truSculpt: What You Need to Know
Pros & cons
How much it costs
What to expect
Side effects to consider
How long results last
Fast facts
truSculpt is a nonsurgical body contouring treatment that uses monopolar radiofrequency energy to destroy fat cells in the subcutaneous fat layer, just below the skin. It's commonly used to sculpt areas of the body like the abdomen, flanks (love handles), and thighs.
The radiofrequency energy heats pockets of unwanted fat cells until they’re too damaged to survive, and the body flushes them out through the lymphatic system over the next 12 weeks.Â
The heat may also result in some mild skin tightening and a temporary improvement in the appearance of cellulite.Â
Cutera, its manufacturer, points to a clinical study showing a 24% reduction in fat thickness from a single truSculpt treatment, as measured by ultrasound. Depending on your fat reduction goals and the amount of excess fat you have, you may need an additional treatment 12 weeks later, to see the results you want.Â
This treatment is part of the truSculpt family, which includes the older truSculpt 3D. While the 3D device has two handpieces, truSculpt has six, so it can simultaneously treat multiple areas.
One advantage of truSculpt over other body sculpting treatments is that it's FDA-cleared to treat patients with a body mass index (BMI) over 30. While it's not a weight-loss treatment, it has no BMI restrictions. It's also suitable for patients of all skin types.
Pros
- truSculpt permanently destroys fat cells in the treated area, so your results will last as long as you maintain a stable weight.Â
- Its hands-free applicators can target large and small areas of stubborn fat—including multiple areas at the same time.
- The procedure is suitable for all skin types and tones.Â
- It offers a mild skin-tightening benefit that can help temporarily reduce the appearance of cellulite.
Cons
- The fat reduction results of truSculpt take about 12 weeks to see optimal results. If you want to see an immediate difference, and you're up for a more expensive plastic surgery procedure, consider liposuction.
- As with any body contouring treatment, the remaining fat cells in and around the treatment area can still expand if you gain weight, so you'll need to stay active and eat a healthy diet to keep up your results.
- Reducing fat thickness can create more skin laxity in patients who don’t have good skin elasticity or already have moderate to severe sagging skin. If that's a concern for you, you may need to pair truSculpt with a dedicated skin tightening treatment.Â
- While most people are happy with their truSculpt results, some RealSelf members rate the treatment Not Worth It due to a lack of visible results, sometimes even after multiple treatments.
- Average Cost:
- $1,900
- Range:
- $750 - $4,000
Your truSculpt cost will depend on:
- your provider's credentials, level of experience, and reputation, which influence how much they can charge for their time
- their practice location, which impacts their overhead costs
- the number of treatment sessions you have
- how many body areas you have treated
During your initial consultation, your provider should recommend a treatment plan and provide a personalized, all-in price quote. You may want to consult with more than one provider, so you can compare their plans and estimates.
Body contouring is an elective cosmetic procedure, so it’s not covered by insurance plans. However, most providers offer payment plans or accept third-party financing options.
You'll start with a consultation with an experienced provider. Dr. Arash Moradzadeh, a plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills, California, says, “The treatment is very customized, so a physical exam is needed to make sure you are a good candidate.”
A TruSculpt treatment takes 15 minutes. Here's what you can expect:
- Your doctor will secure the handpieces to your target treatment areas.
- They'll gradually heat up in cycles, as the monopolar RF energy begins to flow.
- The device heats the entire fat layer to ~113ÂşF, while monitoring your skin temperature to ensure that it remains ~3-4ÂşF cooler.
Dr. Moradzadeh compares the feeling to a hot-stone massage. If you do feel some discomfort, it won't last for long because the treatment is relatively brief.
There’s no downtime after a truSculpt treatment, so you can return to work, exercise, and other normal activities right away.Â
The treatment area will feel warm and look flushed for the first hour after your treatment. Some people have tenderness and redness for a full day, but doctors on RealSelf report no other side effects.
While this treatment does work for many people, it doesn't work for everyone. So, it's important to consult with your provider to see if it's the right option for you.Â
Generally, it takes 1-3 months post-treatment for your body to metabolize and eliminate the destroyed fat cells.Â
Your body shaping results will become increasingly apparent as this natural process works, with maximum results at 12 weeks.
Related: How to Speed Up Your Lymphatic System Post Body Contouring
truSculpt treatments kill fat cells, so your body sculpting results should be permanent as long as your weight remains stable. A healthy diet and regular exercise will be essential to maintaining your results over time.
RealSelf members give CoolSculpting a slightly higher Worth It Rating than truSculpt, but patient satisfaction rates are relatively similar.
Clinical studies also show similar results from one treatment: a 15-28% reduction from CoolSculpting vs. 24% from truSculpt.
CoolSculpting uses a technology called cryolipolysis to freeze and kill unwanted fat cells, while truSculpt uses radiofrequency energy to heat and fatally damage fat. It also takes about the same for your body to flush out the dead fat cells, which means that you may see similar results from the same number of treatments. And both treatments have mild skin tightening benefits.Â
That said, truSculpt has some distinct advantages over the fat-freezing treatment:
- While CoolSculpting works best for people with a body mass index (BMI) of less than 25, truSculpt works for people with a BMI over 30.
- truSculpt can treat some areas that CoolSculpting can't, like the front of the thighs.
- Side effects like redness are minimal and usually resolve within a day, while CoolSculpting can leave numbness in the treatment area for up to eight weeks afterward in about 66% of patients.
- There's a risk of developing paradoxical adipose hyperplasia (PAH), an increase in fat at the treatment site that can only be removed with liposuction. A study reported in the 2018 issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery suggests that incidences of PAH may be as high as 0.72%, or 1 out of every 138 cryolipolysis treatments.
- truSculpt's 15-minute session is shorter than the typical CoolSculpting treatment time of 30 to 60 minutes, so any discomfort you feel won't last as long.
Updated March 10, 2023