Technology 01 — Ultrasound
Ultrasound cavitation, delivered by fixed applicators
AdipoXtrem uses dual-level low-frequency ultrasound, 30 kHz and 40 kHz, emitted by applicators that stay on the area. Here is what the technology involves, what is specific to the device and what its limits are.
Short answer
Aesthetic cavitation applies low-frequency ultrasound (tens of kilohertz) to the skin. Salons and clinics use it to target localised subcutaneous fat and improve body shape. On AdipoXtrem, ultrasound is delivered at 30 and 40 kHz by applicators that are not moved by hand during the session.
The physics
Ultrasound is a mechanical pressure wave above the range of human hearing (beyond roughly 20 kHz). As it travels through a liquid it creates alternating compression and rarefaction. During rarefaction, microscopic gas bubbles can form and oscillate: this is cavitation.
In aesthetics, so-called low-frequency cavitation is used to act mechanically on subcutaneous adipose tissue without breaking the skin. It differs from high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), which concentrates energy at a focal point to produce a thermal effect — a technology AdipoXtrem does not use.
Why two frequencies?
According to the manufacturer's documentation, AdipoXtrem offers 40 kHz, presented for more superficial layers, and 30 kHz, presented for deeper layers. This follows a general physical principle: at comparable power, a lower-frequency wave is attenuated less by tissue and tends to act more deeply.
We do not publish depth figures: effective depth depends on power, coupling, tissue thickness and emitter geometry, and has not been measured and documented for the device to date.
Fixed applicators versus a handpiece
Manual cavitation relies on a handpiece moved continuously, usually in circles, over one area at a time. This repetitive movement, performed standing for the whole session, is a well-known source of fatigue for therapists.
AdipoXtrem secures applicators on the areas to be treated and controls emission from the console, so several areas can be treated in one appointment. The documentation calls this combination of fixed applicators and two frequencies “multi-level stationary ultrasound”.
Note. Emission from a stationary emitter is governed by programme parameters (intensity, duration, cycles). Following the instructions for use and the settings taught in training is essential.
What the literature says
Reviews of non-invasive body contouring list ultrasound among the technologies used for localised fat, alongside cryolipolysis, radiofrequency and low-level light. They also stress that evidence varies widely between technologies and devices, and that these techniques address localised adiposity rather than weight loss [1] [2] [3].
Important These publications concern cavitation in general or other devices. They are not evidence of AdipoXtrem's efficacy; no device-specific clinical study is claimed to date.
Limits and precautions
- Cavitation is an aesthetic treatment, not an obesity treatment or a weight-loss method.
- Results vary with the individual, lifestyle and adherence to the protocol.
- Some situations contraindicate treatment (pregnancy, implanted electronic devices, skin lesions on the area, etc.).
Safety and contraindications →
Sources
- Ortiz AE, Avram MM. Noninvasive body contouring: cryolipolysis and ultrasound. Semin Cutan Med Surg. 2015;34(3):129-133. doi:10.12788/j.sder.2015.0171
- Alizadeh Z, et al. Non-invasive Body Contouring Technologies: An Updated Narrative Review. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2024;48(4):659-679. doi:10.1007/s00266-023-03647-x
- Mulholland RS, Paul MD, Chalfoun C. Noninvasive body contouring with radiofrequency, ultrasound, cryolipolysis, and low-level laser therapy. Clin Plast Surg. 2011;38(3):503-520. doi:10.1016/j.cps.2011.05.002
References identified via PubMed.