Abdominal Contour Improvement after Simultaneous Application of Hifem and Synchronized Radiofrequency
The contour of the lateral abdomen (also referred to as flanks or love handles) is formed by the muscles, which stabilize the core and spine, and also by the depots of fat tissue, which increase with age. Excess fat tissue and deconditioned muscles result in displeasing abdominal contour and difficulty to find fitting clothes. The simultaneous application of HIFEM and synchronized radiofrequency (RF) has been shown to be safe and effective in both muscle strengthening and fat reduction in the front part of the abdominal area. Therefore, the study aims to investigate the efficiency and safety of the HIFEM+RF procedure for the sculpting of the lateral abdomen.
Methods/Technique:
This prospective, multi-center, open-label, single-arm study is enrolling up to 75 participants. All patients are scheduled to undergo four 30-minutes treatments spaced once a week, with planned 1-month and 3-month follow-up visits after the last treatment. The primary evaluation includes the assessment of changes in the oblique muscle and adipose tissue thickness and cross-sectional area (CSA) by magnetic resonance images (MRI) taken at baseline and respective follow-ups. The secondary outcomes include the circumference measurements, digital photographs of the treated area, Subject Satisfaction Questionnaire (5-point Liker scale), and Therapy Comfort Questionnaire (5-point Liker scale and 10-point visual analogue pain scale). Finally, adverse events and side effects are monitored.
Results/Complications:
MRI scans of 14 patients were evaluated at 1-month follow-up. The muscle tissue showed a substantial increase in thickness (+22.0%) and CSA (+22.4%). The adipose tissue measurements showed a decrease of -26.5% in CSA and -25.9% in thickness. The secondary outcomes showed a -3.3 cm reduction in waist circumference with 96.0% of patients reporting visible improvement in the treated area. Additionally, 97.7% of patients found the treatment comfortable and virtually painless while no adverse effects were seen.
Conclusion:
Based on the interim evaluation, the study suggests that the simultaneous application of HIFEM and synchronized radiofrequency is safe and effective for the reduction of adipose tissue and muscle strengthening in the area of the lateral abdomen.