Is Alesis OSA1 painful? What does procedure feel like?
The OSA1 has no pain or discomfort. There's no downtime. It's a warming sensation. It elevates skin temperature by approximately 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit.
Where on the body/tissue is the treatment applied?
It's applied to the upper chest, neck, and open mouth with the tongue extended.
Is Alesis OSA1 FDA-cleared and what does that mean?
When the FDA authorizes medications, they are described as "FDA approved." For example, a drug like Mounjaro is FDA approved for specific medical indications. Medical devices, however, follow a different pathway. Instead of being approved, they are typically "FDA cleared," meaning the device has been reviewed and determined to be safe and substantially equivalent to existing technologies.
The OSA1 device is FDA cleared and currently holds three clearances. The first was as a powered laser surgical instrument for use in hospitals and medical clinics. The second clearance was for fat reduction, which is the mechanism being used in the treatment of OSA.
Is it safe for people with other medical conditions?
One important consideration is that we avoid treating areas with active cancer.
We also do not treat patients who have light sensitivity that could cause adverse reactions to the therapy.
These would be considered the primary contraindications for treatment.
How soon do patients see the improvement in sleep quality?
We often see benefits in submental fat almost immediately
This happens because low-density fat—such as the fat found in the neck, breast area, or upper thighs—can respond very quickly to the treatment, producing noticeable early changes.
In fact, the engineer who built the first OSA1 device tried it on himself—without formal authorization—and after a single treatment, his wife reported that his snoring stopped.
Some patients may notice meaningful improvements even after the first treatment. However, the full protocol consists of six treatments, delivered twice per week over three weeks. By the end of this three-week course, we expect to see the full therapeutic benefit.
How much can it reduce the AHI (Apnea-Hypopnea Index)?
We have observed reductions of up to 85%. In terms of supporting evidence, we currently have sleep studies demonstrating real improvements. A summary of the available results can be found at alesismedical.com.
Do I have to lose overall body weight to benefit?
One of the unique aspects of OSA1 is that it directly targets the fat contributing to airway obstruction. Physicians have long known that significant weight loss can greatly improve sleep apnea. For example, if someone weighs 300 pounds and loses 100 pounds, their sleep apnea often improves substantially.
What OSA1 does is shrink the localized fat in the neck and mouth that contributes to airway blockage. In effect, it can create a similar benefit to major weight loss in those specific areas—without the patient having to lose a single pound overall.
Are there restrictions on food, alcohol, or activity after treatment?
No.
Are payment plans available?
Yes. Patient financing is widely available, with payments typically starting at $99 a month. Ask your provider for options.
Does it really work vs. CPAP?
CPAP therapy can allow people with OSA to sleep more comfortably and experience major health benefits because they are no longer suffering the effects of untreated sleep apnea. In many cases, it can significantly extend life expectancy.
However, the challenge is that many patients simply will not use CPAP. For example, a physician recently treated a 35-year-old patient in Hawaii who is morbidly obese and has severe sleep apnea. The concern is that, without effective treatment, it's difficult to imagine him living to age 45. CPAP could potentially help him—but he refuses to wear it.
This leaves physicians searching for other options for patients like him, because living with untreated OSA is extremely dangerous. On average, sleep apnea can shorten life expectancy by about seven years.
Beyond that, the quality of life also suffers. Poor sleep affects cognitive function, concentration, and daytime alertness, which can lead to issues like fatigue, reduced productivity, and even accidents such as falling asleep while driving.
Will the doctor bill my insurance for the procedure?
No. This is not covered under insurance. It's, paid for by the patient, either cash, credit card. or with patient financing, such as CareCredit, Cherry, or Affirm.
Can it eliminate snoring?
Yes.
In some cases, snoring is eliminated entirely. In others, it is reduced.
Is it better than traditional sleep apnea treatments?
Traditional treatments for sleep apnea include surgery, dental appliances, or CPAP therapy. OSA1 offers a potentially superior alternative for overweight patients.
