Body sculpting refers to a set of cosmetic procedures that can be used to alter fat deposits around the body. In this way, body sculpting is able to make significant aesthetic differences to the body. However, there are many different types of body sculpting to choose from, each with its own shortcomings and benefits. In order to help you choose which method of body sculpting is most efficacious for you, we will go over some of the different varieties of body sculpting in detail below.
What Do Body Sculpting Machines Do?
Body sculpting machines “sculpt” the body by acting externally on fat deposits in the body to reduce these fat deposits and positively change the appearance of the body. This can be done by way of cold, injection, radiofrequency, or even by laser, as a variety of forms of body sculpting exist and are practiced. The ultimate goal of these disparate systems, however, is the same. The goal is to eliminate adipose (fat) deposits on the body and beautify the physique by eliminating these deposits. These cosmetic interventions sculpt the body by selectively removing these unsightly fat deposits, and these procedures, though similar in the ultimate goal, can have a variety of different methodologies to achieve it.
Are Body Sculpting Machines Safe?
There are so many different types of body sculpting, and it is impossible to generalize them in this way. Generally speaking, most of these cosmetic procedures are safe to perform, though they oftentimes carry their own potential side effects. There is no such thing as a totally risk-free cosmetic procedure, but the ones listed in this article are popular and frequently performed by licensed physicians.
How Much Does Body Sculpting Cost?
The cost can range from $1000 to $5000 a session, although it varies significantly depending on the type of body sculpting procedure performed. Unfortunately, as these are all cosmetic procedures, insurance will not cover the cost, so out-of-pocket payment is required. However, many providers offer payment plans to help customers be able to afford the procedures that they desire to have done.
Different Types of Body Sculpting Machines
There are various types of body sculpting, with distinct benefits and shortcomings to each. We believe that you will see, upon reading this article, that not all body sculpting methods are created equal and that some carry more risk than others. Here we will go in-depth into the different methods of body sculpting and their specific cost/benefit analyses. There are four main types of body sculpting: injection lipolysis, radiofrequency lipolysis, cryolipolysis, and laser lipolysis.
Injection Lipolysis,
The procedure followed with regard to injection lipolysis is as follows. The chosen area for treatment is marked off, and the patient is prepared for the procedure. Then a substance called deoxycholate or phosphatidylcholine, or a mixture of the two, is injected into the body fat on the chosen area subcutaneously (under the skin). Deoxycholate or phosphatidylcholine is a lipolytic agent or a chemical that causes fat cell disruption and eventually death. This eliminates the adipose (fat) deposits in the area treated and achieves the body sculpting goal. Unfortunately, this method of body sculpting can have some very severe side effects. Side effects include but are not limited to scarring, skin discoloration, and knots under the skin. Additionally, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) has cautioned against the use of such procedures in the past.
Radiofrequency Lipolysis
In this cosmetic procedure, radio waves are used to heat fat deposits in the body until they are destroyed. Similarly to other procedures, the patient is first prepared, and the area to be treated is marked off on the body. Then a device is applied about one centimeter from the skin that releases radio waves into the area to be treated. These radio waves pass through the skin without any disruption occurring and heat up the fat cells under the skin until they are destroyed and the fat deposits in the area are reduced. This procedure is permanent for the fat cells in question, as after the procedure, the adipocytes (fat cells) are dead and gone. Typically, a cooling device is utilized at the same time to keep the skin at a comfortable temperature during the procedure. This procedure has relatively mild side effects, with tissue tenderness on the area treated, as well as redness of the skin, being the most common ones.
