Does Body Contouring Work and What Are the Best Treatments?
Have you ever wondered how movie stars, models, and singers all seem to have picture-perfect bodies? Much of their success undoubtedly comes from following a strict diet and exercise routine. However, some of them also rely on body contouring treatments. But does body contouring work for the average person, and is it worth the cost? Learn the answers to these and more questions about non-surgical body sculpting treatments.
What Is Body Contouring?
Body contouring gently alters the shape of the physique without cutting into the body or leaving long-lasting scars. Noninvasive sculpting procedures can also tighten loose skin and reduce fat.
Different types of body contouring treatments utilize various methods to lift, tighten, and tone the body. These may include lasers, heat, cold, and other cutting-edge approaches. Nonsurgical body contouring is generally recommended for those at or close to their body weight. They may not have a lot of fat to lose but may feel embarrassed about certain areas of their body where adipose tissue accumulates.
Does Body Contouring Work?
It’s wise to be skeptical of anything that sounds too good to be true. But in the case of body contouring, it really is possible to transform your body without receiving a single scalpel incision. Body sculpting technology selectively targets and diminishes fat cells in specific areas. Commonly targeted spots include the thighs, abdomen, chin, and arms.
There’s a lot of science behind nonsurgical body sculpting. Studies show impressive patient outcomes for fat-freezing procedures (also known as cryolipolysis). In one study, 86% of treated subjects saw improvements in subcutaneous fat after a single cryolipolysis treatment.
Similarly, people who received heat-based body contouring treatments with radiofrequency (RF) technology also experienced exceptional results. After four heat-based body contouring treatments, patients in one study experienced an 18.6% reduction in adipose tissue thickness.
Body sculpting using magnetic muscle stimulation works a bit differently. Instead of focusing on ridding the body of excess fat, it aims to tighten and tone the skeletal muscles. As the muscles become firmer, they create a naturally tighter, slimmer-looking physique. At the end of an 8-week study period involving magnetic muscle stimulation (MMS) treatments, all patients involved reported improved fitness motivation and strength. Most also reported that they were either very satisfied or satisfied with their treatment results.
Studies like these show that the top body contouring treatments truly do produce notable results. Everyone is different and not all patients will experience the same outcomes. Your provider will take steps to help manage your expectations given that individual results often vary.
Pros and Cons of Body Contouring
Before scheduling your first body contouring treatment, it’s wise to learn as much as possible about the pros and cons of such treatments. As you do, you’ll have an easier time deciding whether this type of treatment is right for your body. Here are some benefits and drawbacks commonly associated with non-surgical body sculpting treatments.
Body Contouring Pros
Non-surgical body contouring treatments are quite gentle when compared to their surgical counterparts. Treatment times are fast and usually take anywhere between 30 and 60 minutes, depending on the treatment area. Body contouring is not a weight loss procedure and won’t help you lose significant body weight. However, it can help tighten extra skin and rid your body of smaller fat pockets. People often rely on body sculpting to help improve the shape of their physique after losing a lot of weight on their own. Additional body contouring benefits include:
- FDA-cleared devices help rid the body of unwanted fat cells
- Fast treatment times conveniently fit into most schedules
- Many body contouring procedures result in long-lasting results
- Treatments tighten and lift the skin in addition to ridding the body of extra fat
- Results develop gradually, leading to subtle and natural-looking body shape improvements
- Treatments are minimally uncomfortable and have little to no downtime
Nonsurgical body contouring treatments don’t require general anesthesia and don’t leave your skin scarred afterward. They’re a great choice for anyone looking for a safe, effective, and gentle way to get excellent body sculpting results.
Body Contouring Cons
Even though noninvasive body sculpting treatments are less risky than surgical procedures, they are not risk-free. In most cases, side effects associated with such treatments are short-lived and mild. They include localized tissue swelling and discomfort. Some people may also experience redness resembling a sunburn. If you experience these symptoms, they should go away on their own within days or even hours. Here are some other possible drawbacks of body contouring treatments:
- Results may not be long-lasting if you return to poor eating and lifestyle habits that lead to weight gain
- In some cases, results may not match patient expectations
- Cryolipolysis treatments carry a remote risk of negative side effects such as nerve damage, tissue death, and hard lumps. In extremely rare cases, treated fat cells may enlarge instead of dying off, leading to a condition called paradoxical adipose hyperplasia.
