23 Dec 2024 | by Dr. Sean Doherty
Body contouring is one of my specialties. Having studied art history in school, I have always been drawn to ancient sculpture. I admire how the greats, like Michelangelo, used proportion to create beauty. At its core, this is what good body contouring is all about — creating or restoring harmony as the human eye equates a body that is in proper proportion with youth and beauty. While surgical body contouring procedures like a tummy tuck or liposuction are often the gold standard, not everyone wants or needs a surgical intervention. So, what is non-invasive body contouring? Here is a brief overview.
Best Non-Invasive Body Contouring Procedures in Boston
Excess pockets of fat in areas where you don’t want them is one of the primary
drivers of a body that is not in proportion. There is often a misperception, however,
that all fat is bad. It’s not. We just want the right amount of fat in exactly the right
spots. This goes back to the sculpture analogy. My job with every body contouring
procedure is to create the appropriate peaks and valleys that will restore proper
proportion to your individual anatomy. There are two options for non-invasive fat
reduction:
• SculpSure®
• Coolsculpting®
SculpSure® is typically my go-to. It is a laser so it uses heat to melt the excess fat
which can have the added benefit of producing some skin tightening in the
treatment area.
Renuvion® for Skin Tightening
Historically, the biggest drawback to non-invasive body contouring has been an
inability to effectively treat mild to moderate skin laxity. If you think about your
treatment area as a balloon, once you remove the fat or air, there is a potential for
increased wrinkling on the surface. This is particularly true for patients who may
have lost skin elasticity due to age, menopause or lifestyle choices such as
pregnancy. Renuvion® is a minimally invasive procedure that uses cutting-edge
radiofrequency (RF) technology to induce your own body to produce more
collagen and elastin. This, in turn, can help lift and tighten the skin. Technically,
this is not non-invasive as it does require a small incision. However, this incision is
so tiny that it doesn’t even need stitches. I will generally combine any non-invasive
fat removal or liposuction procedure with Renuvion® as I’ve found it to produce a
more “wow” result which is what we both want.
Top Treatment Areas for Non-Invasive Body Contouring
The top treatment areas for non-invasive body contouring for my female patients
are the:
• Abdomen
• Flanks
• Inner/Outer thighs
• Arms
• Chin
The top treatment areas for my male patients in Boston for non-surgical body
contouring include:
• Chest
• Abdomen
• Jawline
Ideal Candidate for Non-Surgical Body Contouring
Figuring out whether or not a non-invasive body procedure is right for your needs
should always begin with an in-person consultation with a board-certified plastic
surgeon, such as myself, who specializes in body contouring. As with any aesthetic
treatment, there is no one-size-fits-all solution and a great result only happens if
you get the right procedure for your anatomy and goals. In general, however, the
ideal patient for a non-invasive body contouring procedure is any man or woman
in:
• Good overall health
• Within 10 pounds of a maintainable goal weight
• Healthy skin
By the latter, I mean skin that is still relatively firm with only a mild to moderate
degree of sagging. Loose skin is truly the demarcation line between surgical and
non-surgical body contouring. Some patients may be a better candidate for surgery,
but don’t want to deal with the recovery. I understand. In those cases, I am always
extremely upfront about what you can expect as realistic expectations are a critical
component of a happy outcome.
To find out more about SculpSure®, Coolsculpting®, Renuvion®, or any other
surgical or non-surgical procedure with Dr. Sean Doherty at his Boston or
Brookline office, contact us today or call (617) 450-0070 to schedule a
consultation.