Cryolipolysis
With this cosmetic intervention, the skin cells are left intact as extreme cold is used to obliterate the fat cells in the treated area. As with other cosmetic procedures, the patient is prepared, and the area to be treated is marked off. Then the area to be treated is placed in a sort of clamp and exposed to extremely cold temperatures through the clamp. This cold will kill the fat cells in the treated area. Patients may experience some discomfort when exposed to the cold temperatures, although this abates relatively quickly. As with other body sculpting methods, the goal of this procedure is to produce positive aesthetic changes in the body through the elimination of adipose (fat) deposits. This treatment, however, has some known side effects that you’d certainly rather avoid. For example, paradoxical adipose hyperplasia is a potential side effect of cryolipolysis that results in the number of fat cells in the area treated multiplying rather than receding. For this reason, this method is not as foolproof as some of the alternative methods, such as laser lipolysis.
Laser Lipolysis
This procedure, also referred to as “laser lipo,” involves the application of a low-intensity laser to the fat areas you wish to lose. Lasers can generate singular-directional light and heat to a minimal area. With laser lipo, the technician will target the cell with the laser. The laser penetrates the skin, reaches the targeted fat cells, and bores a tiny pore into the cellular membrane. In addition to creating the small hole, the laser emulsifies (melts) the lipids inside the cell, which allows them to seep through the pore.
The body’s lymphatic system then naturally disposes of the lipids. Emerald Laser by Erchonia works differently from other laser lipolysis methods. Emerald’s system uses ten 532 nanometer lasers to target fat cells. While the system allows the cells to drain, they remain intact. Other laser systems destroy the fat cells, which can lead to fatty deposits developing in other areas of the body.
Additionally, Emerald Laser is relatively painless when compared to other laser systems. Most patients don’t feel anything at all. Laser lipolysis is a minimally invasive weight loss method that targets body fat exclusively. It is innovative and relatively new. Laser lipolysis by Emerald Laser is the first FDA-approved laser lipolysis process.
Maintaining Results
To maintain the results of any body sculpting procedure, it is necessary to adjust dietary habits and activity levels in order to prevent the area from simply regaining the fat lost. Otherwise, you will simply gain the fat back that you lost, invalidating the results of the procedure. Careful caloric restriction, as well as potential increases in exercise, are necessary to maintain the changes caused by these procedures. Without these lifestyle changes, the results of any cosmetic procedure are temporary at best. A good way to make sure you do not gain weight is to use an online calculator and your height, weight, and activity level to calculate your TDEE or total daily energy expenditure. A calorie is a unit of energy. Your total daily energy expenditure is the total amount of energy, in calories, you expend every day. Do not eat above this limit, and you will not gain unwanted body fat. All you have to do is track your food intake to make sure it is not above your TDEE in order to maintain your current weight and make sure you do not regain any of the fat lost with your choice of lipolysis procedure.
Frequently Asked Questions About Body Sculpting
Here, we will go into more detail about some of the most frequently asked questions about body sculpting, its effectiveness, risks carried, and similar questions presented.
Which Body Sculpting Method is Most Effective?
All of the methods listed are effective and garner results. However, which particular methods will be most effective for you depends heavily on individual factors, such as the quantity of body fat you have and its distribution around the body.
Which Body Sculpting Method Carries the Most Risk?
This depends on several factors, including, most importantly, your own individual risk assessment with regard to the procedures and what you are willing to undergo. We advise that you consider the potential side effects listed in this article and determine for yourself which risks you consider unacceptable for you and use this to inform your decision-making about the various lipolysis procedures discussed here.
Are There Any Lipolysis Procedures You Would Advise Against?
We would advise against injection lipolysis procedures, in line with the recommendations of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) against such procedures. These procedures carry a disproportionate risk relative to the other procedures listed, and there is presumably a reason that the leading medical authority in the industry currently recommends against indulging in this procedure due to the risks that it carries. In fact, here is an overview of the medical risks that this procedure carries.
What is the Risk of Any Side Effects Occurring?
This depends on the procedure and specific side effects you are concerned about. An excellent resource for information about all these procedures and the potential for side effects can be found on the Mayo Clinic’s website. Simply search for the procedure you’re interested in knowing the risks of.
Emerald Laser
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