When people think about body sculpting,liposuction surgeryis usually the first treatment that comes to mind.
However, many nonsurgical body contouring treatments have emerged over the last decade.
This article will explain the benefits of body sculpting and detail the various nonsurgical treatments available.
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For noninvasive options, this is accomplished by reducing deposits ofsubcutaneous fat, which are beneath the skin.
Are the Results Worth It?
While minimally invasive body sculpting may seem tempting, it is important to understand the limitations of these treatments.
In addition, some fat reductions associated with certain procedures tended to diminish months after the treatments were completed.
Below are the most popular sculpting treatment options.
Cryolipolysis
Also known ascool sculpting,cryolipolysisuses extremely cold temperatures to kill fat cells in an area.
This process causes damage to fatty cells that are eventually cleared by the bodyslymphatic system.
Initial research suggests thatcool sculptingleads to lasting fat cell reductions, though further studies are needed.
Radiofrequency
Radiofrequency treatments utilize electromagnetic waves to heat up and damage fat cells in an area.
This light causes the cells to leak some of their content and diminish their size.
Treatments last about 30 minutes, and several are usually necessary to achieve your goal.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to destroy the walls of fat cells.
This treatment causes the cells to be released and eventually absorbed by your body.
The fat reduction achieved from ultrasound may be permanent in people who avoid gaining additional weight.
Unfortunately, these claims are largely unfounded.
These treatments are commonly performed in an outpatient plastic surgery clinic or a medical spa.
Unfortunately, these services can be relatively expensive and are usually not covered by insurance.
The average cost of a treatment can range from between $1,000 and $6,000.
That said, each procedure has several potential side effects.
Summary
Nonsurgical body sculpting treatments can lead to modest reductions in the size of fatty deposits.
American Board of Cosmetic Surgery.Non-surgical fat reduction.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Non-invasive body contouring technologies.
Cryolipolysis:A promisingnonsurgical technique for localized fat reduction.J of Cosmetic Dermatology.
2023;22(S3):1-7. doi:10.1111/jocd.16039
American Board of Cosmetic Surgery.Cellulite treatments.
