Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Noninvasive Body Contouring: Biological and Aesthetic Effects of Low-Frequency, Low-Intensity Ultrasound Device

  • Original Article
  • Non-Surgical Aesthetic
  • Published:
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Recent advancements in body-contouring techniques have prompted the investigation of ultrasound (US) technology as a potential noninvasive alternative for nonobese subjects for lifting, tightening, and reducing small areas of unwanted fat. This prospective study aimed to evaluate the biological and aesthetic effects of a low-frequency, low-intensity US device in reducing localized fat deposits for improving the body contours.

Methods

A total of 20 female subjects included in this study were subjected to low-frequency US in the abdomen area. The effectiveness of this technique was determined by measuring changes in the anthropometric measurements and body composition, photographs, and a Client Satisfaction Questionnaire. The safety of the technique for application was determined by assessing the clinical features and biochemical tests results.

Results

After five US sessions, a significant mean reduction of 1.5, 2.1, and 1.9 cm was noted in the waist, abdominal, and umbilical circumferences, respectively. No significant changes were noted in the levels of free fatty acids, insulin, liver enzymes, or lipid profile. However, a significant increase in the fasting glucose level was noted. However, four adverse side effects were reported: mild burning or discomfort, tingling or unilateral numbness in the lower limbs, pain around the bony areas, and soreness in the abdomen.

Conclusion

The low-frequency, low-intensity US device provides reduction in the abdominal region with a moderate level of satisfaction. However, more studies are required to assess the effectiveness of US for body contouring and its effect on glucose metabolism.

Level of Evidence IV

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. ISAPS International Survey on Aesthetic/Cosmetic Procedures Performed in 2009: International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery 2009 [cited 2010 30 ago]. Available at http://www.isaps.org/news/isaps-global-statistics. Accessed 5 Dec 2012

  2. Brown SA, Greenbaum L, Shtukmaster S, Zadok Y, Ben-Ezra S, Kushkuley L (2009) Characterization of nonthermal focused ultrasound for noninvasive selective fat cell disruption (Lysis): technical and preclinical assessment. Plast Reconstr Surg 124(1):92–101

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Hotta TA (2010) Nonsurgical body contouring with focused ultrasound. Plast Surg Nurs 30(2):77–82

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Neira R, Arroyave J, Ramirez H, Ortiz CL, Solarte E, Sequerda F et al (2002) Fat liquefaction: effect of low-level laser energy on adipose tissue. Discussion. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Hagerstown

    Google Scholar 

  5. Manstein D, Laubach H, Watanabe K, Farinelli W, Zurakowski D, Anderson RR (2008) Selective cryolysis: a novel method of non-invasive fat removal. Lasers Surg Med 40(9):595–604

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Rotunda AM, Weiss SR, Rivkin LS (2009) Randomized double-blind clinical trial of subcutaneously injected deoxycholate versus a phosphatidylcholine—deoxycholate combination for the reduction of submental fat. Dermatol Surg 35(5):792–803

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Atiyeh B, Dibo S (2009) Nonsurgical nonablative treatment of aging skin: radiofrequency technologies between aggressive marketing and evidence-based efficacy. Aesthetic Plast Surg 33(3):283–294

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Shek S, Yu C, Yeung C, Kono T, Chan HH (2009) The use of focused ultrasound for non-invasive body contouring in Asians. Lasers Surg Med 41(10):751–759

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Romero C, Caballero N, Herrero M, Ruíz R, Sadick NS, Trelles MA (2008) Effects of cellulite treatment with RF, IR light, mechanical massage and suction treating one buttock with the contralateral as a control. J Cosmet Laser Ther 10(4):193–201

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Collis N, Elliot LA, Sharpe C, Sharpe DT (1999) Cellulite treatment: a myth or reality: a prospective randomized, controlled trial of two therapies, Endermologie and Aminophylline Cream. Plastic Reconstr Surg 104(4):1110–1114

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Gokdemir G, Kuçukunal A, Sakiz D (2009) Cutaneous granulomatous reaction from mesotherapy. Dermatol Surg 35(2):291–293

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Jewell M, Solish N, Desilets C (2011) Noninvasive body sculpting technologies with an emphasis on high-intensity focused ultrasound. Aesthetic Plast Surg 35(5):901–912

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Sklar L, El Tal A, Kerwin L (2014) Use of transcutaneous ultrasound for lipolysis and skin tightening: a review. Aesthetic Plast Surg 38(2):429–441

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Coleman KM, Coleman WP, Benchetrit A (2009) Non-invasive, external ultrasonic lipolysis. Semin Cutan Med Surg 28:263–267

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Nyborg WL (2001) Biological effects of ultrasound: development of safety guidelines. Part II: general review. Ultrasound Med Biol 27(3):301–333

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Carvell KJ, Bigelow TA (2011) Dependence of optimal seed bubble size on pressure amplitude at therapeutic pressure levels. Ultrasonics 51(2):115–122

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Ascher B (2010) Safety and efficacy of UltraShape Contour I treatments to improve the appearance of body contours. Aesthet Surg J 30(2):217–224

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Teitelbaum S, Burns J, Kubota J, Matsuda H, Otto M, Shirakabe Y et al (2007) Noninvasive body contouring by focused ultrasound: safety and efficacy of the Contour I device in a multicenter, controlled, clinical study. Plast Reconstr Surg 120:779–789

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Teitelbaum SA, Burns JL, Kubota J, Matsuda H, Otto MJ, Shirakabe Y et al (2007) Noninvasive body contouring by focused ultrasound: safety and efficacy of the Contour I Device in a multicenter, controlled, clinical study. Plast Reconstr Surg 120(3):779–789

