What Is Body Sculpting? 16 Things to Know

Are you looking to lose those last stubborn inches from your waist? If you have not seen any changes in your body fat after hours in the gym and weeks of dieting, it may be time to speak to a professional. Body sculpting is a treatment to eliminate stubborn fat for good without diet and exercise. Contact Old Town Med Spa in Chicago, IL if you have any questions about the treatments we offer. There are a range of factors in deciding if treatment is right for you and which treatment to choose, and we’ve listed the 16 things you must know about our sculpting treatments.

16 Things to Know About Body Sculpting

What Is Body Sculpting?

Body sculpting, or body contouring, is a treatment designed to remove unwanted fat and tighten the skin. The treatment results in a flat and fit looking body without the need for months of intense workouts and dieting. Modern body contouring treatments do not require invasive surgical procedures or liposuction to get spectacular results. Treatment sessions are quick and patients are not subject to extensive recovery times.

What Are the Different Types of Sculpting Treatments?

There are a variety of sculpting treatments available to suit many patients’ needs. At Old Town Med Spa in Chicago, we offer CoolSculpting and Vanquish ME as some of our most popular and effective body contouring treatments. We also offer liposuction and several skin-tightening procedures for patients looking for something slightly different.

What Is CoolSculpting?

CoolSculpting is an FDA-approved fat removal treatment that can be used on nine areas of the body. Allergan developed CoolSculpting from cryolipolysis research conducted at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. A doctor uses the CoolSculpting device to sculpt your body in the area where treatment is requested. The unwanted fat is frozen and destroyed by the process of cryolipolysis, and the fat is naturally removed from the body as waste. The removal of fat will cause no changes to a patient’s daily life and can be improved with a lymphatic drainage massage.

What Is Vanquish ME?

Vanquish ME, or Maximum Energy, is an FD- approved sculpting treatment developed by BTL Aesthetics for the removal of unwanted fat. The treatment uses selective radiofrequency energy to eliminate fat cells. Vanquish ME is unique because it can be used for patients who have a BMI over 30 and uses a device that makes no contact with the skin. The treatment heats the fat cells to 120-degrees Fahrenheit to eliminate them but does not heat the tissue or skin enough to cause damage. The destroyed fat cells are naturally removed from the body as waste.

What Are the Treatable Areas?

CoolSculpting is FDA approved to treat nine parts of the body. Patients can remove unwanted fat from their flanks, abdomen, inner thighs, and outer thighs for a thin and smooth midsection. CoolSculpting even works on sensitive areas like submental fat on the neck or “double chin”. The lower back, bra strap area, upper arms, and fat below the buttocks or “banana roll” can also be treated with CoolSculpting.

Vanquish ME can be used to treat a large area of the body at one time. The treatment is concentrated on the midsection and uses a device that will wrap around your waist without touching the skin. The waistline can be reduced by 2 to 4 inches, making pants fit better and even reducing a patient’s clothing size. Other areas where stubborn fat is deposited, such as the abdomen, flanks, hips, upper and lower back, inner thighs and outer thighs, can be treated with Vanquish ME at the same time.

Is It Safe?

CoolSculpting and Vanquish ME are safe for most patients. The treatments are FDA approved and are painless. CoolSculpting patients can often pass the time reading a book or using a mobile device. Patients note feeling the pulling sensation of the suction device and may experience tingling at first, but the sensation eventually subsides as the treatment area becomes numb. The treatment may be followed by some minor swelling and redness for several hours.

Vanquish ME causes no pain or discomfort. Patients note feeling like a large heating pad has been placed on their midsection. The device is designed to heat fat up to 120-degrees Fahrenheit, but it only heats surrounding tissue and skin to a comfortable 101-degrees. Both treatments will leave no scars and are much safer than liposuction or surgical procedures that are invasive and require lengthy recovery time.

What Are the Benefits of CoolSculpting and Vanquish ME?

If a patient has lost weight and has tried and failed to get rid of the last, stubborn fat, a body contouring treatment is probably the right solution. Body contouring can provide a sense of accomplishment, confidence, and improved self-image. Many patients have fewer problems getting out and going to the gym after their treatment. CoolSculpting and Vanquish ME can help patients reduce their pants or dress size, lose inches off their waistline, and lower their BMI without the need for intense diet and exercise.

When Will I See Results?

