A perfectly shaped body is everyone’s dream, but they don’t all succeed in getting it. A lump here and a lump there that doesn’t go away is problematic. Eventually, it will turn into something that keeps you up at night. Although the conventional methods, i.e., exercise, dieting, and going to the gym, can help you live a healthy life, they have limitations. They can’t help you with patches or pockets of fat that are too stubborn to leave.
Under such circumstances, you have to think out of the box. Only then will you be able to get rid of extra body fat. Body contouring is the perfect method for people who have had enough rigorous dieting and exercise. This method uses body contouring machines to remove fat from different areas of your body.
The following context will brief you about body contouring and its types. They are also known as body slimming techniques. They use body slimming machines to provide results.
What is body contouring?
Otherwise known as body sculpting, body contouring is a medical procedure. It aims to improve the overall appearance of your skin. The method was first coined to remove the skin left hanging after weight loss. The scope of the procedure has now widened. It has gone beyond being a mare tool to remove the extra skin.
People often take body slimming as a weight-loss strategy. That is not true. The medical procedure utilizes a body sculptor machine. It can tighten the skin and remove fat. It can also reshape different areas of the body and more.
Types of body contouring
Body contouring may or may not use surgical instruments. Based on this statement, it is of two types: Non-surgical body contouring and Surgical body contouring.
Non-surgical body contouring
Non-surgical body contouring doesn’t utilize body sculpting machines. All of the procedure is performed outside of the body. No incision is made during this.
Non-surgical body contouring methods use different parameters, such as:
- Cold
- Laser
- Ultrasound waves
- Injectable
These methods pose lower risks to the body. They are not as effective as surgical procedures.
Surgical body contouring
Surgical body contouring uses incision tools to remove body fat. Surgical methods include:
- Liposuction
- Panniculectomy
- Body lift
The surgical body slimming methods are way more accurate. That is not the case with non-surgical procedures. Despite their success, they pose certain severe risks to the general well-being. This is true for any other surgical procedure.
Who is body contouring best for?
Body contouring is best for people who have lost weight considerably. Weight loss leaves excessive skin on the belly, arms, thighs, and other parts. A body slimming procedure is also best for people who can’t seem to lose fat from their bodies. Making the skin smooth is also a factor that drives people to get to undergo the procedure.
To be the right candidate for the procedure, you need to meet the following requirements:
- Stable weight for 6 to 12 months
- Good health
- No chronic diseases or medical conditions
- Non-smokers or smoking cessation six weeks before and after the procedure
- Realistic expectations
Before the procedure, be sure to fulfill all the requirements given above.
What are the different stages in body contouring?
Body contouring comprises different stages before, during, and after the procedure. We will take you through the steps one by one to ease it out for you.
Consultation
Consultation is the first stage in any medical procedure. For contouring purposes, you will meet an expert plastic surgeon that will map out everything for you. The consultant will take a complete medical history. This will detect any allergies, medical conditions, current medications, and family history.
At this stage, you should be completely transparent with your consultant. Inform them about the goals or benefits you want to gain from the medical procedure. Then, depending on the changes you want to make, the consultant will highlight the areas you wish to alter and highlight.
The consultant will now inform you about the possible surgical and non-surgical options that you can go for. They will also educate you about the risks associated with each.
Treatment
Before the procedure, whether surgical or non-surgical, you need to prepare yourself for it. Smoking cessation, constant weight, and other requirements should be fulfilled before going for treatment. Depending on the conditions and the changes requested, the procedure can take months to complete at regular intervals. The time of completion depends on the type of procedure.
Surgical treatment
The cosmetic surgeries under discussion require a fat removal machine and may take up to an hour to complete. Here is how the procedure goes:
- The medical team marks the parts of your body that you want to change. After that, they perform a physical check on the surgical table.
- Anesthesia will be administered to you. The type and extent of the anesthetic drug depend on the seriousness of the procedure.
- Using the necessary tools, single or multiple incisions are made.
- The adjustment that you requested is performed by fat suctioning, skin trimming & tightening, and others.
- The team will apply bandages on any cut made after the proper closure of the wound.
Non-surgical treatment
For non-surgical procedures or lipolysis, the body contouring machines differ from those used in surgical procedures. Non-surgical body contouring procedures take more than one session to see the desirable results. It takes the same amount of time to complete a non-surgical procedure as does the surgical one.
Here is how non-surgical body slimming goes.
- The skin or a part of the body is marked after you are lying comfortably on a table.
- Depending on the type of lipolysis you are undergoing, you may be injected with fat-resolving drugs such as deoxycholic acid. The affected area of your body will be subjected to high-frequency waves, beams of lasers, extreme cold, and others.
- This procedure may take anywhere between 30 to 60 minutes to complete.
After the last session, you go into a recovery phase.
Recovery
The recovery phase also differs for surgical and non-surgical procedures
Surgical body contouring
After surgical body contouring, you need to take care of your body as prescribed. Lay off the medications and food prohibited by the surgeons. Stop smoking, take care of the wound, and keep a tube nearby to deal with swelling or leakage. Don’t over-work your body to avoid blood clots or further complications of the incisions. If you see any difficulties, later on, you should consult the plastic surgeon immediately.
Non-surgical body contouring
The recovery phase for non-surgical procedures is not as severe as its counterpart. You get to perform your daily tasks but follow the instructions provided for safety.
What are the risks associated with body contouring?
Surgical and non-surgical body contouring procedures go differently. So, the risks associated with both differ from each other. We will discuss both separately.
The risks associated with surgical body contouring include:
- One side different from the other
- Skin problems like scarring, discoloration, and wrinkling
- Damaged nerves near the cuts
- Blood clotting
- Nausea and vomiting
- Hair loss
These complications need to be taken care of as soon as they arise. Any carelessness in this matter may further complicate the situation and may turn into a severe condition. If you are not satisfied with the final results, consult the plastic surgeon to find a solution.
The non-surgical contouring poses less severe complications as it doesn’t involve any incisions or cuts using a slimming machine. Here are the most probable complications with this method of body adjustment:
- Rashes
- Swelling of the treated area
- Skin turning red
- Pain
You may also not get the expected results, in which case you will have to undergo further procedures.
Advantages of body contouring
The problems or complications listed above rarely happen. If you take proper care of yourself, you will only see the benefits of it.
Here are some advantages of body slimming using body contouring machines.
Easy weight loss
Body contouring is perfect for areas or parts of the body that accumulate fat that doesn’t seem to go away. Although it is not its primary function, the procedure makes losing weight easier than any other. The increased fat can be redundant sometimes. Dieting or exercise will not prove to be helpful in such cases.
Better results
Both procedures have a record of providing ever-lasting results. With medication, you won’t be able to see results as good as these. You are guaranteed to get what you were expecting. If not, readjustment is always an option.
Fat removal without surgery
You can choose a non-surgical body contouring machine. You will be able to remove all the fat without ever having to face a knife.
Peace of mind
With body contours, you can rest assured of positive results. This will enhance your confidence and boost your image. You can wear anything you want or perform any task without having to look bad or hurt yourself.