Body sculpting, made popular by celebrities like the Kardashians, has risen in popularity in recent years. Some of these treatments claim to literally kill fat cells (apoptosis) so your body loses fat and looks slimmer. But do body sculpting treatments really get rid of fat? Yes, body sculpting gets rid of fat cells and reduces the appearance of fat on targeted areas of the body. Whether using heat, cooling, or ultrasound, body sculpting treatments kill fat cells that are then excreted over the next couple of months, which is when you’ll see full results.
Body sculpting actually kills or shrinks the fat cells in the targeted areas. The cells that are killed are gone forever and won’t grow back. It is still possible to see fat in those areas again, however, like if you gain weight through unhealthy diet or lack of exercise. The fat cells that are still present in that area, the shrunk cells, will expand in size, even though those fat cells that were killed won’t come back.Body sculpting treatment is not a major weight loss treatment. It’s best for those within a few pounds of their goal weight who maintain a healthy lifestyle through diet and exercise. Body sculpting is best used to get rid of stubborn fat that can’t be reduced through exercise.
CoolSculpting
This FDA-approved treatment, also known as cryolipolysis, freezes the fat cells in an area of your choice. Once the fat cells are frozen, they die and are excreted by your body naturally over the course of a few months. Many patients who undergo CoolSculpting see a reduction in fat in the targeted area in the months following the recommended two treatments. The results are permanent as long as your weight is maintained.CoolSculpting can be used on most body parts, so if you wish to target multiple areas at once this is a great option. Treatment on a single area only takes about 30 minutes. CoolSculpting is also an FDA-certified treatment that targets the double chin!
WarmSculpting
Rather than using cold, WarmSculpting uses heat from lasers to kill fat cells. It has the same general process—fat cells are targeted, killed, and slowly excreted by the body. It is also FDA approved for certain areas of the body. Over the course of the few months after your treatments, you’ll see a reduction in fat in the targeted area. WarmSculpting is ideal for people who have small areas of stubborn fat but otherwise are in good physical condition. The results are also permanent as long as the patient maintains their weight and physical health.