- With radiofrequency-based body contouring treatments, there’s a small risk of skin darkening and tissue burns from the heat.
Fortunately, serious side effects are rare when you receive body contouring treatment from an experienced provider. You can minimize minor symptoms like redness, swelling, and pain with cold compresses and over-the-counter pain relievers.
Top 3 Best Body Contouring Treatments
Now that you know some of the pros and cons of body contouring, it’s time to learn about the three best treatments on the market. They include CoolSculpting, CoolTone, and Emsculpt NEO. These noninvasive treatments use FDA-cleared devices to improve the body’s shape.
1. CoolSculpting Elite
CoolSculpting is one of the most popular body contouring treatments available. Cryolipolysis is used to freeze, damage, and kill targeted adipose cells. Fat cells freeze at a higher temperature than the cells surrounding them. Therefore, the CoolSculpting device only freezes to a temperature that kills fat cells without hurting other tissues.
Once the targeted fat cells die off, the body eliminates them. This process can take up to a few months to complete, so patients don’t see final results immediately. Many people appreciate that CoolSculpting’s results are gradual instead of instantaneous. That way, they don’t have to field unwanted questions from curious friends and family members about how they improved the shape of their body so quickly. CoolSculpting delivers natural-looking, gradual results that won’t raise any eyebrows.
Related Reading: Learn how CoolSculpting compares to Sono Bello>>
2. CoolTone
CoolTone helps sculpt and tone the body using magnetic muscle stimulation. The FDA-cleared CoolTone device delivers rapid pulses that stimulate contractions in the targeted muscles. Providers describe this treatment as providing similar results to 20,000 sit-ups. But instead of spending hours at the gym to achieve these results, you simply need to undergo a 30-minute treatment!
Most CoolTone providers recommend a series of treatments. Each session builds on the results of the last and delivers increasing visual results. However, receiving just one session and seeing a noticeable change in your body is still possible.
3. Emsculpt NEO
Emsculpt NEO is yet another non-surgical body contouring procedure that can transform your appearance over time. This treatment reduces fat with radiofrequency (RF) energy and builds muscles with high-intensity focused electromagnetic (HIFEM) energy. In a short, 30-minute session, patients can burn away fat and increase muscle strength.
How to Choose the Right Body Contouring Treatment
Every human body is unique and beautiful. Therefore, it’s impossible to say which body contouring treatment is the right fit for every person. Instead, it’s best to take a personalized approach to your body sculpting needs.
Talk to your provider about any aesthetic concerns or problem areas you want to address. Then, decide together which noninvasive body contouring option is the best fit for your needs. If you’re primarily focused on reducing fat, you may prefer CoolSculpting. But if you want to shape and tone your body while building muscle strength, CoolTone or Emsculpt NEO may be a better fit.
Body Contouring Aftercare
After your body contouring treatment, your provider will give you instructions for taking care of your body and minimizing your risk of side effects. Follow those instructions carefully to optimize your results. Here are some additional body contouring aftercare tips that may further support your recovery process:
- Stay hydrated so your body can heal itself more effectively
- Wear loose-fitting clothing in the days following your procedure to maximize your comfort
- Gently massage the treatment area to help the body eliminate the damaged cells and facilitate healing
- Eat clean to maintain your results for the long term
- Take anti-swelling supplements such as bromelain or arnica as needed to reduce swelling and bruising
- Wear a compression garment as recommended by your provider
It’s also wise to keep sensitive skin out of direct sunlight for a few days. Excessive sunlight exposure right after treatment can damage your delicate skin and exacerbate post-treatment symptoms.
Sculpt the Body You Want With Body Contouring Treatment
If you’re not 100% satisfied with the shape of your body, you can change it with noninvasive body sculpting procedures. Cool Contouring New York is a leading provider of body contouring treatments like CoolSculpting and CoolTone. Contact us today at 516-986-4900 to schedule a complimentary consultation for either of these treatments.
About Safoora Obergh
Safoora grew up in Yonkers, NY, and pursued her education at St. John’s University in Queens. She began her career in the medspa industry in 2019 at CoolContouring and has been performing CoolSculpting, microneedling, and CoolTone treatments since 2020. Safoora has received advanced training in techniques from Allergan and was recognized as the number one CoolSculpting provider on Long Island in 2024. She is passionate about helping her clients achieve their health and beauty goals. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, reading, and exploring new cultures and cuisines while traveling throughout Europe and beyond.