Compared with CPAP, surgery, or implantable devices, OSA1 is non-invasive, non-touch, and can provide a lasting effect. It directly targets the fat contributing to airway obstruction, improving breathing without the discomfort or complexity of other treatments.
What about weight gain? Significant weight gain—say 50 pounds or more—can impact breathing, because extra fat can accumulate in areas that affect the airway. Small weight changes, such as 5 to 10 pounds, generally do not make a difference.
Fat distribution varies among individuals: some gain in the abdomen, some in the chest or hips, but importantly, very little tends to accumulate in the upper airway. That's why OSA1's targeted fat reduction can have such a lasting impact, even if overall body weight fluctuates slightly.
What is Alesis OSA1 and how does it work?
Alesis OSA1 is the first non-invasive treatment designed to address the root cause of OSA by reducing localized fat where it matters most. Alesis OSA1 reduces fat deposits in the tongue, throat, and neck, helping to open the airway and improve breathing during sleep.
How does Alesis OSA1 differ from CPAP, oral appliances, or surgery?
There are two main types of surgery for OSA. One involves repositioning the jaw when it is not properly aligned. In this procedure, surgeons move or extend the jaw and may add bone to create more space in the airway. The second type of surgery involves implantable devices, such as Inspire. These are electronic implants placed in the body, with a wire that connects to the tongue and stimulates it to help keep the airway open during sleep. The device runs on a battery that typically needs to be replaced with surgery every 5 to 10 years.
There are also non-surgical options. One approach is a dental appliance—similar to what Joe Rogan has mentioned—that you wear while sleeping. It's a plastic device placed in the mouth that moves the jaw forward to improve breathing. Another common option is CPAP or BiPAP therapy, which uses pressurized airflow delivered through a mask and hose connected to the face to help keep the airway open during sleep. However, none of these approaches directly target the fat that contributes to airway obstruction.
Alesis OSA1 is designed to address this root cause. OSA1 is a non-invasive treatment that reduces localized fat deposits in the tongue, throat, and neck. The treatment is painless, involves no downtime, and produces only a mild warming sensation, raising skin temperature by about 1.5°F. The therapy is applied to the upper chest and neck, and also inside the mouth with the tongue extended.
Are there before/after studies (MRI, sleep studies) showing real changes?
Wang et al., AJRCCM (2020): "Effect of Weight Loss on Upper Airway Anatomy and the Apnea-Hypopnea Index: The Importance of Tongue Fat" includes MRI volumetric analysis demonstrating that a 32% weight loss produces a 48% reduction in tongue fat (14,126mm³ to 7,337mm³), with a corresponding 80% decrease in AHI (121 to 24.6). Alesis OSA1 addresses submental and tongue fat which reposition the tongue and also addresses upper airway fat that reduces air flow patency.
In multi-site IRB clinical trials NCT06949969 (Alesis OSA-1 Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treatment), researchers found that 100% of subjects experienced a reduction in neck circumference and 80% experienced a substantial reduction in AHI (51% to 85%).
What clinical evidence confirms effectiveness?
In multi-site IRB clinical trials NCT06949969 (Alesis OSA-1 Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treatment), researchers found that 100% of subjects experienced a reduction in neck circumference and 80% experienced a substantial reduction in AHI (51% to 85%).
Wang et al., AJRCCM (2020): "Effect of Weight Loss on Upper Airway Anatomy and the Apnea-Hypopnea Index: The Importance of Tongue Fat" includes MRI volumetric analysis demonstrating that a 32% weight loss produces a 48% reduction in tongue fat (14,126mm³ to 7,337mm³), with a corresponding 80% decrease in AHI (121 to 24.6). Alesis OSA1 addresses submental and tongue fat which reposition the tongue and also addresses upper airway fat that reduces air flow patency.
Contraindications in special populations
Contraindications include active cancer in the area to be treated and certain photosensitive conditions or medications.
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