Body Contouring

You have tried every fad diet on the market.

You exercise five days a week and see minimal results.

You feel like you have exhausted all of your options in trying to become the most confident and secure version of yourself, yet you are still unhappy.

Body contouring might be the answer that you’re desperately searching for.

This article explains what science has to say about body contouring and how it can help you achieve the mental and physical results you’ve been after for so long.

What is Body Contouring?

Body contouring is a minimally invasive procedure used to help individuals reach their desired goals of fat loss. 

It is important to note that body contouring is not an alternative to a healthy lifestyle. 

Instead, it helps to strengthen muscles or eliminate the stubborn areas of excess fat that just won’t disappear, despite a good diet and frequent exercise.

How Does Body Contouring Work?

Candice has done all of the right things to try and get back in shape after putting on some unwanted weight in college. 

She eats healthy and exercises four days a week for a minimum of 30 minutes at a time, as recommended by her doctor.

Candice feels good about the food and work she is putting into her body, but she is extremely frustrated by the lack of mental and physical results. Specifically, the excess fat around her lower abdomen just won’t disappear even though she knows there are muscles underneath.

After some research, she comes across body contouring and finds herself wondering, “Does body contouring really work?”.

Yes, it really does. 

Although body contouring has generally required a surgical procedure in the past, nonsurgical body contouring has since become an option for ideal candidates.

Non-invasive body contouring assists in eliminating stubborn fat areas on the body and can be done in a variety of ways.

Laser Therapy 

A laser is used to smooth away fat deposits on the body by liquifying the fat cells and ultimately destroying them.

Cryolipolysis

Extreme cold is used to reduce fat deposits that are close to the surface of the skin in localized areas. The cold kills the cells in the subcutaneous fat tissue and reshapes the body without damaging the skin. Ideally, candidates of cryolipolysis are already close to their desired size but need a small push to get there.

Ultrasound Waves

High sound wave frequencies are delivered through ultrasound to target subcutaneous fat cells. The frequencies vibrate the cells and shatter them into material that is naturally disposed of by the body.

Scientific Article 1: “Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology”

A 2014 article, Cryolipolysis for noninvasive body contouring: clinical efficacy and patient satisfaction, shows that a variety of methods can be used to help reduce fat cells in specific targeted areas of the body, but each method has a different action as well as varying results.

Most commonly, cryolipolysis has proven to be both safe and effective. Up to 73% of patients are highly satisfied with their results after just one treatment.

Ultrasound wave therapy follows closely behind in patient satisfaction at 62.3%.

Scientific Article 2: “Aesthetic Surgery Journal”

Ultrasound wave therapy and the long-term effects were tested on a group of patients with more than 2.5cm of abdominal fat to reduce.

After 24 weeks of treatment and assessments, the patients were examined.

None of the patients had dimpling, scarring, or burns from the treatment. They only reported some swelling and minimal discomfort during the healing process.

Physically, the patients showed visual changes in fat reduction in the abdomen and laboratory tests also showed stable levels across a variety of tests.

Body Contouring Cost

The cost of body contouring can vary with each office depending on the type of procedure that is administered.

Generally, the same factors are considered in body contouring costs. These include:

Remember, procedures and facilities advertised as “cheapest” may not be the best choice for you. 

Instead, you should consider the reputation of the medical facility as well as the experience of the medical professional administering your procedure when deliberating the final costs of non-invasive body contouring methods.

You should also look at their results. The pictures and videos of real clients will give you more information than anything else.

Before and After Photos

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What is the Most Effective Body Contouring Procedure?

Body contouring can be done in a few different ways. Each procedure has its own benefits.

Each treatment is done through a different method, performed a different number of times to be the most beneficial, and has differing results.

Laser therapy uses a laser to liquefy the fat cell deposits throughout the body. A 2011 study done in forty healthy men and women between 18-65 years old showed measurable results after repeated treatments over a four-week period.

Cryolipolysis removes specified areas of body fat by freezing the fat cells. This method is non-invasive and should not cause any damage to the skin or tissue. Generally, the procedure is performed one time, but it can take an average of 4-6 months for the fat cells to completely leave the body.  Over this time, the area of fat decreases around 20 percent.

Ultrasound Waves shatter the fat cells into material that is naturally disposed of by the body. The success of this method is measurable by noting the inches lost in the specific area of your body a few weeks to months after the treatment.

Laser therapy, cryolipolysis, and ultrasound are just a few of the different body contouring methods that focus on fat cells.

Emsculpting and TriSculpt Flex are two body contouring methods that focus on muscle tightening instead of focusing on fat cells.

Emsculpting Body Contouring

Emsculpting is similar to other body contouring methods because it is a non-invasive procedure that can help to eliminate fat cells.

However, it is different then most body contouring methods because emsculpting helps to tighten the muscles in both your abdomen and butt.

Emsculpting is typically performed in a dermatologist’s office. A machine is attached to your preferred body area and electromagnetic pulses are emitted into the muscles to strengthen muscle fibers and burn unnecessary fat.

Is Emsculpting Safe?

With Emsculpting, the desired muscles are being strengthened quickly and efficiently. It should not feel any more painful than an intense workout.

Unlike some other body contouring methods, it is recommended to do four 30-minute sessions in a two week period to achieve the best results.Adding in proper nutrition and exercise will continue to improve results over time.

TruSculpt Flex

TriSculpt Flex is similar to Emsculpting because it works to tighten muscles, rather than destroy fat cells.

This body contouring treatment is designed to mimic different workouts by twisting, contracting, and toning the muscles. It is performed through three different modes: prep mode, tone mode, and sculpt mode.

Is TruSculpt Flex Body Contouring Safe?

Similar to most other body contouring methods, TruSculpt Flex is a non-invasive method of strengthening and toning muscles in the abdomen and buttocks.

The electrodes directly stimulate the desired areas, resulting in a safe and comfortable procedure. 

The side effects are minimal, including redness and mild tenderness to the affected areas and generally resolve within a few hours.

What is Light Body Sculpting?

Light body sculpting is a non-invasive procedure designed to deflate or shrink fat cells. 

Different than most traditional body sculpting procedures, light body sculpting is more comfortable and can be beneficial in more ways than one. These include:

During light body sculpting, an LED light system composed of large pads similar to  heating pads are placed on the desired area of the body. Then, a wavelength of light is emitted to that area to begin the process of shrinking the fat cells. 

When the light hits the fat cells, they liquify and release their fat content into the body to be disposed of. 

The fat is transported to the liver which allows the material to leave the body through urination.

What Science Says About Body Contouring

Science has shown multiple times that body contouring is proven to be safe and successful when performed on the ideal candidate. 

The variety of effective and non-invasive methods have been studied and tested on numerous occasions, proving to reduce fat and/or strengthen muscles throughout the body over time. 

Scientific Article 1: “Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery”

This 2015 study shows how cryolipolysis is an effective and safe alternative for localized fat reduction, compared to other more invasive techniques like liposuction.

Body contouring is a common procedure in the United States, and cryolipolysis proves to have only mild side effects like swelling and short-term pain that generally disappear quickly.

Scientific Article 2: “Clinical & Experimental Dermatology Research”

In 2012, a study was performed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of radiofrequency body contouring devices for long-term localized fat loss and improvement of cellulite.

The study focused on 25 patients, 24 females and 1 male, from 28-62 years old. 

For three months post-treatment, the patients were observed and both photographs and physical measurements were taken to prove measurable differences and the effectiveness of radiofrequency body contouring.