There's Now a Body-Contouring Treatment Specifically for People With Higher BMIs

There's a new noninvasive fat-reducing treatment joining the ranks of CoolSculpting, SculpSure, and EmSculpt, which either melt or freeze off stubborn pockets of fat from the outside in. Aesthetic technology company Cutera just announced a new treatment called TruSculpt iD is now available nationwide — and it's suitable for a broader range of body types than its predecessors.

Noninvasive fat-reducing procedures are popular for good reason: They’re the closest thing to an instant bulge eraser that modern science has come up with. (According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the in-office treatments spiked 7 percent last year.) Though each type of treatment works slightly differently — by either heating or freezing fat cells to eliminate them from the body — treatments currently on the market have one thing in common: Most are only approved for those with a lower body mass index.

"Existing noninvasive body contouring treatments are best suited for relatively fit people that have isolated fatty bulges that can be specifically targeted by the treatment," Darren Smith, a board-certified plastic surgeon in New York City, tells Allure. (A national survey by Cutera backed this up, finding that the people most likely to get a body-contouring treatment were those who exercised on the reg.)

In other words, body-contouring treatments aren't meant to be major weight-loss tools; clinical studies show they can reduce between 11 and 25 percent of fat cells in the areas treated. "Individuals with loose or saggy skin are also poor candidates [for treatments currently on the market] because the loose skin will hide the fat reduction caused by the treatment," Smith adds.

The TruSculpt iD treatment, which launches nationwide today, is the first treatment on the market that can treat people with a BMI of 30 or above, according to the brand.

How does TruSculpt iD work?

It works by heating fat cells using monopolar radiofrequency until they die off and can be naturally eliminated by your body. According to the company, patient data shows an average of 24-percent fat reduction after just one treatment. The company claims you can see results right away, with the full impact of the treatment showing by the 12-week mark.

What does it feel like?

Cutera describes the treatment as being like "a hot stone massage" — a little redness and sensitivity post-treatment are normal, but you can jump right back into your normal routine, including exercise, immediately after you leave the doctor's office.

What makes it different from other body-contouring treatments?

As far as the way it works, TruSculpt is similar to other noninvasive fat treatments but with some key differences.

TruSculpt iD vs. SculpSure

TruSculpt iD is probably most similar to SculpSure in terms of method — both treatments heat fat cells in order to destroy them. The big difference? SculpSure uses a laser to accomplish this while TruSculpt iD uses a proprietary radiofrequency technology; instead of just targeting the middle layer of fat cells between your skin and muscles, it can penetrate from just below the surface of your skin all the way to the muscle layer.

A major criticism of SculpSure is that the heating process can be uncomfortable, so if you have a low pain tolerance or sensitive skin, you might not be able to stand the full 25-minute treatment; TruSculpt iD treatments take 15 minutes, so it might be more tolerable. Furthermore, early results show TruSculpt iD might also be more effective — a clinical study of SculpSure shows that it only reduces about 11 percent of fat.

TruSculpt iD vs. CoolSculpting

The TruSculpt iD treatment comes closer to CoolSculpting, which freezes fat cells to destroy them, in terms of the results and ideal candidates. Both treatments claim total fat reduction of about 25 percent in the treatment areas, so they're likely both better choices for areas that have more fat.

As Stephen T. Greenberg, a board-certified plastic surgeon in New Jersey has told Allure, CoolSculpting is most effective when it has enough fat to "pinch" onto, making it more suitable for fattier areas like the abdomen.

TruSculpt iD vs. EmSculpt

What about EmSculpt, the body-contouring treatment that also tones your muscles? Though TruSculpt iD treatments reach the muscle layer, it doesn't actually perform any toning action.

So, does it really work?

Smith, who has observed both TruSculpt iD and SculpSure treatments in action (but doesn't perform noninvasive body-contouring treatments in his practice), says not to expect a miracle with either.

"As an unbiased observer, I honestly didn't think either was that impressive," he says. "I think the reason is that these technologies depend on heating cells to a high enough temperature for them to die, and this causes patient discomfort. This can prevent completion of the treatment or not allow the treatment to reach the necessary temperature to kill the fat cells." To this point, it's definitely a plus that TruSculpt iD treatments take nearly half the time of a SculpSure treatment.

If you're interested in trying out TruSculpt iD for yourself, go for it — the early results of the new treatment are promising. "I have seen it used on patients, and the results have been subtle," Smith says.

Just remember that the science of body-contouring treatments is not magic, and it's still evolving. "The theory behind the technology is sound," Smith says. "But I think the product needs to be more finely tuned before it is ready for prime time."

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