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Center for Studies and Research in Food (NEPA), Tabela Brasileira de Composição de Alimentos (TACO), 2011. Available at http://www.unicamp.br/nepa/taco. Accessed April 2012

  21. Philippi ST, Latterza AR, Cruz AT, Ribeiro LC (1999) Adapted food pyramid: a guide for a right food choice. Braz J Nutr 12(1):65–80

    Google Scholar 

  22. Attkisson CC, Zwick R (1982) The client satisfaction questionnaire: psychometric properties and correlations with service utilization and psychotherapy outcome. Eval Program Plann 5(3):233–237

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Sociedade Brasileira de Cardiologia-SBC; Sociedade Brasileira de Hipertensão-SBH; Sociedade Brasileira de Nefrologia-SBN (2007) [V Brazilian Guidelines in Arterial Hypertension]. Arq Bras Cardiol 89:e24-e79

  24. Ghiringhello MT, Vieira JG, Tachibana TT, Ferrer C, Maciel RM, Amioka PHC et al (2006) Distribution of HOMA-IR in Brazilian subjects with different body mass indexes. Arq Bras Endocrinol Metab 50:573–574

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Matthews DR, Hosker JP, Rudenski AS, Naylor BA, Treacher DF, Turner RC (1985) Homeostasis model assessment: insulin resistance and β-cell function from fasting plasma glucose and insulin concentrations in man. Diabetologia 28(7):412–419

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Institute of Medicine Food and Nutrition Board (2002) Dietary reference intakes for energy, carbohydrate, fiber, fat, fatty acids, cholesterol, protein, and amino acids (macronutrients), vol 5. National Academies Press, Washington, DC, pp 107–264

    Google Scholar 

  27. Fatemi A, Kane MC (2010) High-intensity focused ultrasound effectively reduces waist circumference by ablating adipose tissue from the abdomen and flanks: a retrospective case series. Aesthetic Plast Surg 34(5):577–582

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Jackson RF, Dedo DD, Roche GC, Turok DI, Maloney RJ (2009) Low-level laser therapy as a non-invasive approach for body contouring: a randomized, controlled study. Lasers Surg Med 41(10):799–809

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Mulholland RS, Kreindel M (2012) Non-surgical body contouring: introduction of a new non-invasive device for long-term localized fat reduction and cellulite improvement using controlled, suction coupled, radiofrequency heating and high voltage ultra-short electrical pulses. J Clin Exp Dermatol Res 3:1–9

    Google Scholar 

  30. Momeni A, Heier M, Torio-Padron N, Penna V, Bannasch H, Stark BG (2009) Correlation between complication rate and patient satisfaction in abdominoplasty. Ann Plast Surg 62(1):5–6

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Moreno-Moraga J, Valero-Altés T, Riquelme AM, Isarria-Marcosy MI, de la Torre JR (2007) Body contouring by non-invasive transdermal focused ultrasound. Lasers Surg Med 39(4):315–323

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Coleman KM, Coleman WP 3rd, Benchetrit A (2009) Non-invasive, external ultrasonic lipolysis. Semin Cutan Med Surg 28(4):263–267

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Ginsberg H (1998) Lipoprotein physiology. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am 27(3):503–519

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Johns LD (2002) Nonthermal effects of therapeutic ultrasound: the frequency resonance hypothesis. J Athl Train 37(3):293–299

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  35. Doan N, Reher P, Meghji S, Harris M (1999) In vitro effects of therapeutic ultrasound on cell proliferation, protein synthesis, and cytokine production by human fibroblasts, osteoblasts, and monocytes. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 57(4):409–419

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Dandona P, Aljada A, Chaudhuri A, Mohanty P, Garg R (2005) Metabolic syndrome: a comprehensive perspective based on interactions between obesity, diabetes, and inflammation. Circulation 111(11):1448–1454

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. AMI Medicell Cavitacione Stabile Italy 2008. Available at http://www.ami-engineering.it/it/prodotti-scheda.php?id=8. Accessed January 2012

  38. Syneron and Candela, UltraShape®. Available at http://syneron-candela.com/int/product/ultrashape (accessed)

  39. Pankow JS, Duncan BB, Schmidt MI, Ballantyne CM, Couper DJ, Hoogeveen RC et al (2004) Fasting plasma free fatty acids and risk of type 2 diabetes: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study. Diabetes Care 27(1):77–82

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Malasanos TH, Stacpoole PW (1991) Biological effects of omega-3 fatty acids in diabetes mellitus. Diabetes Care 14(12):1160–1179

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. ter Haar G, Coussios C (2007) High intensity focused ultrasound: physical principles and devices. Int J Hyperthermia 23(2):89–104

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank all individuals who volunteered for this study. This work was supported by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq/MCT/Brazil) and the Maranhão State Research Support Foundation (Fapema).

Conflict of interest

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nutrition and Health, Federal University of Viçosa, Av. PH Rolfs, s/n, Campus UVF, CCB II, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, 36.570-000, Brazil

    Livia Bordalo Tonucci, Denise Machado Mourão, Andreia Queiroz Ribeiro & Josefina Bressan

Authors
  1. Livia Bordalo Tonucci
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Denise Machado Mourão
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Andreia Queiroz Ribeiro
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Josefina Bressan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Livia Bordalo Tonucci.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Tonucci, L.B., Mourão, D.M., Ribeiro, A.Q. et al. Noninvasive Body Contouring: Biological and Aesthetic Effects of Low-Frequency, Low-Intensity Ultrasound Device. Aesth Plast Surg 38, 959–967 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-014-0391-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-014-0391-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation