Focused ultrasound is a noninvasive, therapeutic technology with the potential to improve the quality of life and decrease the cost of care for patients with obesity. This novel technology focuses beams of ultrasound energy precisely and accurately on targets in the body without damaging surrounding normal tissue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How it Works<\/strong> Preclinical research and trials in human volunteers have demonstrated that FUS can safely remove adipose tissue. To date, most studies have only been performed in non-obese individuals for the purposes of body contouring. Further studies are needed to evaluate the potential of FUS as a fat-reducing treatment in obese patients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Advantages<\/strong> For certain patients, focused ultrasound could provide a noninvasive alternative to surgery with less risk of complications \u2013 such as surgical wound healing or infection \u2013 at a lower cost. It can reach the desired target without damaging surrounding tissue and is repeatable, if necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is a clinical trial<\/strong><\/a> in Utah that is using low intensity focused ultrasound to help with the cravings for food that often accompany those with obesity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There is a clinical trial<\/strong><\/a> in Egypt for sleep qualities in obese women with double chin anatomy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There is a clinical trial<\/strong><\/a> in Egypt for obese men and the impact on electromagnetic body shaping on their metabolism. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Foundation updates these pages regularly, but with the increasing number of clinical trials, we want to be sure that our audience has the latest information available. Therefore, we also added the website search information for the above trials. If you click here<\/strong><\/a>, it will take you to the latest information available from https:\/\/www.clinicaltrials.gov\/<\/a><\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Focused ultrasound treatment for obesity is not yet approved by regulatory bodies or covered by medical insurance companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wu Z, Wang Y, Li W, Zhang W, Zhu L. A Clinical Early Evaluation of the Combined Use of Low-Intensity Focused Ultrasound and Radiofrequency for Female Abdominal Contouring<\/strong><\/a>. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2025 Jul;24(7):e70267. doi: 10.1111\/jocd.70267. PMID: 40671557\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Welc N, Owczarek M, Ja\u0142owska M, Da\u0144czak-Pazdrowska A. High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound-Application, Effects and Complications<\/a><\/strong>. Australas J Dermatol. 2025 Mar 17. doi: 10.1111\/ajd.14454. PMID: 40095285 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Tang J, Chen L, Zhang S, Shao H, Wang L, Wang C, Chen Q, Hou Y, Liao X, Song M, Zhang C, Zhang X, Yang J, Li W. Efficacy and safety of non-focused low-intensity ultrasound technology for subcutaneous lipolysis in the lower abdomen: a clinical study<\/strong><\/a>. Postgrad Med J. 2025 Jan 22:qgaf008. doi: 10.1093\/postmj\/qgaf008. PMID: 39838845 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Filippou A, Louca I, Damianou C. Characterization of a fat tissue mimicking material for high intensity focused ultrasound applications<\/strong><\/a>. J Ultrasound. 2023 Jun;26(2):505-515. doi: 10.1007\/s40477-022-00746-4. Epub 2022 Nov 21. PMID: 36414928 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Badran S, Doi SA, Iskeirjeh S, Aljassem G, Jafarian N, Clark J, Habib AM, Glass GE. Metabolic changes after nonsurgical fat removal: A dose response meta-analysis<\/strong><\/a>. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2023 Feb;77:68-77. doi: 10.1016\/j.bjps.2022.10.054. Epub 2022 Nov 11. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Byun KA, Park HJ, Oh S, Batsukh S, Sun HJ, Kim T, Kim S, Kang D, Son KH, Byun K. High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Decreases Subcutaneous Fat Tissue Thickness by Increasing Apoptosis and Autophagy<\/strong><\/a>. Biomolecules. 2023 Feb 18;13(2):392. doi: 10.3390\/biom13020392.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Swietlik JF, Knott EA, Longo KC, Zlevor AM, Zhang X, Laeseke PF, Reeder SB, Xu Z, Lee FT Jr, Ziemlewicz TJ. Histotripsy of Subcutaneous Fat in a Live Porcine Model<\/a>.<\/strong> Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 2023 Jan;46(1):120-127. doi: 10.1007\/s00270-022-03262-4. Epub 2022 Sep 12. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Where the beams converge, focused ultrasound produces several therapeutic effects that are being evaluated. One mechanism is the production of precise ablation (thermal destruction of tissue). A second mechanism is the ability to produce mechanical fractionation\/liquefaction of tissue, which is a non-thermal process. A third mechanism that has shown promise in preclinical research is focused ultrasound stimulation of liver cells.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The primary options for treatment of obesity are dietary restriction and exercise, medications and for severe cases, invasive surgical procedures such as gastric bypass.<\/p>\n\n\n\nClinical Trials<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Regulatory Approval and Reimbursement<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Notable Papers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n