How truSculpt iD Works to Aid Fat Loss

Hello, Warriors! Welcome to The Breast Place blog and thank you for taking time out of your active schedule to visit! We appreciate our readers to the utmost degree, as we do our patients. Hopefully, you’re taking advantage of the current climate and enjoying our lovely city in autumn. If this is your first visit to The Breast Place blog, we cover a range of topics here. From breast cancer management to anti-aging skin treatments to helpful tips for maximizing your overall health and wellness—The Breast Place is committed to sharing the best health practices and treatment options with you! Our offices are open and our staff are prepared to answer any questions you may have about your health, your breast cancer risk, and how to reach your aesthetic goals. 

Our last article, ‘Scars and Skin Resurfacing,’ explored the various treatments available to those living with scars. From stretch marks to acne scars to burns—we detailed how different scars form within the layers of the skin. While select scars require invasive surgeries or skin grafts, the vast majority of scars can be treated with minimally invasive techniques, such as laser treatment and microneedling. We quoted research concerning the effect scars can have on our mental health, our confidence, and our day-to-day lives. Finally, we broke down just how advanced technologies like Secret RF penetrate deep within the skin to promote collagen production and stimulate healing. Skin resurfacing can improve skin texture, discoloration, and fine lines, in addition to making scars less noticeable. If you’ve been living with a scar you want gone, we suggest reading our last article to learn more about the options available to you!

Today, we’re highlighting another high-functioning aesthetic technology; the truSculpt iD from Cutera. Many individuals are interested in the benefits of body contouring, but are wary of mystical, “quick fix” treatments for weight loss. Well, we’re here to demystify the process of body sculpting. There’s no magic involved. Like other body contouring treatments, truSculpt is based in science. We want to explain how the treatment can help you melt off stubborn fat and tighten loose skin, giving you the results you’ve been striving for. In this article, we’ll also answer the most commonly asked questions about the procedure. What are the side effects? Does truSculpt actually work? How often should you receive treatment? Will the fat come back if you choose to stop treatment? How long will it take to see results? We’ll answer all of these questions and more, as we want you to feel fully-informed and confident about your decision to try body contouring. If you’ve been interested in this treatment for a while but weren’t totally sure you should go through with scheduling an appointment, this article is definitely for you!

How does truSculpt iD work?

Similar to Secret RF, truSculpt iD utilizes radio frequencies to achieve its stellar results. By sending low-frequency radio waves through the skin, truSculpt iD targets the fat layer underneath. The fat cells absorb the energy of the radio waves and begin to heat rapidly. When they reach a certain temperature, they become irreversibly damaged. Over the weeks following treatment, the damaged cells undergo apoptosis, or cell death. The body works to break down and eliminate the now dead tissue and, there you have it: fat loss.

Now, you’re probably asking yourself, how hot are these radio waves to essentially melt fat? Not as hot as you would think, actually. The radio waves are delivered uniformly to a sizable portion of skin. The skin is pressed to the underside of truSculpt iD’s applicators. These applicators constantly monitor the temperature of the patient’s skin, maintaining an ideal temperature of 43-45°C (109-113°F). While those numbers may seem quite high, keep in mind 159.8°F is the temperature at which skin burns and 145.4°F is the temperature used for hot wax in physical therapies. The temperature at which truSculpt iD operates is often compared to a heated massage. While you may sweat during treatment, you are unlikely to feel pain. 

So, how does truSculpt iD kill fat cells without the rest of our cells ending up as collateral damage? Simply put, the radio frequencies used by truSculpt iD are specifically designed to bypass nerves, blood vessels, and other kinds of tissue besides fat. TruSculpt iD targets the subcutaneous layer of fat, or up to 1.5 cm beneath the skin’s surface. According to clinical studies, the procedure induced fat necrosis at this level and resulted in significant fat reduction. Deemed safe by the FDA for body contouring use performed by certified professionals, truSculpt iD is a safe means for spot-reducing fat. In fact, twelve weeks post-treatment, the average amount of fat loss for truSculpt iD patients is 24% in the targeted area. 

Two of the best aspects of TruSculpt iD are its ease-of-use and quickness. There are numerous body sculpting or contouring technologies available on the market, such as Coolsculpting and Sculpsure, but only truSculpt iD takes a short fifteen minutes per session. Equipped with six applicators, each of which covers 300 cubic centimeters, the treatment area can include an entire abdomen or flank simultaneously. And, because the treatment time is so brief, you can squeeze multiple treatments into a single afternoon!

Another wonderful feature of TruSculpt iD is its skin-tightening capabilities. Fat loss—especially sudden fat loss—can lead to loose skin or even stretch marks. This is because the rapidity of the fat loss doesn’t leave the skin enough time to tighten naturally. Well, TruSculpt iD uses a type of radio frequency known as monopolar radio frequency. Monopolar basically means the radio frequencies are being emitted by a single pole. Monopolar radio frequency technologies have been approved by the FDA for skin tightening purposes. Since these waves tighten the skin, you don’t have to worry about loose skin in the areas you’re looking to sculpt. 

The treatment is simple and straight-forward. After a medical practitioner has prepared the targeted area for treatment, they’ll place the TruSculpt iD panels. A grounding pad will also be placed onto your back to ensure the conductivity necessary for the panels to work properly. For about fifteen minutes or so, you’ll feel like you have a heating pad pressed to the treatment area. Some people quite enjoy the feeling (especially in a cold treatment room)! Once finished, you’re done!

The side effects of TruSculpt iD are minimal. You may experience temporary redness around the treatment site or feel a lump. Any lump is likely to disappear with time and gentle rubbing. You may experience a bit of swelling or tenderness, but this shouldn’t last longer than twenty-four hours after treatment. Bruising isn’t common, nor is excessive soreness, therefore consult your practitioner if you experience either. You should drink plenty of water, but TruSculpt iD won’t keep you from continuing with normal day-to-day activities. There’s no downtime or recovery. After your fifteen minutes are up, you’re free to resume your life. 

Since all of the clinical studies regarding TruSculpt iD’s effectiveness have been based on a twelve-week period, we recommend waiting this long to judge results. Tell that to the people who say body sculpting is a “quick fix.” While some people may require the entire twelve weeks to see any changes, others find the effect of the treatment to be noticeable after five or six weeks. If you do choose to undergo a second or third treatment session, it is recommended you wait the requisite twelve weeks and consult the medical practitioner who performed your first treatment for assessment.

Body sculpting isn’t like laser hair treatment, which must be maintained every few months to ensure optimal results. Ideally, you’ll book an appointment to address a specific area of your body where you’re struggling to see results from eating healthily and exercising. Body contouring will help spot-reduce the fat in the targeted area. Body contouring will not, and should not, be used as a substitute for a well-balanced diet and exercise. While the fat cells destroyed by TruSculpt iD will not suddenly reappear, you can gain fat back in the areas which were spot reduced.

The holiday season and the new year are the most popular times to undergo body sculpting. “New year, new me,” right? But it’s never too early or late to invest in the body you want. If you’ve been struggling with a belly pouch, love handles, or any other fat deposit, and your desire is to see how your body would look sans those three to five pounds--TruSculpt iD is waiting for you! The Breast Place offers sculpting services, performed by certified medical professionals, for your body sculpting needs! Reach out to schedule your consultation, where we can discuss your aesthetic goals and share more information about TruSculpt iD with you! The Breast Place is committed to empowering women. We want you to look and feel your absolute best! Thank you for taking the time to read today’s article and we hope you’ll check back in for future posts about treatments, wellness, and more!