What is Body Sculpting?

David Fuller

Last Updated On: October 17, 2024

Disclaimer: The contents of this article should not be construed as medical advice but only for informational purposes. Medsupplysolutions.com staff does not review any of these articles for medical validity. Medsupplysolutions does not endorse the opinions or views expressed in this article. Please always seek professional medical advice from licensed doctor.

Body sculpting or body contouring is the surgical or non-surgical removal of excess fat from the body. The removal of pockets of fat from the body is typically used for weight loss, especially if the weight is caused by stubborn fat that can’t be removed with just normal diet and exercise. Body sculpting is typically applied to multiple areas of the body such as

Abdomen
Back
Thighs
Chin
Arms
Buttocks
breast

What is surgical body sculpting?

Surgical body sculpting typically involves lifts, tucks, and liposuction. It involves removing pockets of unwanted fat and excess skin through surgery under general anesthesia. The fat is removed through multiple incisions in the target area and it is replaced with healthy tissue. Aside from removing fat, The surrounding skin is also tightened to prevent loose skin due to the weight loss.

What is non-surgical body sculpting?

Non-surgical body sculpting can be done in a few different ways. These body contouring treatments aren’t invasive and don’t require the use of anesthesia or even a proper hospital setting for it to be performed. These fat reduction methods target cutaneous fat and don’t have the same dramatic results as liposuction and they are usually done over multiple sessions to achieve the desired fat loss. The main advantage of these over liposuctions are the decreased risk and the fact that it has fewer adverse reactions with little to no recovery period needed.

These are some of the options to choose from when you opt for a non-surgical or non-invasive body sculpting procedure.

Cryolipolysis – This procedure takes advantage of the fact that fat cells have a higher freezing temperature than the surrounding tissue. A cupped device is applied to the treatment area and this lowers the temperature of the area enough to freeze and destroy fat cells while the surrounding cells in the targeted area remain safe. It is FDA-approved, and can reduce fat in the hips, abdomen, chin, and buttocks by up to 25%. The procedure takes an hour or less to perform and the patient will have very little discomfort apart from feeling the cold temperature. Results can be seen within a month and the final result can be achieved within 3 months.
Laser treatment – This method uses a laser to precisely apply heat to fat cells, causing them to break down. It is also FDA-approved and is usually used for reducing fat in the abdomen and flank, but it may be used in other areas as well. The laser does not cause any pain, but only a warm sensation in the treated area. It is a quick procedure, usually taking around half an hour to finish. Results can be visible within 6 weeks, while final results will be seen within 3 months.
Injection Lipolysis – this method involves the injection of deoxycholic acid into fat pockets in the body to kill fat cells in that area. Deoxycholic acid is a naturally-occuring acid that is found in human bile. It has cytotoxic properties which enables it to break down fat cells. Its main function is the destruction and absorption of dietary fat. The deoxycholic acid used in injection lipolysis is generally derived from plants, but since it is naturally found in the body, it is still considered to be safe and has few side effects. Injecting the deoxycholic acid into fat pockets in the body will cause these fat pockets to break down, causing fat loss in the area. The broken down fat cells are absorbed into the body and eliminated as waste, so there is no need for any recovery period after the procedure.
Red Light Therapy – This is the newest method approved by the FDA for body contouring purposes. This method uses a special lamp that emits specific wavelengths of light through the skin. These wavelengths cause fat cells to open up, releasing some of their contents. This causes the fat cells to shrink, ultimately leading to fat loss in the area. The released contents of the fat cells are metabolized by the body and released as waste. This method is suitable for fat loss in the hips, abdomen, and thigh. It takes around 30 minutes to perform and results can be seen within the first 3 treatment sessions. It has no established side effects or discomfort to the patient, however it’s discouraged for pregnant patients and those with compromised liver function.

So is body sculpting good for you?

While both surgical and non-surgical body sculpting share the same benefits of quick and easy weight loss without the need for diet and exercise, they have their own specific benefits as well.

Surgical body contouring can also help tighten skin. This is especially useful in cases where there is significant fat loss or for patients who are already experiencing excess skin such as from the effects of aging.

Non-surgical body sculpting has a lot of other benefits as well:

Weight loss is easy and quick – non-surgical body sculpting does not involve anesthesia or surgery so there is no need to spend time recovering from the procedure. It also helps that most of these non-invasive procedures can be completed within an hour, making them ideal for people who need to lose weight but don’t have time.
Safety – since these don’t need anesthesia or surgery to get rid of fat, their accompanying risks are also avoided. That means, there is little risk for infection or other complications that doctors are typically on the lookout for when a patient undergoes surgery.
Affordable – Even though most non-surgical body sculpting methods are done over multiple sessions, they are still cheaper than getting surgery.
Results are natural-looking – One of the advantages of having the treatment spread out over multiple sessions is the weight loss is gradual. Combined with the fact that there would be no scars from surgery, means you get more natural-looking results.
Lasting effects – Since these procedures actually destroy fat cells, the results of these procedures actually last for a long time. Since fat cells do not regenerate, the treated areas will no longer store as much fat as before.

Conclusion

With the modern variety of options for lat loss procedures, you don’t need to feel afraid about asking your doctor or clinician about the methods of body contouring. For this specific procedure, there are many advantages, with few downsides, especially if you want to go the non-surgical route. Arrange a consultation today, to take your first step to achieving the body you want!