Gain Confidence with Non-Surgical Body Contouring

Every day, millions of people struggle to feel comfortable and confident in their own bodies. They tug at their clothes to get them to look better. They’re embarrassed to run into old friends. And they’re tired of not being able to get rid of that last roll of belly fat no matter how many planks they do or how many carbs they shun.

But going under the knife costs a lot of money, and comes with risks of infection and poor results, not to mention significant recovery downtime.

“Body contouring is the destruction of fat cells in particular areas of the body to smooth bulges or define curves,” explains Baker.

At Apex Skin Aesthetics, we provide three different types of non-surgical body contouring treatments: CoolSculpting Elite, EmSculptNEO, and Emface. Each technique targets different areas of the body or face using FDA-approved, scientifically-proven technologies. Each treatment kills off fat cells, which the body then metabolizes and eliminates, “…in the same fashion it rids itself of any waste product,” says Baker.

Removing fat cells this way creates a more refined, smoothed belly, buttocks, thighs, knees, back, sides, chin, neck, etc. As Baker says, “I really appreciate ‘feel good’ procedures, and body contouring is the epitome of a ‘feel good’ procedure. I find it incredibly rewarding when a patient and I look at their before and after photos, and you can just feel their confidence rising.”

While answering the question, “What is body contouring,” it’s important to also understand what it isn’t:
“Nearly every day, I have clients tell me that their ‘friend’ told them these procedures just move fat from one area to another or that the fat reduction is temporary, and it will come back,” says Baker. This isn’t true, but debunking this myth requires some understanding of how fat cells develop in the first place.

“We develop our fat cells during adolescence,” explains Baker. “After that, the cells expand and contract whenever we gain or lose weight. Once our body contouring procedures come into play and destroy the fat cells, they are permanently gone.”

Managing expectations is also important here. We cannot remove all fat cells.

Untreated areas will still have the same amount of fat cells they had before treatment, and only those areas that were treated will lose fat cells.

Baker explains that because there will be fewer cells in treated areas, any future weight gain may be more noticeable in areas that still have all of their original fat cells present. “This is why maintaining a healthy weight will give you the best body contouring results,” she says.

At Apex Skin Aesthetics, we provide three different body contouring services that treat different areas of the body. CoolSculpting uses cold to “freeze” fat cells to death in a process called cryolipolysis. EmSculpt NEO and Emface both use radiofrequency (RF) and high-intensity focused electromagnetic stimulation to destroy fat cells and firm muscles at the same time. Once again, once those fat cells are destroyed, regardless of the method, the body will simply eliminate them from the system. All of these treatments are non-surgical and non-invasive, and our clients can get right back to their daily activities with little to no downtime after treatment. Nevertheless, each treatment works a little differently, so let’s discuss the benefits of each one separately:

EmSculpt NEO is another cutting-edge non-surgical body contouring treatment that uses radiofrequency (RF) and high-intensity focused electromagnetic energy (HIFEM) to kill fat cells while also helping build and tone muscle at the same time.

“EmSculpt NEO uses paddles applied to the body that emit Synchronized RF that destroy fat cells and tighten skin and what’s called HIFEM technology which is a form of energy that will actually cause full contractions of the muscles,” says Baker.

An EmSculpt NEO body sculpting treatment usually lasts an average of 30 minutes. During this time, the applicator paddles are placed in the treatment areas and the energy heats and kills fat cells while stimulating the muscles. Again, it takes the body about three to four weeks to eliminate the dead fat cells, and full results should be visible within about three months.

Baker says that some clients report experiencing a little discomfort at the site where the paddles are applied, but only for a few days after the session. These clients say it’s like the soreness they experience after a very intense workout and that it goes away after a few days. Otherwise, clients typically go right back to their regular routines directly after their appointments, she says.

As the name implies, Emface is a non-surgical face contouring treatment. It uses the same radiofrequency (RF) and high-intensity focused electromagnetic energy (HIFEM) used in the body contouring EmSculpt NEO treatment, but it is especially used to lift and smooth the chin, neck, eye area, and jawline to remove lines and sagging while improving definition. It does this all without the use of needles, surgery, or toxic injections.

In addition to killing fat cells, it stimulates collagen and elastin production for smoother, more vibrant facial skin. Baker even appeared on New Day Cleveland to describe the treatment for viewers across Northern Ohio. For Emface “There are four 20-minute treatments, and you get one each week,” says Baker. Clients can return to work right after the appointment.

At Apex Skin Aesthetics, our mission is to help people feel confident and comfortable in their own healthy, vibrant skin. 

“I strive to always make my consultations an extremely comfortable experience for clients. I completely understand that this can be a very sensitive topic. First, we sit and discuss the client’s concerns and goals. I make sure to get a quick medical history to ensure they are good candidates for each procedure. The client’s goals will also be a huge factor in which procedure we choose.”

“Next, I explain their options and go into detailed explanations of each procedure. Then, I will do a full assessment of the client to determine the best areas to treat to achieve the discussed goals. We will determine the best procedure or combination of procedures to achieve the discussed goals and I will ensure that realistic expectations are set and that we are on the same page with treatment and results. Last, we will discuss cost options for the procedures. Every client will know the exact cost of their treatment plan at their consultation. There will be no surprises along the way.”

Speaking of realistic expectations, as with any procedure, it’s important to understand what to expect in your before and after pictures. As Baker says, each of these body contouring treatments can provide beautiful results, but to make them last, clients need to do their part.

“It is very important for clients to continue to work toward their goals on their own. These procedures are going to do a great job of jumping-starting you to your goals or finishing off what you cannot do on your own. However, a healthy lifestyle and maintaining a steady weight are essential in achieving these goals,” explains Baker.

“She also wanted to remind people that most body contouring treatments require a course of multiple sessions to get the desired results. “Make sure you are ready to treat your areas of concern to completion. A full treatment plan is essential for your best results.”

Our entire Apex Skin Aesthetics team is dedicated to helping our clients get the best results for their unique, individual circumstances. And ensuring you feel informed and confident about your body contouring options is important to us, as Baker underscores: “Ask us questions. I have treated many areas of a client’s body from their chin to their knees. We want to make sure you are feeling confident and ready to start your body contouring journey.

Dana Baker, ASN, RN is an Aesthetic Nurse practicing in our Hudson office. Once becoming a nurse in 2012, Dana fell in love with the aesthetic and cosmetic side of the profession.

After discovering her passion, she pursued several certifications and trainings to advance her career in medical aesthetics including: CoolSculpting, dermal fillers, injectables, chemical peels, microneedling, Diamond Glow, dermaplaning, CryoClear and more. She plans to continue to grow her offerings throughout her career.

Dana is extremely well-versed in medical grade skin care, focusing on Apex Skin’s own product line. She is also a ZO Skin Health Specialist and heavily educated on SkinMedica products. Anti-aging, acne, and discoloration skincare regimens are her specialty.