CoolSculpting results may take some time. In clinical studies, most patients reached their desired results after four months. Patients will notice a reduction in fat during the first three months, and the results may continue to improve until the sixth month. This depends on the number of treatment sessions needed and the amount of fat being removed. The treatment appears to progress naturally because the eliminated fat is naturally removed from the body. Patients can see a 20% to 25% reduction in fat in the treated area after only one session.

Vanquish ME patients will see their final results approximately two weeks after their final treatment session. This means that patients will see their desired results by the eighth or tenth week of their treatment. This depends on the number of treatments the patient needs. Many patients notice a change after only their first session. Vanquish ME can result in up to a 59% reduction in fat around the midsection.

How Long Does Each Session Take?

A CoolSculpting session takes only 35 minutes for smaller areas and less than an hour in most cases. Patients can have multiple areas treated in a single session, but this does mean treatment time is extended. CoolSculpting can be completed in a single session, and for most patients, only two sessions will provide their desired results. If more than one session is needed, the patient must wait at least one month before the second session.

Vanquish ME sessions can be completed in 30 to 45 minutes regardless of the areas being treated because the device treats multiple areas simultaneously. Most patients need between four and six treatments to reach their goal, and each treatment is spaced one week apart.

How Long Do the Results Last?

CoolSculpting and Vanquish ME can provide long-lasting results for a majority of patients. Patients who live a healthy lifestyle by getting enough exercise and eating healthy have the best results and the most prolonged results. The treatments eliminate fat cells in the treated areas permanently, and they will not regenerate. CoolSculpting does not require any touch-ups for a majority of patients but can be used for those who have gained weight or gone through childbirth after the treatment. Vanquish ME also provides results without the need for touch-up treatments.

Can CoolSculpting or Vanquish ME Be Used for Weight Loss?

CoolSculpting and Vanquish ME are not a means for weight loss. Fat does not weigh much, so eliminating fat will not cause a dramatic loss of weight. Both treatments can help clothing fit better and reduce a patient’s waistline by several inches. Vanquish ME provides a greater reduction in fat and can be used by patients with a BMI over 30. Patients looking for a more significant loss of weight or fat should speak with their doctor.

How Should You Prepare for Treatment?

Preparation for CoolSculpting or Vanquish ME is simple. Patients can diet and exercise to improve their results and will meet with Dr. Gharbi to discuss their treatment options. CoolSculpting patients should remain within 10 pounds of their weight from their initial consultation to the first treatment session.

What Is the Recovery Like?

Patients who undergo CoolSculpting or Vanquish ME will not have an extensive recovery time. Most patients have no downtime after the treatment and can return to their daily routine or work immediately after treatment. The treatment is completed in our Chicago office and requires no overnight stays. Some patients even schedule their treatment during their lunch break and return to work afterward.

Body sculpting treatments are an excellent alternative to liposuction and surgical procedures that can result in several days of downtime. Vanquish ME patients are encouraged to stay hydrated and get some light exercise before and after the treatment.

Is It Expensive?

Body sculpting treatments can range in price depending on the location where the treatment is being performed, the number of sessions, and the size of the area being treated. For more information on our prices, contact Old Town Med Spa in Chicago, IL. CoolSculpting and Vanquish ME are both voluntary cosmetic treatments and are not covered by most health insurance plans. For more information about your insurance benefits, contact your health insurance provider.

Who Is the Ideal Candidate for CoolSculpting and Vanquish Me?

CoolSculpting and Vanquish ME is best for those who are healthy but looking to remove deposits of stubborn fat from their body. Men and women of all ages and skin tones can benefit from body contouring treatment. Both treatments can be performed quickly and involve no downtime, so busy patients can enjoy results without a large commitment of time.

Who Is treatment Unsafe for?

CoolSculpting and Vanquish ME are not recommended for women who are pregnant or nursing. Patients who have an active infection should speak to their doctor before going for treatment. Patients who have had recent surgery or other body contouring procedures should also talk to their doctor about the possible impact treatment might have.

Inform Dr. Gharbi if you have any allergies or recent surgeries. CoolSculpting is not recommended for those patients with conditions that cause sensitivity to cold, such as cryoglobulinemia. Vanquish ME is not recommended for patients with metal implants. Any treatments will be carried out only if it is determined that the treatment is beneficial and safe for each patient.

Take the First Step to Your Desired Body Goal

If you want to discover more about body sculpting, visit Old Town Med Spa in Chicago, IL for an initial consultation. We can help you determine if Vanquish ME or CoolSculpting will provide you with better results and help you get treated quickly and effectively. Both treatments are safe and do not require downtime, so patients can quickly get back to their normal routine.

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