With the rising demand for body contouring, noninvasive devices for fat reduction have
become increasingly popular and have grown dramatically over the past decade. Highintensity
focused ultrasound (HIFU) has been used for nearly half a century for the
noninvasive treatment of tumors of various organs, but has only recently been evaluated as
a method for the selective destruction of adipose tissue. HIFU works by ablating subcutaneous
adipose tissue and causing molecular vibrations that increase the temperature of
local tissue and induce rapid cell necrosis. Several studies reveal the safety and efficacy of
HIFU for fat reduction in the abdomen and the flanks. These studies indicate consistent
reduction in abdominal circumference >2 cm after a single treatment. The adverse events
are limited to transient tenderness, bruising, and edema. Increased utility of HIFU for fat
reduction will likely increase over time.