Even with a dedicated fitness and nutritional regimen, it is not uncommon to feel frustrated by certain stubborn body areas that seem impossible to change. Whether you are dealing with unwanted fat, loose skin, or other challenges, body sculpting might be the perfect solution.
As a growing number of people look for ways to improve how they look and feel, body sculpting has become an increasingly popular procedure. Today, we’re taking a closer look at some of the most in-demand body sculpting trends for 2022.
What is Body Sculpting?
Body sculpting, sometimes referred to as “body contouring,” includes a variety of procedures that are designed to reshape (“sculpt”) a specific area of the body.
One of the major advantages of body sculpting is that treatments can be highly customized based on individual goals. So, body sculpting can be used to:
- Tighten, build, and strengthen muscles (especially in the abdomen and butt)
- Get rid of excess fat in the thighs, upper arms, and other areas
- Reduce excess skin
- Reshape problem areas
Depending on your needs, you can use body sculpting treatments to achieve all of the above!
How Does Body Sculpting Work?
Body sculpting works by targeting specific areas that are not responding to diet and exercise, either through surgical or non-surgical treatments.
Each body sculpting method uses a unique approach to deliver results.
- Non-surgical body sculpting involves lipolysis methods such as:
- Cryolipolysis (CoolSculpting®)
- Radiofrequency lipolysis and HIFEM+ energy treatments (Emsculpt Neo)
- Laser lipolysis
- Injection lipolysis (such as Kybella)
- Surgical body sculpting options include:
- Liposuction (lipo)
- Tucks and lifts (tummy tuck, breast lift, and many others.)
There are body sculpting treatments for virtually every area of the body, including the following:
- Arms
- Thighs
- Back
- Abdomen
- Butt
- Neck/chin
What are the Hottest Trends in Body Sculpting this Year?
More and more people are taking advantage of body sculpting to refine their shape and boost their confidence. So, body sculpting, in general, is a trend that is likely here to stay.
We’ve seen a continued interest in surgical options such as liposuction. However, non-surgical body contouring has become hugely popular, especially as people grow interested in less-invasive treatment options. Thanks to advancements in body sculpting treatments, non-surgical procedures now offer incredible results with little to no downtime required.
We’re going to discuss the trending body contouring procedures of 2022, covering both surgical and non-surgical options.
Surgical Body Sculpting Options
Liposuction (Lipo)
Year after year, liposuction has remained a highly popular procedure for individuals that want to target and eliminate fat in specific areas of their body. Liposuction results are permanent, as long as the individual maintains their body weight.
Liposuction works by “vacuuming” out the fat using a slender, hollow tube called a “cannula.” The patient is typically put to sleep using general anesthesia, though some lipo procedures require only local anesthesia (for smaller treatment areas). With liposuction, it is possible to remove upwards of 10 pounds of fat.
Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL)
Brazilian butt lifts, or BBLs, are one of the most talked-about body sculpting procedures in recent years. A BBL is a procedure that uses the patient’s own fat to increase the volume and shape of the buttocks, creating a curvier, more defined profile.
The first stage of a BBL is to extract fat via liposuction, usually targeting an area such as the lower abdomen, hips, or thighs. Then, the fat is directly injected into the tissue of the buttocks. One of the unique characteristics of a BBL is that it offers “double” results: you can reduce fat in a certain area while enhancing another.
What are the Pros and Cons of Surgical Body Sculpting?
Surgical body sculpting has its advantages, such as:
- Significant changes can be achieved through these procedures.
- The results are permanent, assuming that you maintain your overall weight.
- Surgical procedures can treat issues such as benign fatty tumors, lipomas, and chronic swelling.
Although surgical body sculpting can offer dramatic results, it is important to understand that there are drawbacks as well:
- Like any invasive surgical procedure, this form of body sculpting includes both short- and long-term risks such as:
- Discomfort
- Infection
- Fluid accumulation
- Scarring
- Bruising
- Swelling
- Changes in skin sensation, including numbness
- Damage to nerves, blood vessels, muscles, and even organs
- Deep vein thrombosis, including pulmonary and cardiac complications
- Embolism
- Irregular or asymmetrical contours
- Anesthesia risks such as nausea/vomiting, nerve injury, and (rarely) death
- There is a longer recovery period involved in surgical vs. non-surgical body sculpting. Full healing can take several weeks and even months.
- Surgery is far more expensive than non-surgical treatments.
- Not all people may be good candidates for undergoing surgery for body sculpting.
Non-Surgical Body Sculpting Options
Emsculpt Neo
Emsculpt Neo is an exciting new treatment that can burn fat while simultaneously building muscle and tightening the skin – and it’s FDA-approved.
The non-invasive procedure utilizes high-intensity focused electromagnetic energy (HIFEM) to contract the muscles in a target area and radiofrequency (RF) energy to burn fat. The combination can offer results that equate to 24,000 crunches, squats, or similar exercises.
There is no downtime associated with Emsculpt Neo, although you might feel like you just finished an intense workout session (because you did!). Results can continue to improve for up to four months after your final treatment session.
CoolSculpting (Cryolipolysis)
CoolSculpting (also known as cryolipolysis) is another FDA-approved body contouring treatment. It is a non-invasive procedure that targets areas of fat, eliminating stubborn fat pockets that aren’t changed by diet or exercise.
Using specialized paddles, controlled cooling freezes and kills fat cells, then breaks them down so they can be naturally flushed out of your body. For most patients, between one and three sessions can be enough to achieve their desired results.
After CoolSculpting, bruising and tenderness are not uncommon. However, you can resume your regular daily activities immediately after treatment, and no recovery or downtime is needed.
Kybella
Kybella is an excellent way to eliminate the dreaded double chin – something that diet and exercise can’t necessarily improve. It is a non-invasive, injectable treatment that reduces submental fullness (fat under the chin), relying on a customized approach to contour your profile and add significant definition.
One of the many reasons that Kybella is so popular is its versatility. Because your Kybella treatment will be completely personalized for you, you can get the exact results you’re hoping for.
Achieve Your Ideal Body Sculpting Results with Affiliated Dermatology
Affiliated Dermatology provides CoolSculpting in Phoenix and the surrounding Valley, as well as a broad range of additional treatments to help you feel like the best version of yourself.
Our team of professionals can create a personalized treatment plan that addresses your specific goals, ensuring the best possible results. We believe no two patients are alike, which is why customizing the patient experience is so important to us. And because there are Affiliated Dermatology offices in Gilbert, Scottsdale, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and several other locations throughout the Valley, you’re never far from a trusted team of experts.
Get more information about how body sculpting can be the solution you’ve been searching for: contact Affiliated Dermatology and schedule a consultation today.
Photos credit: Stock-Asso
