Between fear of incisions and the desire for a speedy recovery, several factors can explain why many are shifting toward nonsurgical body contouring for stubborn fat.
Your body is composed of a certain number of fat cells, which only grow larger when you gain weight. With nonsurgical fat procedures, you simply cause these cells to either shrink or die off entirely, depending on the type of treatment. Because your body cannot regenerate these fat cells, you will look thinner in the area that you sculpted. However, it is essential to note that the remaining cells can still continue to grow, which explains why a proper diet and exercise are both necessary after the procedure.
Just like liposuction, non-surgical procedures are not meant for extreme weight loss. These treatments are geared for contouring any stubborn pockets of fat, as there are only so many fat cells that can be removed at one time. Although CoolSculpting only became approved by the FDA in 2010, since then several more types of non-surgical procedures have emerged.
Cryolypolysis
CoolSculpting, which uses a process called cryolipolysis to freeze your fat cells, tends to be what most people think about when discussing non-surgical cosmetic surgery. This process uses extremely frigid temperatures to kill fat cells in a targeted area, destroying them while leaving the surrounding tissue undamaged. The body then processes out the damaged fat cells over a few weeks, giving you a slimmer look with time. Although the treatment itself is about 30 to 60 minutes, it may take multiple visits to see the results you are looking for
Laser Lipolysis
You’ve probably heard of laser hair removal and know that laser use in the cosmetics world has only grown in popularity. As the relative opposite of cryolypolysis, this form of non-surgical cosmetic surgery uses heat to get the job done. Not to be confused with invasive laser liposuction, this treatment involves pads placed on the skin that emit temperatures high enough to cause the fat cells to die. Sessions usually take about 25 minutes per procedure but also requiring multiple visits.
Radiofrequency Energy
Including brand names such as truSculpt, this procedure uses heat differently from laser lipolysis. Although they also target fat cells, radiofrequency treatments more specifically prompt fat cell walls to break down and empty their water contents. This makes it less effective if you are dehydrated. How do they use heat? Unlike lasers, their higher temperatures come from a tool that applies, you guessed it, radiofrequency to heat the fat.
Injection Lipolysis
This non-surgical procedure requires a chemical (deoxycholic acid) injection that reduces the fat cells around the injection site. Most commonly known as Kybella, this has been approved for the area underneath the chin. From this, you may experience swelling, bruising, and maybe even hardness around the injection site that will soften with time. This is also the only non-surgical procedure that requires some form of anesthesia (local, in this case).
Ultrasound Lipolysis
With common brand names like UltraShape and Liposonix, these treatments involve an ultrasound wave-emitting machine moving over the selected area to target layers of fat. By delivering multidirectional acoustic waves, they destroy the fat cell membrane, which is then released naturally by the body.
After Noninvasive Body Contouring
No needles, no incisions, and no scars don’t mean that there is no recovery time. All procedures are meant to break down the fat cells, but that means it’s up to the body to dispose of them. It takes 12 to 16 weeks for that process to be completed, and after that stretch is when you will see the full effects of the treatment.
Cost of Nonsurgical Body Contouring
The demand for non-surgical fat reduction procedures has only grown in popularity over the last decade, encouraging the development of various more methods. The average cost of these procedures can range from $1,054 to $1,417, and although this is a relatively low cost, it’s important to remember that these procedures typically require multiple visits. That being said, it’s in your best interest to consult various doctors to ensure that you find the right method for you to get the maximum results from your visits.