Body contouring is predicted to hit one billion dollars of revenue by 2022. Clearly, this is not a fad but a new trend in body contouring.
Read on to learn everything you need to know about various fat loss procedures including the risks and benefits.
Table of Contents
What is Body Sculpting?
Body sculpting is a popular type of cosmetic surgery that removes unwanted fat from specific areas of your body.
This procedure can treat various areas of the body such as the stomach, back, thighs, arms, and neck.
Body contouring or body sculpting refers to any medical or surgical procedure that changes the shape of parts of your body by removing fat, skin or both.
Within the field of body sculpting, there are three main types of weight loss procedures. These are
- CoolSculpting
- Kybella
- Liposuction
We will discuss each in detail.
CoolSculpting
CoolSculpting is a great option for people who want body contouring without having surgery.
A qualified medical professional will use cooling to freeze unwanted fat cells. This procedure is FDA-cleared, safe, and effective, with long-lasting results.
Burning off fat is one way to get rid of stubborn fat pockets that don’t go away with proper exercise and nutrition.
Kybella
Are you one of many people who are self-conscious about your double chin? Many people are embarrassed by fat that pools under the chin. This is called submental fullness.
In many cases, proper exercise and a balanced diet don’t impact submental fullness. Unfortunately, this double chin can make people look older and heavier than they really are.
Kybella is a non-surgical procedure that removes this unwanted double chin. The active ingredient in Kybella is deoxycholic acid.
Deoxycholic acid occurs naturally in the body to break down dietary fat. So, when it is injected into the fat under the chin, Kybella kills fat cells.
Dead cells can’t store or accumulate fat. Once you’ve reached a look you like, it is permanent.
Laser Liposuction
Laser liposuction is a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure that uses a laser to melt away fat under the skin. It’s also called laser lipolysis.
Depending on which method you choose, laser lipo might require a few days of downtime.
There are two types of laser liposuction.
Laser Diodes
In one, a technician places pads on your body that have laser diodes.
The lasers penetrate the skin and create holes in the fat cells. The fatty acid and other liquids stored in those fat cells are expelled naturally by the body. Then those fat cells shrivel and shrink.
You may be a few inches slimmer right away after the procedure. But in most cases, you will need 6-8 treatments for best results.
With this treatment, you won’t need any downtime.
Laser Incision
Another type of laser liposuction involves general anesthesia and a tiny incision. Your technician or doctor will numb the problem area and make a small cut. Using a cannula and laser, he or she will blast the fat pockets.
Some swelling, bruising and localized pain is normal after laser lipo. However, little or no downtime is needed to recover.
Risks of Weight Loss Procedures
With the exception of liposuction, these weight loss procedures are minimally invasive. That means that the risks and side effects are limited.
With laser lipo, you may have pain or numbness in the area. Or you might feel a burning sensation under the skin following a treatment. Normally, this goes away within a couple of days.
With liposuction and surgical laser lipo, people can develop scar tissue, infection, blood clots and tissue death at the incision site. However, these are rare side effects.
The possible side effects of coolsculpting include skin sensitivity, swelling, redness, bruising and pain.
After Kybella, most people experience swelling, numbness and bruising.
If you experience any infection, allergic reaction, or other worrisome side effects, consult your doctor.
Best Candidates for Body Sculpting
Many people are candidates for body sculpting procedures. You are a good candidate if you exercise regularly and follow a healthy diet. Someone with a BMI of 30 or lower with stubborn fat deposits would be ideal.
Body sculpting techniques are mainly used for fat loss – not weight loss. That means that the perfect candidate for body sculpting is within 20 pounds of his or her ideal weight.
People who need to lose more than 20 pounds should try a medically assisted weight loss program first.
Another good candidate for body sculpting is someone who has lost a lot of weight and has loose and baggy skin. Body sculpting can improve tone and tighten the skin in problem areas.
Benefits of Body Sculpting
There are many benefits of body sculpting. Unlike surgical methods, non-invasive body sculpting methods are less risky.
There are less likely to be complications and there is little to no downtime. Most symptoms are similar to mild sunburn and disappear within two days or so.
Also, because body contouring only targets fat cells, the accuracy is very high. And, after the procedure, the dead fat cells stay dead. They can’t regrow and store new fat.
The only way for fat to return is if new fat cells form. With sufficient exercise and a healthy diet, you can maintain your results for a lifetime.
Many people aren’t candidates for surgery. This can be due to a number of reasons such as pre-existing conditions.
Yet, with body sculpting, there aren’t exclusions based on the same criteria. More and more people can access body sculpting and enjoy the benefits.
Final Thoughts
Thanks for reading! We hope this article on body sculpting has been informative.
Remember, there is a difference between weight loss and fat loss. If you need to lose weight, consider UnCraveRX.
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