Non-surgical Body Contouring - Different Types and Procedure

Introduction

Non-surgical body contouring, also known as body sculpting, changes the shape of an area of the body. The non-surgical body contouring devices for treating breasts in females and males are not cleared or approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Non-surgical body contouring is based on four principles: cryolipolysis, laser lipolysis, injection lipolysis, and radiofrequency lipolysis. This procedure will not help lose weight. Instead, it will only reshape the body.

What Is Non-surgical Body Contouring?

Non-surgical body contouring is a procedure that helps to get rid of extra skin, eliminating excess fat to reshape or contour an area of the body. This procedure does not help to lose weight but it will help to reshape the body.

What Are the Different Types of Non-surgical Body Contouring?

Non-surgical body contouring is done with lipolysis and there are several methods of lipolysis such as cryolipolysis, injection lipolysis, laser lipolysis, and radiofrequency lipolysis.

• In cryolipolysis, the fat cells are destroyed at very cold temperatures. Example: cool sculpting.

• In injection lipolysis, the fat cells are targeted by putting deoxycholic acid into the body.

• In laser lipolysis, fat cells are destroyed using lasers.

• In radiofrequency lipolysis, fat cells are targeted using ultrasound waves and heat.

How Does Non-surgical Body Contouring Work?

There are two ways in which non-surgical body contouring works: freezing fat cells and destroying them and using other ways that heat is used to reduce fat in the targeted areas. The procedure is safe, and the targeted areas are the upper arms, thigh, abdomen, and excess fat around the hips and abdomen.

• Cryolipolysis: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved coolsculpting, a non-invasive fat reduction technique where fat cells are destroyed in various body areas using cold temperatures. The fat cells are killed off with freezing temperatures and are then eventually flushed out of the body through the lymphatic system, and surrounding tissues are left unharmed. These cells should not reappear once they are gone. The target areas for cryolipolysis are the abdomen, flanks, thighs, arms, back fat, double chin, and underneath the buttocks. In most cases, it takes 30 to 60 minutes for one treatment area with little to no downtime. For satisfactory results, multiple treatments are usually required.

• Laser Lipolysis: The FDA cleared the use of sculpture in 2015, a non-invasive lipolysis method where fat cells are destroyed with heat using laser energy. The fat cell dies due to high temperatures. Within twelve weeks, approximately after the procedure, the body’s lymphatic system gets rid of dead fat cells. The target areas in this procedure are the abdomen and flanks. It takes approximately 25 minutes for each treatment, and there is little to no downtime. It usually requires multiple treatments.

• Radiofrequency Lipolysis: The FDA has approved the use of ultrasound technology to contour the body and ultrashape, BTL Vanquish ME is surgical. When ultrasound technology is used, they are very gentle on the skin when treating fats of stubborn pockets, and the Thai procedure involves very little to no discomfort. The target areas of this procedure are the flanks and abdomen. The time taken for each treatment is one hour, after which the patient can continue the daily activities and usually requires multiple treatments.

• Injection Lipolysis: FDA approved Kybella in 2015, which is treated non-surgically through injection to treat the fullness under the skin, that is, the submental area, also known as the double chin. In this procedure, Kybella is a form of deoxycholic acid, which is a synthetic substance that is naturally produced by the body and also helps to absorb fat. The fat cells are killed with the help of deoxycholic acid. The body gradually metabolizes the dead cells during the weeks after the treatment. The target area for this procedure is the chin area, specifically under the chin. The procedure takes about 30 minutes to complete. Sometimes, there might be swelling and bruising for a few days, and patients can resume daily activities after recovery. This procedure usually requires multiple treatments.

How Does Red Light Therapy Work?

The newest technology approved by the FDA is red light therapy, a non-surgical fat reduction. A specialized lamp is required for this procedure that sends light through the skin of specific wavelengths. When triggered by light, the targeted fat cells create small openings through which some of the contents are released. The desired fat loss is achieved as the fat cells subsequently shrink in size. Red light therapy is used by one of the treatments, ultraslim, and causes excess fat to be released as waste. It is a non-invasive procedure with minimal downtime, and the procedure is quick and takes about 30 minutes. The targeted areas for this procedure are the hips, abdomen, and thighs, and results are seen in three or more treatments. As there are no established side effects, the procedure is low risk, contraindicated in case of pregnancy and liver function is compromised. Lasting results are seen as long as there is no significant weight gain.

What Are the Benefits of Non-surgical Body Contouring?

The benefits of non-surgical contouring are there is no need for general anesthesia or incisions, and leaves no scars, it requires little or no downtime, and it has little or no side effects. Treatment is discreet as it yields gradual results, and results last as long as weight is maintained.

What Are the Risk Factors of Non-surgical Body Contouring?

The risks are much less with non-surgical procedures, which include hives or rash, red skin, pain or soreness, swelling, and unsatisfactory results, and there is a need for repeat sessions. Recovery time for non-surgical procedures is much shorter, and most individuals resume their daily activities immediately after the treatment.

What Is the Comparison Between Non-surgical Body Contouring and Liposuction?

Risks associated with surgical liposuction are more when compared to non-surgical body contouring as they do not involve anesthesia or surgery, and risks with liposuction include infection, fluid accumulation, deep vein thrombosis, damage to deeper structures and organs, and pulmonary complications. The cost for non-surgical procedures is less when compared to liposuction.

Conclusion

Non-surgical body contouring reduces or removes stubborn pockets of fat, which helps contour and shape different body areas. The four principles of non-surgical procedures are based on cryolipolysis, laser lipolysis, injection lipolysis, and radiofrequency lipolysis.