Objectives: The objective of this study was to analyze the safety and compare the outcomes of the leading thermal and non-thermal technologies for body shaping.
Introduction: Noninvasive body shaping has for long been represented by thermal modalities such as cryolipolysis, low-level laser therapy (LLLT), radiofrequency (RF) and high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU). Lately, there has been an outbreak of studies describing non-thermal high-intensity focused electromagnetic (HIFEM) technology for body shaping.
Materials / method: To review and compare the leading techniques in body shaping and its outcomes, the terms ‘non-invasive’, ‘cryolipolysis’, ‘radio frequency’, ‘ultrasound’, ‘low-level laser’, ‘HIFEM’ and ‘electromagnetic’ were used along with ‘fat reduction’ and ‘body contour’ during the search in the PubMed database. We identified 42 prospective studies investigating thermal and non-thermal modalities for body contouring which used quantitative assessment such as circumferential, fat thickness or muscle thickness measurements.
Results: In fat reduction, HIFEM technology yields competitive results when compared to the thermal modalities, but does not outstrip the results of RF or cryolipolysis. Although HIFEM technology does not surpass the thermal technologies in fat reduction, it has a benefit of simultaneous thickening of the underlying muscles. The circumferential reduction by HIFEM is comparable to the non-thermal modalities, due to fat reduction and muscle tightening effect. In addition, treatments by thermal modalities are often accompanied by adverse events, while the HIFEM studies did not report any.
Conclusion: Thermal devices appear to be more effective for fat reduction, but non-thermal technology makes it up by its simultaneous effect on fat and muscle. The non-thermal technology may extend the scope of instruments for the doctors to more successfully fulfill the goals of their patients.
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