Some things in life we just can’t change, but thanks to the advent of noninvasive body-contouring procedures, treating areas with stubborn fat and cellulite is just not one of them. Long gone are the days of tirelessly spot-training one part of the body that refuses to get in proportion with the rest. Now, in just one, two or a series of visits to the doctor, we can finally say goodbye to those troublesome spots. “Noninvasive body contouring is perfect if you’re interested in losing a few pounds and inches and are committed to following doctor’s orders,” says Montclair, NJ dermatologist Jeanine Downie, MD.
Fat Blasters to the Rescue
How They Work: All protocols—cold, heat, ultrasound, radio frequency (RF) and injections—work to disrupt fat cells and expel them from the body through its own metabolic system.
What to Expect: Immediate death of the fat cells doesn’t necessarily mean immediate results because the actual death cycle of the cell can sometimes take several months. In other words, “good things come to those who wait.”
Post-Treatment Care: Most noninvasive body-sculpting procedures are typically downtime-free with minimal recovery. “You can easily lose three to four inches, but you have to maintain a stable weight,” says Dr. Downie.
Longevity: “Once the fat cells are gone, they do not grow back, and therefore they can no longer shrink and expand with weight gain or loss,” says New York plastic surgeon David Rapaport, MD.