing how you responded to the treatment. Things you can do to have a better treatment include:- ensuring you are not on your period or close to the date- proper nights sleep- a full meal before receiving treatment- relaxed as your body will tend to accept things much better than when you are stressed and tense- waiting the full 6 week before second treatment- medications that may interfere with the procedure - should be discussed during first consultationIf you still have high levels of discomfort you may receive pain control or sedatives to assist you in the process of receiving your treatment, it all really depends on your physician and his/her practice.

No this is not normal. Most patients tolerate a higher setting. There are methods to get you though this treatment including Pentrox and distraction. The usual time for SculpSure is 25 minutes. Kind regardsDr Davin Lim, Brisbane. Australia.