What Is truFlex and How Does It Work? - RealSelf (2024)

Written byKaryn RepinskiUpdated on January 29, 2024

truFlex by Cutera is a muscle-sculpting treatment that uses painless, low-energy pulses of bioelectric current to trigger muscle contractions, which build muscle strength and tone. Formerly known as truSculpt Flex, this noninvasive treatment is FDA-cleared for firming, strengthening, and toning the buttocks, inner and outer thighs, and abdominal muscles.

Other commonly treated areas include the flanks, arms, lower back, quads, hamstrings, and calves.

Each truFlex treatment stimulates up to eight muscle groups simultaneously, versus the one or two muscle groups that most muscle-stimulation treatments are limited to.

Clinical research shows that truFlex can achieve up to a 33% increase in muscle density after four treatments within a two-week period, along with a modest reduction in fat thickness. Another study found that it may reduce chronic lower back pain (due to having stronger core muscles) and age-related muscle hypertrophy.

RealSelf Tip: Because truFlex isn’t specifically designed to reduce fat, it’s often paired with truSculpt, which uses radiofrequency energy to destroy unwanted fat cells. This combination treatment is known as truBody.

The truFlex device works via technology known as multi-directional stimulation (MDS). Handpieces applied to targeted muscle groups send out pulses of low-level energy that contract the muscles (even deep muscles that may not be activated during normal exercise) more intensely than is possible by working out.

For instance, while a fit person may perform up to 100 crunches before the muscles are exhausted, a 15-minute truFlex treatment produces the equivalent of up to 54,000 abdominal crunches. These rapid contractions create microscopic tears in the muscle fibers, which the body repairs through a process known as hypertrophy. This natural repair process is what builds muscular size, strength, and tone.

The truFlex device has three treatment modes, to mimic workouts with intense twisting, squatting, and crunching for complete muscle stimulation. Your provider can customize your treatment settings to optimize your results, working through each mode during your session.

• Prep mode stimulates a twisting motion in the muscles, which warms them up.
• Tone mode causes muscles to contract and hold to the point of exhaustion, building endurance and increasing strength.
• Sculpt mode spurs full muscle contractions, to build up muscle mass (by increasing muscle fiber density) and boost your basal metabolic rate. With deep, sequential contractions of the muscles, it’s the most high-intensity mode.

Pros

• This nonsurgical treatment requires no anesthesia and comes with no downtime.
• Each treatment session is quick: just 15 minutes.
• Discomfort is minimal—in one study, participants rated it a 2.3 out of 10.
• Some people see results after just two sessions.
• Intensity can be increased over time as you gain more muscle, so truFlex can be customize to your fitness level, with buildable results
• The device’s 16 applicators allow simultaneous treatment of up to eight body areas, more than any muscle-sculpting treatment. It can also target specific muscle groups, which may lead to better results.
• It’s safe for all skin types and can be performed over tattoos.

Cons

• As with other muscle-building treatments, you’ll need multiple sessions in quick succession—four within a two-week period—for optimal results, followed by ongoing maintenance treatments every few months.
• While some results should be apparent by the time you have your fourth treatment, it can take 8–12 more weeks to see your final results.
• truFlex can help you reach your body-sculpting goals, but your muscles won’t be visible if they’re hidden under a layer of fat. If you need to get rid of excess stubborn fat, speak to your provider about pairing it with truSculpt or—for more immediate results at a higher cost—surgical liposuction.

• Average Cost:
• $1,975

You can expect to pay between $500 and $1,100 for a single truFlex treatment, depending on how many applicators are used, the number of treatment areas, your provider’s level of expertise, and their practice location.

You’ll also need to budget for maintenance treatments every 2 to 3 months, if you plan to keep up your results.

Most providers offer discounted packages for a series of treatments and membership plans, including the Flex Patient Club, for maintenance sessions.

The truFlex photos in our gallery have been shared by the provider who performed the procedure, with the patient's consent.

truFlex treatments are personalized to your fitness level and goals, so it’s suitable for exercise enthusiasts looking for next-level muscle definition, as well as for workout newbies seeking faster results.

That said, truFlex may not be right for some patients due to their medical history. It’s not recommended for people who are pregnant or have heart problems, pacemakers or implanted metal or electric devices, a history of seizure disorder or epilepsy, cancer, and swollen, infected, or inflamed skin.

Your provider will begin your treatment by placing up to 16 applicators in up to eight areas, depending on your individual needs and goals, explains Dr. Jason Emer, a dermatologic surgeon based in West Hollywood, California.

Once the treatment starts:

• You’ll feel the targeted muscles contracting rapidly.
• The sensation will become more intense as your provider gradually increases the settings.
• Most patients report the treatment is somewhat uncomfortablebut tolerable. You may experience a tingling, twitching, and/or tugging sensation.
• You may even begin to sweat, due to the amount of energy being absorbed by the muscles.
• As your muscles become stronger, future treatments will have higher intensity settings for optimal muscular development.

There’s no downtime after truSculpt Flex, so you’ll be able to resume all of your normal activities immediately. You will feel some soreness for a few days afterward, just as you would after an intense workout.

You should see results within the first four treatments over a period of two weeks, with continued improvement for up to 12 weeks post-treatment.

People who are already fit and don’t have much fat may see improvement after just one or two treatments.

As with any vigorous workout, you may experience mild muscle soreness for 24 to 72 hours after a truFlex treatment.

Other side effects are mild. They include redness where the applicators were attached, sweating, and mild tingling in the treated areas that should resolve within a few hours of your procedure.

There’s a lot of debate about the benefits of truFlex and other muscle-sculpting devices, such as Emsculpt and the newer Emsculpt Neo.

There are a few key differences. truFlex works with electrical stimulation, while Emsculpt (by BTL) uses electromagnetic stimulation to activate nerves that stimulate muscles.

Cutera says that the truFlex handpieces allow greater precision on the part of your provider, allowing them to stimulate specific muscle groups. They can also target up to eight body areas at a time, while electromagnetic body-contouring treatments like Emsculpt can only treat two areas at a time.

Another key difference: while truFlex is a muscle-sculpting and strength-building treatment with minor fat-reduction benefits, Emsculpt Neo both tones muscles and reduces fat. Emsculpt Neo clinical trials funded by BTL show not only a 25% increase in muscle mass, but a 30% reduction of fat in the treated area and a waist circumference reduction of up to 2.3 inches (5.9 cm) one month after treatment.

To see similar fat reduction benefits, you’ll need to pair truFlex with truSculpt, which has been shown via ultrasound to deliver a 24% reduction in fat thickness from a single treatment.