Efficacy and Safety of High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound for Noninvasive Abdominal Subcutaneous Fat Reduction

Dermatol Surg. 2020 Feb;46(2):213-219. doi: 10.1097/DSS.0000000000002016.

Abstract

Background: Demand for noninvasive body contouring has increased.

Objective: We evaluated the efficacy and safety of a thermal high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) device for abdominal body shaping.

Patients and methods: Adults with a body mass index ≤30 kg/m and an abdominal subcutaneous fat tissue thickness ≥2.5 cm were enrolled for HIFU treatment at energy levels of 150 J/cm (first session) and 135 J/cm (second session). The primary end point was a change from baseline waist circumference at post-treatment Week 8. Secondary efficacy end points were: changes in body weight, waist/hip ratio, and fat thickness assessed by ultrasound, caliper, and a fat CT scan. The Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale was evaluated by both investigators and subjects.

Results: The primary assessment achieved statistical significance, showing a reduction of 3.43 cm in mean waist circumference. The treatment effect was cumulative, with a steady decrease in waist circumference and fat thickness. The mean pain scores immediately after treatment were 4.45 ± 2.74 on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the most painful, which decreased to 1.10 ± 1.33 after 1 week.

Conclusion: High-intensity focused ultrasound is an effective and safe treatment modality for reducing waist circumference in nonobese individuals with focal fat accumulation.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Body Contouring / adverse effects
  • Body Contouring / methods*
  • Esthetics
  • Female
  • High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Ablation / adverse effects
  • High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Ablation / methods*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Obesity, Abdominal / therapy*
  • Pain Measurement
  • Pain, Procedural / diagnosis*
  • Pain, Procedural / etiology
  • Patient Satisfaction
  • Subcutaneous Fat, Abdominal / radiation effects*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Waist Circumference / radiation effects