Body sculpting or body contouring is a type of cosmetic surgery used to improve appearance by reducing localized areas of fat, cellulite, stretch marks, scars, and/or other unwanted tissue.
Body sculpting is the general term used to describe a variety of cosmetic surgeries, including liposuction, abdominoplasty, breast augmentation, tummy tucks, arm lifts, thigh lifts, buttock lifts, facial fillers, neck lifts, eyelid lifts, nose jobs, and others.
Both surgical and nonsurgical procedures are included in the category of body sculpting. In some cases, you’ll receive injections of botulinum toxin to relax muscles that cause wrinkles or folds.
Other times, you might undergo laser treatments or skin resurfacing to smooth out rough patches.
Then there is body contouring. Body contouring refers to surgical treatments designed to change the appearance of cellulite, excess fat deposits, stretch marks, scar tissue, and/or scars.
Some people undergo one procedure alone, while others opt for multiple procedures over several sessions. For example, some people want to reduce the size of their thighs while others want to tighten their buttocks.
As non-invasive cosmetic treatments have gotten better and easier to get, fat-reduction procedures have gone from being a whisper to a shout in terms of popularity. This has caused the demand for fat-reduction procedures to a crescendo.
More than a dozen noninvasive body procedures that make use of a variety of technologies are currently available on the market, and more are scheduled to make their debut in the years to come.
Smart Lipo is a procedure that gets rid of stubborn fat pockets without having to cut into the skin. Instead, it uses laser energy to liquefy the targeted areas. Then, the surgeon pulls the melted fat out through small incisions.
This treatment is ideal for people looking to reduce localized fat deposits such as love handles, thighs, abdomen, arms, knees, calves, chin, cheeks, and neck.
CoolSculpting is a brand name for cryolipolysis. This is where you would freeze away unwanted fat cells.
Controlled cooling is used to target areas where fat cells are close to the surface of the skin. As the fat cell dies, it goes away and can’t be seen with the naked eye.
There are some potential side effects, such as bruising, swelling, redness, numbness, itching, pain, and hair loss. Some people experience temporary discomfort during treatment, and others report feeling cold while undergoing the procedure.
While the term “lipsuccession” is often used interchangeably with “tummy tuck,” there are some key differences.
Liposuction removes fat from certain body parts, like the stomach, hips, thighs, knees, buttocks, arms, neck, chin, breasts, etc. Tummy tucks remove excess skin from the abdomen, chest, and flanks.
BBL, known as “Brazilian butt lift”, is a two-step procedure that starts first with liposuction of another body part, usually the abdomen, the flanges, the thighs or the back.
Afterwards, the fat removed from these locations is then injected into the hip and buttocks regions to enhance shape and projection.
Liposculpture is one of several types of body contouring procedures. They work by injecting tiny amounts of saline solution into specific problem areas to reshape your body.
The treatment takes about 15 minutes per area, and patients typically return home within 24 hours. Afterwards, most people report feeling very relaxed and refreshed.
Smart Liposuction works by delivering controlled energy pulses directly to subcutaneous tissue to break down fatty deposits and stimulate collagen production. Your body then metabolizes the removed fat away naturally.
The CoolSculpting procedure involves placing a device over specific problem areas and freezing unwanted fat cells for up to one month. This process kills the fat cells without hurting the tissues around them. Afterwards, you’ll go home with smaller pockets of body fat.
Here we shall discuss the types of body sculpting, i.e. CoolSculpting and liposuction, what the procedure entails and the expected end result.
During a CoolSculpting session, a plastic surgeon applies a gel pad to your targeted area.
Then he or she inserts a suction tube into one side of the treated area and pulls it out to the other side.
Next, the doctor places a cooling device over the treated area and freezes the tissue under your skin. Your body quickly eliminates the frozen, dead fatty tissue, causing it to melt away and shrink.
You’ll see smoother lines and tighter muscles in just a few weeks. After about four months, most people experience long-term results.
Local anesthesia, like lidocaine, is used to numb the area instead of intravenous sedation during the liposuction procedure.
This allows surgeons to operate without putting patients into full anesthesia. With general anesthesia, however, doctors can make larger cuts and work faster because they don’t have to worry about patient movement.
Surgeons typically begin liposuction surgery by making several small incisions over the area where the excess skin is located.
These incisions allow the doctor to reach deep inside the fatty pockets and pull out the unwanted fat.
Next, the surgeon inserts a thin tube down each cut and attaches suction tubing to the tubes.
When he pulls the trigger on the machine, the tubes suck up the fat cells. Once the tubes are removed, the incision sites are closed with stitches.
If you feel pain or discomfort after the procedure, tell your physician immediately. He or she might give you medicine to aid in your recovery.
A typical CoolSculpting package includes one area of the body.
The most common areas treated include upper thighs ($600), outer thighs ($700), abdomen ($800), and bra fat ($900). Other areas like inner knees, double chins, love handles, and inner thighs can run anywhere from $300-$400.
Some regions are more expensive because they require multiple treatments. For example, a single arm treatment can cost up to $2,000, while a full face could cost around $5,000.
Body Contour surgery costs, on the other hand, vary greatly depending on where you live and what you want to be done. Prices range anywhere from $5,000-$20,000.
Surgeons typically charge $1,500-$3,000 per hour, although some surgeons charge more for certain procedures such as breast augmentation.
Most health insurance companies do not pay for cosmetic procedures. Still, some may cover the actual surgery portion of a procedure, especially if performed at accredited hospitals.
Body sculpting is generally considered to be a safe procedure. However, like any surgical procedure, there are risks associated with body sculpting.
These include hematoma formation, infection, bruising, numbness, pain, swelling, bleeding, seromas, scarring, and nerve damage. However, the chance of complications is very low, which is good news.
Even though body sculpting is safe, it is important to understand that some people experience side effects following the procedure.
For example, patients may feel soreness, tightness, or tenderness immediately following treatment. Some patients may experience mild discomfort for up to a week afterwards.
Additionally, patients can expect to lose anywhere from 3% to 10% of their starting weight during treatment.
Body sculpting is one of the most effective ways to improve the appearance of your physique without having to undergo major surgery. Whereas with body contouring, this is surgically invasive with a longer recovery period, though the result is something to look forward to.
With a little know-how, you can achieve the look you desire and it’s a great way to boost self confidence and improve overall health.
Heather joined the Bella Medspa team in January of 2020. After working several years in dental industry and the fitness industry, she decided it was time to put her business management skills and her love for aesthetics to use. She currently manages our six Bella Medspa locations across Southeastern Pennsylvania and is dedicated to helping us build and grow as the world of aesthetics continues to evolve.
