What Is Body Sculpting?

Body sculpting or Body contouring refers to methods used to eliminate body fat and shape various body parts, including the abdomen and flanks. This method is usually used when other methods are not effective. With body sculpting, loose skin is also removed, and the skin returns to its firm and smooth state. Body sculpting methods are generally divided into two categories: surgical and non-surgical. Non-surgical procedures are less invasive and have a shorter recovery period. However, the results of surgical body sculpting are usually more noticeable.

What Are the Different Types of Body Sculpting?

As mentioned earlier, body sculpting is done in two ways: surgical and non-surgical. Non-surgical body sculpting is a suitable method for those who want to lose body fat but are not willing to undergo surgery.

A non-invasive method is radiofrequency lipolysis, which uses special devices such as ultrasound, radiofrequency radiation, and heat to destroy fat tissue. But heat alone is not enough to destroy fat tissue. Another non-invasive method, called ice body sculpting, uses Cryolipolysis, or freezing fat tissue, to destroy it. This method destroys fat cells without damaging the surrounding skin, nerves, veins, or muscles. Each treatment usually takes less than an hour and does not require rest.

Injection lipolysis and Laser lipolysis are two other non-invasive methods that use deoxycholic acid into the body and lasers to target fat, respectively. Non-surgical body sculpting methods have fewer complications, faster recovery, and less downtime compared to surgical methods.

Body contouring procedures are performed on specific body areas when diet and exercise have not worked. One common procedure is liposuction. In liposuction, a small incision is made in the area, and the fat is removed using a tube connected to a suction device. Abdominoplasty is a procedure used solely to reduce the size of the abdomen. In this procedure, excess fat and skin are removed through two incisions, and the two parts are joined together. Facelifts (rhytidectomy), breast lifts (mastopexy), and double chin surgery are other common surgeries that can tighten loose skin and reduce the effects of natural aging, in addition to removing fat.

How Long Does Body Sculpting Last?

The results of body contouring can be permanent or long-term, but the return of fat depends on your lifestyle. If you follow a proper diet and exercise, you can maintain the results of the surgery in the long term. Various factors, such as weight gain, poor diet, and lack of physical activity, can cause the fat to return and reduce the durability of the body contouring results. In addition, the results of body contouring in different areas of the body may vary and depend on the amount of fat and the condition of your skin.

How Painful Is Body Sculpting?

All body contouring procedures may be accompanied by pain, bruising, swelling, redness, and discomfort. However, the pain of body sculpting is manageable and controlled, and in non-invasive methods, the pain intensity is usually much less than in surgical and classic methods.

For example, in methods such as liposuction or lipomatic, by using modern technologies and local anesthesia, tissue damage is minimized and the recovery period is shorter. In contrast, methods such as liposuction or abdominoplasty may be accompanied by more pain, especially if medical recommendations after the procedure are not followed. You can consult with our specialists at Tatoyan MD medspa to choose the best method according to your conditions and needs.

What Are the Complications of Body Sculpting?

Non-surgical body sculpting has fewer complications than surgical and invasive methods. However, this popular method also has complications. For example, in RF slimming, swelling in the first few days, redness of the skin, skin indentation, and, in rare cases, bruising are temporary complications that disappear after a few days. Diarrhea and damage to internal tissues and nerves are also complications that may occur in some non-surgical body sculpting methods.

Invasive body sculpting usually has more complications. The risks of anesthesia, drug and allergic sensitivity, surgical risks such as bleeding and infection, nerve damage, and scarring are among the possible complications of surgery. We recommend that you consult your surgeon about the possible complications of body sculpting before surgery.

What is the Post-Surgery Care for Body Contouring?

• Get plenty of rest, but take short, gentle walks in the first 10 days to promote circulation and prevent blood clots.
• Avoid heavy lifting, strenuous activities, and exercise for at least 4–6 weeks.
• Avoid wearing tight clothing or anything that puts pressure on your stitches.
• Use a compression garment or bandage as instructed by your surgeon (this helps reduce swelling and supports healing).
• Monitor for signs of complications, such as excessive bleeding, severe or worsening pain, unusual swelling, redness, or foul-smelling discharge, and fever (temperature above 38°C / 100.4°F)
• Stay hydrated and eat a nutrient-rich diet to aid recovery.

Who Are the Right Candidates for Various Non-surgical Weight Loss Methods?

Everyone can use methods such as nutrition and exercise. For other local non-surgical weight loss methods, people who meet the following conditions are suitable candidates:

• Excess fat in one or more parts of the body
• Need for minor changes
• BMI is between 35 and 55
• Having time to attend different treatment sessions
• No addiction to smoking and alcohol
• Ability to follow a proper diet

There are also important factors that the patient should inform their doctor about during the initial consultation, including heart disease, diabetes, depression, drug allergies, as well as the person’s daily mobility, exercise, and diet.

Can Body Sculpting Achieve the Desired Result?

The best way to lose weight and get fit is regular exercise and a balanced diet. Natural methods do not threaten the patient with side effects, and some methods, such as exercise, even improve health. But body sculpting methods can also be effective and efficient for people. The effectiveness of various non-surgical weight loss methods depends on many factors.

It can be said that in some patients, surgery is the only way. Even in cases where the volume of fat is excessive, methods such as lipomatics and liposuction are not effective, and slimming procedures such as sleeve gastrectomy must be performed. Therefore, the effectiveness of each non-surgical method is directly related to the patient’s condition. It is better for the best method for weight loss to be chosen by the surgeon.