High‐intensity focused ultrasound treatment for excessive subcutaneous fat in abdomen, upper arms, and thigh: A pilot study

Abstract

Background High‐intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) has been recently introduced as a non‐invasive therapeutic modality for controlling excessive subcutaneous fat. Objective The efficacy and safety of the HIFU device for sculpting the abdomen, upper arm, and thigh were evaluated. Materials and Methods Ten subjects with more than 10 mm of subcutaneous fat in the abdomen, upper arm, and/or thigh were recruited. We evaluate mean change in the thickness and circumference of subcutaneous fat of each treated area measured using ultrasound 12 weeks after the procedure, the degree of pain, and subject and practitioner satisfaction 12 weeks after the procedure. Results The mean change of subcutaneous fat thickness in the abdomen, upper arm, and thigh measured using ultrasound 12 weeks after the procedure was −4.33 ± 2.42, −1.86 ± 1.35, and −1.86 ± 1.35 mm, respectively. Compared with pretreatment, subcutaneous fat thickness of the abdomen and upper arm was significantly reduced (p = 0.0020 and p = 0.0004, respectively), but not in the thigh (p = 0.0716). Highest patient satisfaction was for the abdomen. Pain was generally tolerable. Conclusion The results from the present study indicate HIFU can be an effective and safe therapeutic modality for removing excessive subcutaneous fat in humans.

Tissue specific considerations in implementing high intensity focussed ultrasound under magnetic resonance imaging guidance

“…This study also used T2 mapping to demonstrate a measurable increase in T2 relaxivity in the treated fat compared to the remote fat that occurred immediately and was sustained at 60 mins. Clinical studies have been limited to fat thickness measurements on ultrasound ( 42 , 43 ). Imaging the thermal injury and post-treatment scar within fatty tissues in vivo has not been documented.…”