Non Surgical Body Contouring
Lipolysis, the medical term for destruction of fat cells, is one example of technology used for nonsurgical body contouring. It is not so much a weight loss solution, but more of a means to eliminate stubborn pockets of fat. Commonly treated areas of the body include: arms, back, abdomen, flanks (love handles), buttocks, neck, chin, and thighs. Benefits include little to no downtime and no incisions or scars. Typically, the results are gradual, taking weeks to months to occur. Multiple treatment sessions may be needed to achieve desired results. The table below shows the various methods used to achieve lipolysis, the mechanism of action, and common examples.
Method |
Mechanism of Action |
Brand Name Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Cryolipolysis | Use of very cold temperatures to target and destroy fat cells | Coolsculpting |
| Lasers | Use of controlled heating and laser energy to destroy fat cells | EON Laser SculpSure |
| Ultrasound | Use of ultrasound energy to breakdown fat | UltraShape Liposonix |
| Radiofrequency | Use of radiofrequency energy to create heat and destroy fat cells | truSculpt Vanquish |
| Deoxycholic Acid Injections | Deoxycholic acid is a naturally occuring bile acid which helps digest fat. The synthetic (manmade) version is used in cosmetics to help dissolve unwanted fat in a double chin. | Kybella |
| Red Light Therapy | Delivers specific wavelengths of light through the skin causing shrinkage of fat cells. | UltraSlim |
Muscle toning is another example of non-surgical body toning. Devices such as CoolTone, truSculpt fleX, and EmSculpt, work by inducing involuntary muscle contractions in targeted areas leading to more toned and sculpted muscles.
Lastly, various options are available to help tighten and firm the skin. These non-surgical skin tightening procedures work by delivering targeted energy to heat the skin, inducing collagen and elastin production. Typically, the results are gradual, and multiple treatment sessions may be needed to achieve desired results. Examples include: ultrasound skin tightening (Ultherapy) and radiofrequency treatments (Exilis, Morpheus8, Thermage).
Disclaimer:
The information on this website is provided for educational and information purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult with a licensed medical provider and follow their recommendations regardless of what you read on this website. If you think you are having a medical emergency, dial 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Links to other third-party websites are provided for your convenience only. If you decide to access any of the third-party websites, you do so entirely at your own risk and subject to the terms of use for those websites. Neither The DermBar, nor any contributor to this website, makes any representation, express or implied, regarding the information provided on this website or any information you may access on a third-party website using a link. Use of this website does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. If you would like to request an appointment with a health care provider, please call our office at (909) 476-4077.
