Miller DL, et al. (2012). Overview of therapeutic ultrasound applications and safety considerations.

You know how Sonic, the Hedgehog, runs fast? He keeps a slim body! Follow Sonic as he tries to complete the various stages after gaining some weight in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 XL! Feed Sonic some onion rings and watch him become fatter and fatter in this funny game. Ultrasonic cavitation tones the body using radio frequencies and low-frequency ultrasonic waves. These waves form bubbles around fat deposits under the skin. The bubbles then burst, breaking the fat deposits into the interstitial and the lymphatic systems where they are drained. The fat deposits are changed into glycerol and free fatty acids. Glycerol is then reused by the body while free fatty acids travel to the liver and are excreted as waste. A small 2019 study tested the effectiveness of ultrasonic cavitation for 50 women who were considered medically overweight. The broken-down fat cells go from the body to the liver where they are excreted as waste. This method of treatment is used along with other weight loss programs to help with getting rid of excessive fat. It is a preferred method to other invasive procedures of eliminating body fat. It is important to note that your weight could return if you consume a high- calorie diet. How Does it Work? Most UALs are done on an outpatient basis. You can expect to have the surgery in a medical office and go home the same day. If your surgeon is covering a large area, they may conduct the procedure at a hospital instead.Ultrasonic cavitation is advertised as being extremely convenient because recovery is minimal and side effects are rare. This procedure involves applying pressure on fat cells through ultrasonic vibrations. The pressure is high enough to make the fat cells break down into a liquid form. The body can then get rid of it as waste through your urine. However, the authors of the same study found that about 35 percent ended up gaining weight. Much of these gains happened within the first year of the procedure. The authors recommend lifestyle counseling before and after UAL to help prevent weight gain. Masoumi Lari SJ, et al. (2010). Determinants ofpatient satisfaction with ultrasound-assisted liposuction. DOI:

This treatment varies in effectiveness, and more clinical trials are needed to have a clear understanding of how well it works. Ultrasonic cavitation is meant to target small areas of fat and help contour your body. It isn’t a treatment for people who are trying to lose a lot of weight. Participants all saw a reduction in body fat mass after three treatments. The treated body fat area was reduced in size by one to three centimeters at the conclusion of the study. Arabpour-Dahoue M, et al. (2019). Leptin level decreases after treatment with the combination of Radiofrequency and Ultrasound cavitation in response to the reduction in adiposity. DOI: How long do ultrasonic cavitation sessions last? Since the procedure is customized according to an individual's needs, it might take longer for some than others. However, the standard treatment should be completed in one to three sessions with two weeks between every session depending on the treatment. Each session is around 45 to 75 minutes. It takes about 6 to 12 weeks to see the results of ultrasonic cavitation.After a few days, the fat cells are absorbed by your lymphatic system and drained as waste from your body. Your surgeon will give you some instructions prior to the procedure. At this appointment, make sure you tell them about all supplements and medications you take. They’ll likely ask you to stop taking blood-thinning drugs — including ibuprofen (Advil) — several days before your surgery. There are very few risks associated with this procedure, but that doesn’t mean that there are no side effects. Ultrasonic cavitation, or ultrasound cavitation, is a cosmetic procedure that’s used to break apart fat deposits in your body. The treatment claims to work as an effective, less invasive alternative to liposuction. Safety Bruising and pain are common short-term side effects, and some people have loose skin or dimples and waves in their skin after healing from this treatment. Convenience