Focused Ultrasound for Noninvasive Body Contouring in Cellulite:

Noninvasive lipoma size reduction using high-intensity focused ultrasound

BACKGROUND

Lipomas are common benign mesenchymal tumors commonly removed using excision, but in certain cases, surgery is undesirable or ineffective. High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) offers a noninvasive tumor ablation tool increasingly used in the clinic.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a noninvasive lipoma size reduction technology using HIFU.

MATERIALS & METHODS

Twelve lipomas in nine patients were treated. Patients underwent four treatment sessions with a 3-week interval between treatments. Blood and urine tests and tolerability based on a standard visual analogue scale (VAS) were used to monitor patients for adverse effects. Lipoma volume was determined by measuring width and length (manually) and depth (ultrasonically).

RESULTS

The range of lipoma size was 2.7-169.4 cm3 before treatment and 0.2-119.8 cm3 after treatment. Mean volume reduction was 58.1 ± 22.8%. When palpated, the lipomas felt much softer than before treatment. The average VAS score was 4.1 ± 2.4. No significant adverse effects were noted.

CONCLUSION

The treatment was shown to be effective in noninvasively reducing lipoma size. The average volume reduction was substantial and statistically significant. The treatment was safe and well-tolerated. HIFU may be an alternative treatment modality in cases of lipoma.

Safety and tolerability of a focused ultrasound device for treatment of adipose tissue in subjects undergoing abdominoplasty: a placebo-control pilot study

BACKGROUND

High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) lipolysis is a noninvasive alternative to existing surgical body-sculpting methods.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the safety, tolerability, and histologic outcome of HIFU lipolysis using a novel device in human subjects.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

In a single-blind pilot study, six healthy subjects scheduled to undergo abdominoplasty within 4 weeks received HIFU lipolysis on one side of the umbilicus. An identical placebo treatment was given to the contralateral side. Patient evaluation of complications, blood tests, and urine analysis were performed 1, 3, 7, 14, and 28 days after treatment. Excised tissue from the treated areas was sent for histologic review.

RESULTS

Treatment was well tolerated. Average visual analogue pain scale scores were 3.5 ± 2.3 (range 1-7) and 0.17 ± 0.41 (range 0-1). No major adverse events were documented, and laboratory analysis after HIFU lipolysis was normal. Fat necrosis with infiltration of lymphocytes and macrophages without adjacent tissue damage was documented on histology 2 to 4 weeks after HIFU lipolysis. Damage extent correlated with size of the area treated. No pathologic findings were found on the control side.

CONCLUSIONS

High-intensity focused ultrasound treatment was well tolerated and safe. Focal damage to target tissue was documented, with adjacent tissues remaining intact.