Abstract
The global and Korean obesity rates are increasing, leading to heightened risks of cardiovascular diseases. Abdominal obesity, in particular, is strongly associated with cardiovascular risks and metabolic syndrome. Although surgical options are available, non-invasive body contouring devices offer lower-risk alternatives. However, evidence regarding their effectiveness in managing abdominal obesity in Koreans is limited. This study evaluates the impact of these techniques on reducing abdominal circumference and subcutaneous fat volume, emphasizing both absolute and relative changes. This retrospective pilot study analyzed data from 9 women participants aged ≥ 18 years treated at Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital's Well Aging Center in 2023. Participants underwent ultrasound-based body contouring and radiofrequency-based skin tightening. Pre- and post-treatment measurements included waist circumference and abdominal fat areas assessed via CT scans. Statistical analyses were conducted using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. The treatments significantly reduced waist circumference (absolute: -3.82 cm; relative: -4.35%, p < 0.01), maximum waist circumference (absolute: -3.91 cm; relative: -4.14%, p < 0.01), superficial fat area (absolute: -18.90 cm²; relative: -7.19%, p < 0.01), and total fat area (absolute: -20.38 cm²; relative: -5.67%, p < 0.01). These consistent reductions in both absolute and relative terms underscore the robustness of the treatment effects on superficial fat layers. However, visceral fat area did not show statistically significant changes (absolute: -1.48 cm²; relative: -1.46%, p > 0.05). Ultrasound-based body contouring and radiofrequency-based skin tightening are effective non-invasive methods for reducing abdominal circumference and subcutaneous fat volume in Korean women with abdominal obesity, as evidenced by significant absolute and relative improvements. Future research should focus on optimizing treatment protocols, conducting comparative studies with other methods, and evaluating long-term outcomes to establish their clinical utility further.