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Review
. 2021 Jul;20(7):2096-2101.
doi: 10.1111/jocd.14203. Epub 2021 May 19.

The role and clinical benefits of high-intensity focused electromagnetic devices for non-invasive lipolysis and beyond: A narrative review and position paper

David J Goldberg  1   2 , Kaitlyn M Enright  3 , Richard Goldfarb  4 , Bruce Katz  2   5 , Michael Gold  6   7
Affiliations
Review

The role and clinical benefits of high-intensity focused electromagnetic devices for non-invasive lipolysis and beyond: A narrative review and position paper

David J Goldberg et al. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2021 Jul.

Abstract

Background: In 2018, the first device to use high-intensity focused electromagnetic (HIFEM) technology to non-invasively build muscle was brought to market. Even more recently, the first HIFEM and radiofrequency combination device designed to both build muscle and eliminate fat cells came into use (HIFEM+). In view of the increase in recently published original data pertaining to HIFEM, an advisory board recently convened to discuss the group's clinical experiences with this technology.

Aim: Communicate an advisory group's recommendations for the current use of HIFEM+ technology for aesthetic indications.

Methods: An advisory board meeting to discuss challenges and opportunities for HIFEM devices in aesthetic medicine took place in November 2020, via remote conference. The expert advisory board consisted of a group of senior aesthetic physicians regularly treating patients with non-invasive body contouring devices. A narrative review of the literature and key recommendations from the meeting are presented herein.

Results: To date, the combined results of several clinical studies (including over 500 patients and 30 investigators) support that patients treated with HIFEM+ experience on average, 30% less fat, 25% more muscle, 19% reduction in abdominal separation and up to 5.9 cm reduction in waist circumference. Moreover, HIFEM+ induces a 30% increase in satellite cell content, which is similar to the 36% increase observed following twelve weeks of exercise.

Conclusions: The advisory board unanimously agreed on several messages related to HIFEM technology, including that the pairing of HIFEM and radiofrequency (HIFEM+) enables a higher intensity of muscle stimulation and lipolysis, compared to HIFEM alone.

Keywords: aesthetic medicine; lipolysis; noninvasive.

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References

REFERENCES

    1. Jacob C, et al. Abdominal toning and reduction of subcutaneous fat with combination of novel radiofrequency treatment and HIFEM procedure - MRI scan study. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, 2020 Virtual Meeting.
    1. Katz B, et al. Radiofrequency heating and HIFEM delivered simultaneously - the first sham-controlled randomized trial. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, 2020 Virtual Meeting.
    1. Denkova RUS. Food and Drug Administration. 510(k) Premarket Notification: K192224. Ultrasound evaluation of the simultaneous RF and HIFEM treatments on human fat tissue. Published online on December 5, 2019.
    1. Franco W, Kothare A, Ronan SJ, Grekin RC, McCalmont TH. Hyperthermic injury to adipocyte cells by selective heating of subcutaneous fat with a novel radiofrequency device: feasibility studies. Lasers Surg Med. 2010;42(5):361-370.
    1. Jacob CI, Rank B. Abdominal remodeling in postpartum women by using a high-intensity focused electromagnetic (HIFEM) procedure: an investigational magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) pilot study. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2020;13(9):20.

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