By Lisa J. Gotto
SculpSure was approved for use by the FDA in October of 2015.
Like many of us, you may have this moment in the morning when dressing that you just dread. The moment of truth when you reach for both sides of your trouser tops and utter a eathy little prayer that you’ll be able to actually zip up and button them without feeling like you may pass out. Clearly, some days are better than others.
What is extremely distressing about that excess fat around your mid-section, and even that extra fat in places like the underarm area, is the knowledge that it is difficult if not impossible to get rid of it even with regular exercise and a healthy diet.
That’s why there has been a significant trend in approaching troublesome fat issues from a cosmetic perspective over the last five years or so.
Alternatives to invasive procedures like liposuction have been made available through the highly-controlled use of laser technology. While the gold standard for fat loss, says Dr. Claire Duggal of Sandel Duggal Center for Plastic Surgery in Annapolis, is still liposuction, there is a certain segment of the population that can benefit from the treatments that lasers can now provide.
Areas of the body that respond well to treatment: abdomen, hips, thighs, arms, and “ a-roll” areas.
Physicians and patients alike have found success with advanced laser treatments like CoolSculpting, or cryolipolysis, that freezes fat cells to eliminate them, but the latest buzzword in non-invasive laser is SculpSure.
“SculpSure is a new technology which uses a laser to selectively heat subcutaneous fat cells and destroy them,” Duggal says.
But if this sounds like a great weight-loss method to you, then think again. Physicians stress that laser treatments like SculpSure are not intended to help you shed pounds at all. It is more a matter of contouring certain stubborn areas like the midsection or that under-the-arm skin that doesn’t respond well to diet and exercise.
“In my opinion, someone wishing to lose 10 pounds in a localized area would not be a candidate for any of the above procedures, Dr. Paul Buhrer, of Plastic Surgery Specialists in Annapolis, adds. “A weight loss program would be a much more medically appropriate way to address these concerns. Suction-assisted lipectomy, CoolSculpting, and SculpSure are ideal for those patients looking for body contouring of isolated fatty tissue deposits but not as a true weight-reduction option of anything greater than a few pounds.”
What makes SculpSure especially attractive even over the well-tolerated CoolSculpting method is that it can treat multiple areas simultaneously saving time. Each SculpSure session lasts 25 minutes, hence the “25 Minutes to Thin” tagline the procedure has been touting. (Most patients require two sessions, however.) By comparison, each CoolSculpting treatment takes about an hour to perform.
20-25% = the deduction amount of fatty tissue addressed per SculpSure treatment.
“SculpSure uses up to four flat applicators at a time which can be arranged in multiple different patterns to customize each treatment based on the anatomy and goals of each patient,” Dr. Duggal adds.
These applicators sit comfortably on the skin to deliver the treatments rather than applying suction as liposuction requires. Post-appointment, patients report very little if any side effects or discomfort as a result of the procedure. Patients can return to work immediately after the procedure, and there is no period of restriction for physical activity required afterward. Some report a soreness in the area the next day similar to how they feel after a rigorous workout.
“We have seen the occasional patient with some firmness in the fatty tissue in the area treated that is moderately tender to the touch. This routinely resolves itself within a week or two timeframe,” explains Dr. Buhrer. The oken down fat then eliminates itself from the body during the process of urination.
Results are reported to be noticeable in 8-12 weeks.
Fat cells that are destroyed do not come back, but no procedure can eliminate all your fat cells or stop you from acquiring new ones, so the optimal patient will continue to practice a healthy lifestyle making smart choices about diet and regular exercise. The optimal patient will be a “patient” patient, as well, explains Dr. Buhrer.
“SculpSure (nor CoolSculpting) is for those patients who need immediate gratification. The patient will see a 20 to 25 percent improvement over an 8-to-12-week time frame and routinely need at least two to three treatment sessions to optimize their results.”
Patients Not Eligible for SculpSure Include:
- Those suffering from chronic pain syndromes like fi omyalgia or lupus
- Patients looking for overall weight-loss
- Patients with visceral, or internal, fat
- Patients who have had previous surgeries or scarring in the treatment area
