It’s a source of frustration. You go to the gym many times per week for long periods of time and maintain a healthy diet, yet the regions of fat that are resistant to your efforts remain unchanged. You might be interested in learning more about non-surgical body contouring procedures such as CoolSculpting®, SculpSure®, UltraShape®, truSculpt®, and Vanquish®. These treatments target and eliminate fat cells without the need for surgery.
The fat cells in your body can be frozen with some of these methods, while others, such as those that utilise ultrasound or radiofrequency radiation, heat them instead. They provide a focused method for reshaping problem regions including your stomach, love handles, thighs, and upper arms.
But are they risk-free to use? Are these modifications going to last? How soon before you may expect to notice results?
The dermatologist Shilpi Khetarpal, MD, addresses some of the most frequently asked issues regarding these non-invasive methods of body contouring.
Is it safe to shape the body without using surgery? Are outcomes permanent?
These therapies have a low risk of complications and a low level of invasiveness. There are therapies that need no downtime at all. When discussing with your practitioner the type of treatment that would be most beneficial to you, it is important to first look through your medical history.
Those who already have a healthy body mass index will benefit the most from using any form of body shaping technology (between 18.5 and 24.9). They do damage fat cells in an irreversible manner.
How does liposuction stack up against body contouring that does not involve surgery?
It is dependent on the particular aspect that you like to emphasise. Liposuction is one of the procedures that the American Society of Plastic Surgeons suggests for patients who wish to get rid of excess fat across a wider region of the body. The amount of fat that can be pinched, also known as cutaneous fat, is destroyed by non-surgical procedures, which offer you a transformation that is less striking.
According to Dr. Khetarpal, the outcomes you get through non-surgical approaches won’t be the same as the ones you get from surgical procedures. When compared to these noninvasive procedures for body shaping, liposuction may remove around ten times the amount of fat in a single session.
How can body contouring happen without the need of surgery?
The treatments all function in exactly the same way: They target and eliminate fat, which is subsequently filtered out of your body over time by your lymphatic system, often within a few months.
Here are specifics on each technique:
The use of cold therapies (CoolSculpting). These procedures use temperatures low enough to destroy fat cells without also causing harm to the skin. Suction from a device draws in sections of skin, which are subsequently cooled for a certain period of time in order to kill the fat that is behind. This method is applicable to a wide variety of body areas, including the chin, arms, belly, love handles, and thighs, among others. It is not dangerous for the majority of patients. People who have vascular conditions that make them more sensitive to cold temperatures, such as Raynaud’s syndrome, for example, should not take this therapy since it might make their symptoms worse.
Treatments with heat (SculpSure). This laser has been given clearance by the FDA to treat fat reduction. The gadget employs laser radiation to cause damage to the structure of fat cells, and the body then disposes of the cells that have been rendered useless. Because the applicator on this device is flat, it does not perform very well on curved portions of the body. The abdomen and the thighs are the areas that respond well to heat treatments.
Ultrasound energy (UltraShape). Ultrasound energy is used in this method of treatment in order to break down fat cells. Out of the four options, this one requires the biggest time commitment, with each treatment session lasting close to an hour on average. A technician will hand move the gadget around rather than connecting you up to a machine so they can keep an eye on you. Fat is broken down and eliminated by the utilisation of a mechanical vibration. This only acts on the abdominal region and is not intended for use in any other regions; also, it does not cause any discomfort.
Radiofrequency energy (truSculpt, Vanquish). Devices that use radiofrequency radiation deliver heat, which kills fat cells, so destroying them. Because they target the water in the cells, it is essential to ensure that your body is adequately hydrated before beginning therapy. If you are dehydrated, the treatment will not be as effective. During this process, you could have a pleasant feeling of warmth. This therapy requires no rest in between sessions.
What should you anticipate after undergoing these treatments?
Every treatment eliminates fat, even in difficult-to-target places. Other general information includes the following:
They are performed without the need for anaesthetic or recovery time.
In the office of the physician, they might take anywhere from twenty-five to sixty minutes to complete.
You should prepare for a total of two to four sessions, although this can vary based on the therapy that you select and the region that you’re treating.
The process of processing and eliminating fat from the body typically takes between 12 and 16 weeks. When this happens, you will observe each treatment’s full influence on your condition.
In most cases, the therapies cause just a slight amount of discomfort.
After the procedure is finished, you may have some discomfort in the treated region for a few days, including redness, swelling, bruising, and soreness.
How do you go about finding a reliable provider?
Because a skilled physician is your greatest hope for good results, it is imperative that you conduct your research and pick a provider with great care. Even if you discover an amazing price online, it does not always indicate that the product or service you purchase will be of the highest quality. Always be sure to ask questions and go through the physician’s prior work before hiring them.
“The treatments are safe and effective; nevertheless, there is a possibility of adverse effects if the practitioner does not use the equipment in the appropriate manner,” she explains. You get what you pay for, therefore it’s important to do your homework.
