Body Contouring Treatments

Fat reduction and sculpting—a catchall term for various means of reshaping the body—are the main concerns patients have when seeking out non-surgical body contouring. Yet there can be other benefits, such as skin tightening, muscle toning, and an improvement in the texture and tone of the skin. Common techniques used by providers include energy-based treatments that heat tissue (radiofrequency, ultrasound, laser), cooling procedures (cryolipolysis), light therapies, electromagnetic stimulation, and injectables.

Let’s take a look at each technique:

• Radiofrequency (RF), ultrasound therapy and laser therapy: Although the technologies differ significantly, all three of these techniques use a controlled source of energy to heat and reduce fat cells underneath the skin, stimulate collagen production and tighten the body’s skin surface. As we age or experience weight loss, the skin can lose elasticity and appear droopy. These techniques give the skin a boost, leading the body to feel firmer and more toned.
• Cryolipolysis: This is a big word with a simple meaning: fat freezing. The procedure targets stubborn pockets of fat by exposing them to cold temperatures without harming the surrounding tissues. Procedures like CoolSculpting®, perhaps the best-known brand, gently cool the fat cells, causing them to gradually break down and be eliminated by your body’s natural processes.
• Light Therapy: Similar to fat freezing, light therapy uses special light pads with LED lights to open pores in the fat cell walls, gradually releasing their contents. The body then reabsorbs and releases the depleted tissues. A popular brand is UltraSlim®, which uses the red light wavelength.
• Electromagnetic stimulation: Therapies like EmSculpt® use pulsed electromagnetic fields to induce muscle contractions at a far more intense level than you’d experience during normal exercise. This stimulates muscle growth, which can lead to better definition over time, and leads to fat reduction in the targeted area.
• Injectables: Some treatments come in the form of injectables that can target fat in a very specific area. Kybella®, for example, is an injectable treatment that uses deoxycholic acid, a synthetic form of a naturally occurring substance, to dissolve fat cells beneath the chin or other discrete parts of the body.

The body’s size and shape can, of course, be altered through changes to one’s diet, regular exercise and, more recently, medicines such as GLP-1 agonists Ozempic® and Mounjaro®.  Body contouring options are also a beneficial option, particularly when traditional weight loss methods fail to target stubborn, localized pockets of fat, or when you’re already at your ideal body weight but wish to improve tone and definition in specific areas.

When discussing the myriad options and your desired results with a healthcare professional, visual aids can be very helpful. A provider typically has examples to share, but you can find images on your own, too. Pictures that resemble your body type can be especially helpful. For example: before and after images of prior patients who have received the treatment in question.

In order to choose the best therapy, it’s also important to discuss general lifestyle and medical history with your physician. What are your dietary and exercise habits? Have you had previous treatments done to help achieve your desired body shape? What is the timeline in which you would like to see results? Is this a “tune-up” for a big upcoming event, or is the aim more long-term, sustainable change?

The experience of these therapies will differ, but regardless of which you choose, it’s crucial to work with an experienced provider. There can be complications (like skin irritation, burns or muscle injury) if the intensity of the treatment isn’t optimized.

In many places, only licensed professionals, including doctors and nurse practitioners, can perform these procedures. Whoever is offering the service should have gone through specialized training, provided the manufacturer or otherwise. And a board certification in a related field like dermatology or plastic surgery is always a plus.

Before you go

In addition to discussing your lifestyle and medical history with your provider, be sure to ask questions that ensure you fully understand the procedure, its outcomes, and any associated risks or limitations. Leading up the procedure, you may need to avoid certain medications, such as blood-thinners, so be sure to discuss any medicines you’re currently taking, as well.

Your provider may have other instructions, such as avoiding sun exposure or using certain skincare products. Be sure to follow these guidelines closely.

During the procedure

The vast majority of these treatments are performed in the office setting and are well-tolerated when performed by an experienced professional.

The procedure itself will vary based on the method and device used. But in many cases, an applicator and gel will be placed on the targeted area, and you may feel a warmth or tingling sensation as the external energy is applied. (In the case of CoolSculpting®, you will feel a cold sensation instead of heat.) Often, patients describe feeling a gentle pressure akin to a massage.

The duration of the procedures varies as well, though many can be completed in under an hour.

Aftercare

After these procedures, there is typically little to no downtime, though you may experience some redness, bruising, numbness, or mild discomfort in the treated areas.

Results are usually seen gradually over the course of a few weeks, as fat cells are gradually eliminated through your body’s natural processes.The duration of results and the need for upkeep treatments can vary depending on the specific body contouring treatment. For most options, including many discussed here, the results can be long-lasting because the fat cells are permanently eliminated.

It is important to note, however, that individual results may vary and that fat cells surrounding the treated area can still expand if you gain weight. The specific duration of results will depend on factors such as lifestyle, weight management, and the natural aging processes.