So Cool and All the Rage: Here’s How Body Sculpting Works

These days it seems like everyone is talking about body sculpting, the process of using heat, cooling, or injectable materials to tame fatty tissue and re-shape problem body parts. Allure magazine says that the buzz about the noninvasive cosmetic treatments has “crescendoed from a whisper to a yell.” Haute Living points out that more and more men are having the procedures. And US magazine has covered a long list of celebrities who swear by body sculpting.

It truly is all the rage, which might have you wondering how it actually works. Here’s what you need to know.

Body Sculpting Explained in 99 Words
There are four types of non-surgical body sculpting procedures:

• Cryolipolysis, which is more commonly known as CoolSculpting and freezes fat cells in order to kill them,

• Injection lipolysis, which is also known as Kybella and uses a chemical to reduce fat cells in specific areas,

• Radio frequency, which is commonly called Vanquish and uses radio frequency to heat and remove fat cells from problem areas,

• Laser lipolysis, or SculpSure, which uses a laser to heat and kill fat cells.

Each of these are great options for people who are unable or unwilling to undergo surgical procedures such as liposuction.

Where it Works
The nice thing about body sculpting is that it gives you options. Depending on where on your body you want to focus, your doctor can choose between the four techniques to help get the best results.

And it can be used on almost any part of your body, making it a perfect option for targeting areas where stubborn fat likes to hang on and stick around, regardless of how much you diet, crunch, plank, run, climb, and lift.

Maybe it should be blamed on the bikini, but most people use body sculpting on the areas of their bodies that are most likely to be bared during swimsuit season–the abdomen, flanks, thighs and buttocks. Others go after areas under the chin, on their backs, all over their arms and even on the chest (this is an area on which men like to focus). Where it works depends on where you need it to work.

It Works, but Results May Vary
As with any medical procedure, body sculpting results may vary. But the good news is that it most people say they see about a 20 percent reduction in the fat they can pinch (called cutaneous fat) in the areas they’ve had treated.

And it’s not immediate. It takes time–typically about four months or so–to fully realize the procedure’s full effects. It’s also important to note that you can have the procedure performed multiple times on the same area, which has been shown to increase the effectiveness.

It Won’t Work for Everything
Body sculpting can do a lot for you–mentally and physically. But it’s important that you know what the procedures won’t do: It is not designed to act as weight-loss tools. The procedure will kill fat cells, which will result in a body that’s slimmer and more tone.

But you probably won’t lose a lot of weight–not in the short-term and not in the long-term.

You’re still going to need to exercise regularly, eat a healthy diet, and continue to work toward your goals.

Ready to See a Brand New You?
If you’re ready to see for yourself what all the rage is about, connect with the Florida Center for Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery today. We’re available to answer your questions, schedule an appointment and help you find the procedure that best meets your needs.