What happens in an ultrasound body treatment?
A device applies sound energy to a body area. Depending on its design and intended use, ultrasound can act on tissue in different ways. FDA describes ultrasound contouring. Request the device name and patient information to understand the actual procedure.
Is cavitation the same as ultrasound skin tightening?
Ultrasound skin tightening can use heat in deeper skin to stimulate collagen. AAD explains that use. “Cavitation” refers to a physical phenomenon, rather than all ultrasound treatments. Read the physical definition. A skin-tightening result and a fat-reduction result answer different questions.
What evidence is there for fat reduction?
A 2013 study by Bani and colleagues examined human tissue and compared four weekly ultrasound treatments with sham treatment. It reported smaller fat cells, openings in their membranes and leakage of stored fat, alongside reduced abdominal skinfold measurements. Read the original study.
That is evidence about the studied equipment and protocol. It leaves the practical question of whether a salon uses the same device and method. A promise of a fixed centimetre loss needs its own supporting study, measurement method and follow-up.
What are the risks?
FDA lists burns and nerve damage among possible ultrasound-contouring complications. Read the ultrasound risk section. Ask who checks suitability, maintains the equipment and assesses symptoms afterwards. Obtain the specific device precautions before committing.
What should the price include?
Record the machine, area covered, treatment time, number of visits and any bundled RF or massage. “Cavitation package” gives you a label. An itemised quote gives you the service and quantity you can actually compare.
At the consultation, ask it this way
“When you say cavitation, what machine and method do you mean? Is RF or massage part of the quoted visit?”
Ask for a written breakdown. If they promise a centimetre loss, ask when it is measured and what happens if the claimed change does not occur. Treat an unexplained number as a sales claim.
If reception does not know the technical details, ask them to pass the question to the person responsible for the service. Arrange a professional assessment for personal risk and suitability questions.
Sources and further reading
- FDA: ultrasound and cavitation: Definition of cavitation; an older technical guide, rather than clinical outcome evidence.
- Bani et al.: ultrasound-induced cavitation: Original, device-specific tissue and treatment research.
- American Academy of Dermatology: skin tightening: Ultrasound used for skin tightening.
- FDA: non-invasive body contouring: Ultrasound-contouring risks.
Sources checked on 9 October 2026. US regulatory information explains the technology; Singapore requirements need a separate check.