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Efficacy and Safety of Microfocused Ultrasound With Visualization in Abdominal Skin Laxity: A Randomized, Comparative Study
Author(s) -
Vachiramon Vasanop,
Triyangkulsri Korn,
Iamsumang Wimolsiri,
Chayavichitsilp Pamela
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
lasers in surgery and medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1096-9101
pISSN - 0196-8092
DOI - 10.1002/lsm.23234
Subject(s) - medicine , ultrasound , abdomen , childbirth , surgery , radiology , pregnancy , biology , genetics
Background and Objectives Microfocused ultrasound with visualization (MFU‐V) has been approved for the treatment of skin laxity on several areas including the eyebrows, neck, and submental area. This study aims to determine the efficacy of MFU‐V for the treatment of abdominal skin laxity using two different treatment protocols. Study Design/Materials and Methods Thirty female patients with abdominal skin laxity were enrolled. Each side of the abdomen was randomly assigned to receive a single session of single‐plane MFU‐V treatment (4.5 mm) or dual‐plane MFU‐V treatment (4.5 and 3.0 mm). Improvement scores (0–10) were assigned by a blinded physician and patients at 1, 3, and 6 months after treatment. Results Twenty‐eight female patients completed the study. The physician‐evaluated mean improvement scores in single‐plane treatment were 3.03 (±1.26), 3.43 (±1.35), and 2.18 (±0.86) at 1‐, 3‐, and 6‐month follow‐up, respectively. For dual‐plane treatment, the scores were 3.11 (±1.23), 3.39 (±1.34), and 2.02 (±0.79). There was no statistically significant difference between single‐ and dual‐plane treatment at each time point. A similar pattern of improvement was observed in patient‐rated mean improvement scores. Patients who had undergone childbirth had significantly higher physician and patient‐rated mean improvement scores than those who had not in both single‐ and dual‐plane treatments. In addition, a significant reduction of mean waist circumference was observed in patients who had undergone childbirth. The median pain scores were 5.25 for single‐plane treatment and 4.29 for dual‐plane treatment ( P = 0.20). Conclusion Both single‐ and dual‐plane MFU‐V treatments showed comparable efficacies in treating abdominal skin laxity. The effect is more pronounced in patients who had undergone childbirth. Lasers Surg. Med. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.