Kim Kardashian says she got 'painful' laser treatment to tighten her stomach and it was a 'game-changer.' Here's how it works.

• Kim Kardashian said she received Morpheus laser treatment to tighten her stomach. 
• Writing on Instagram, she described the experience as "painful" and a "game-changer."
• The procedure combines microneedling and radiofrequency waves, and it actually does not involve a laser, experts said.

Experts have weighed in on the "game-changer" Morpheus laser treatment that Kim Kardashian said she received to tighten her stomach muscles.

Kardashian shared a photo of her stomach on her Instagram story after receiving the treatment on Wednesday from Dr. Ashkan Ghavami at the non-surgical beauty clinic GPS Aesthetics in Beverly Hills. 

She captioned it: "This is a game changer!!! I did Morpheus laser to tighten my stomach at @DrGhavami's spa @gpsaesthetics. I think this is my fave laser but it's painful lol but worth it!"

Morpheus8 is is a skin tightening, lifting, and contouring procedure that can be executed on areas of the skin with wrinkles, discoloration, or acne scarring, according to The Cosmetic Skin Clinic in London. The procedure combines microneedling and radiofrequency energy for a two-in-one overall sculpting effect.

The FDA-approved procedure uses microneedles to stimulate collagen production

While laser treatments usually target the surface layer of the skin, radiofrequency waves can penetrate three targeted skin layers in one cycle, aesthetic practioner Lee Garrett told Insider.

Heating the tissue under the skin causes a remolding of fat and a contraction of connective tissue, while microneedles stimulate collagen production to further tighten the skin.

Morpheus8 was cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration in August 2020, based on favorable safety and efficacy results for full-body fat sculpting. Since it's a new technology, there is not any evidence on long-term effects documented in scientific literature.

Users say they see results in 3 weeks, and dermatologists recommend at least 3 sessions

Based on patient reviews on Real Self, a platform for people considering elective cosmetic procedures, Morpheus skin-tightening results take up to three weeks to kick in and last for about a year on average. Dermatologists typically recommend at least three sessions, totaling about $1,850, according to Real Self.

Some redness is to be expected for a few days after the procedure, but the recommended downtime is minimal compared to more invasive procedures.

The procedure is carried out with numbing cream to avoid discomfort, with the aim of rejuvenating the texture and tone of the skin, Grazia previously reported. 

Radiofrequency and ultrasound skin treatments are growing in popularity because they are relatively quick, minimally invasive, and produce natural-looking results, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Ultrasound waves can reach deeper into the skin's support structures compared to radiofrequency waves, so the latter is usually recommended to younger individuals or those seeking subtle changes.

Kardashian has tried similar procedures before

It isn't the first time Kardashian has received a radiofrequency skin treatment from Ghavami, who is described as a world-renowned expert plastic surgeon on his practice's website. She posted photos with the surgeon in June and August 2021 after receiving Potenza microneedling treatments on her face, the Mail Online reported at the time.

Similar to Morpheus, Potenza combines microneedling with radiofrequency waves for a faster healing time and an extra boost in collagen production. The treatments are advertised to have similar effects.