An introduction to non-invasive body contouring
For the past several years, non-invasive body contouring treatments have been soaring in popularity. The treatments offer affordable body shaping results with minimal to no discomfort. Clearly, incorporating body contouring treatments can dramatically increase your client base and your revenue….but finding the information you need to do so can be difficult and confusing. In this article we have compiled the body contouring basics you need. We discuss the non-invasive body contouring technologies, the levels of body contouring machines and the body concerns that bring clients to your door. So…welcome to an introduction to non-invasive body contouring!
Introduction to non-invasive body contouring: Outline
Terminology and Definitions
I. What is non-invasive body contouring?
II. What’s the difference between non-invasive body contouring and surgical body contouring?
III. What’s the difference between body contouring and body sculpting?
Body Concerns
IV. What are the 8 body concerns that non-invasive body contouring can improve?
Technologies
V. What are the 12 major non-invasive body contouring technologies?
Machine Levels
VI. What are the 3 levels of non-invasive body contouring machines?
Profitability
VII. Is non-invasive body contouring profitable?
An introduction to non-invasive body contouring: Terminology and Definitions
I. What is non-invasive body contouring?
Non-invasive body contouring encompasses the use of specific non-invasive technologies to optimize
- The shape (reduce or enhance)
- The definition (lift, enlarge, enhance)
- The smoothness
- The toneThe condition (detox)
of the body.
Non-invasive body contouring includes
- Fat Reduction
- Skin Tightening and Smoothing
- Muscle Toning and Enhancement
- Cellulite Reduction
- Buttock Enhancement
- Stretch Mark Reduction
- Detoxification (Lymphatic System Assist)
II. What’s the difference between non-invasive body contouring and surgical body contouring?
Non-invasive body contouring treatments
- Are performed on the skin surface and do not involve incisions or cuts to make improvements to body concerns
- Can be performed by a non-physician
Surgical body contouring treatments/procedures
- Involve an invasive procedure (incisions, cuts, skin penetration) or actual surgery to improve a body concern
- Performed by physicians
III. What’s the difference between body contouring and body sculpting?
- The terms body contouring and body sculpting are interchangeable. Both are used to describe a wide range of aesthetic procedures to improve body concerns.
- Both terms, body contouring and body sculpting, can include both surgical and non-invasive procedures.
In addition, bodybuilders use the term ‘body sculpting’ to describe sculpting the body with weightlifting and diet.
An introduction to non-invasive body contouring: Body Concerns
V. What are the 12 non-invasive body contouring technologies?
- Before a body contouring technology is authorized for use in the US, the FDA reviews the technology for safety and effectiveness for its intended use.
- Most body contouring technologies have been on the market for more than ten years. The most recent body contouring technology to obtain a new authorization for use was in 2018.
Technologies listed in alphabetical order
Cryolipolysis
- Also referred to as fat freezing
- Cryolipolysis technology uses cold temperatures to kill fat cells to reduce fat in the treated area and sculpt the body
- Most well known brand name device is Coolsculpting
Light-Based Technologies
Infrared Light
- Infrared light technology emits mid, near and/or far infrared energy
-
- Increases metabolic rate and calorie burn to promote fat reduction
- Produces sweating to promote total body detoxification
- Can be delivered via many systems: blankets, sauna booths, waist wraps
Laser Lipolysis (Thermal, Heat)
- Utilizes a specific (1060 nm) laser wavelength
- Destroys fat cells to reduce fat in the treated area and sculpt the body
- Most well known brand name device is SculpSure
Magnetic Field Technologies
Electromagnetic Muscle Stimulation (EMS)
- Electromagnetic Muscle Stimulation (EMS) technology utilizes magnetic fields to produce intense muscle contractions
- Improves muscle tone, strengthens and builds muscle
HIFEM (High-intensity focused electromagnetic technology)
- HIFEM technology utilizes magnetic fields to send electrical currents to build and tone the muscles and shape the body
- This is the most recently approved body contouring technology (2018)
- Well known brand name device is Emsculpt
LED, Light Emitting Diode (Non-Thermal, Cold)
Aka low level light therapy, cold laser and red light therapy
- Uses low doses of visible light (635 - 650 nm wavelength) to induce a process called photobiomodulation (PBM) which provides multiple benefits:
- Reduces fat, minimizes stretch marks and smooths cellulite
- Well known brand name devices include Zerona, Celluma
Interested in getting certified in one of these technologies?
Mechanical or Vibration Massage Technologies
Pressotherapy
Also known as pneumatic compression technology
- Utilizes a bodysuit to apply alternating compression and decompression on the body
- Increases blood flow and lymphatic circulation, stimulates lymphatic drainage.
Vacuum Therapy
- Vacuum therapy technology combines negative pressure technology with massage and cupping
- Reduces superficial fat deposits, minimizes cellulite, increases lymphatic drainage, plus enhances the buttocks
- Well known as the ‘non-surgical BBL’ (Brazilian Butt Lift)
Vibration Therapy
- Vibration technology produces vibrating side-to-side, up-and-down and back-and-forth motions which generates up to 6G of force upon the body
- The body responds to this force with a continuous flow of muscular micro-adjustments
- Results in increased lymphatic function, muscle building, increasing bone mass, cellulite smoothing and weight loss.
Radiofrequency
Radiofrequency (RF) energy technology emits electrical energy that produces a controlled heating on the skin.
(1) The heat from the RF technology promotes new collagen and elastin growth resulting in a tightening of the skin.
(2) In some RF machines, the heat from the RF technology can penetrate beneath the skin to heat and destroy fat in the treated area.
- Well known brand name devices include Thermage, TruSculpt id
Sound Wave Technologies
Acoustic Wave
Aka sonic wave and extracorporeal shockwave
- Acoustic wave technology disrupts and damages fat cells causing fat reduction
-
- Stimulates collagen and elastin to firm and smooth the skin
- Can be used for cellulite reduction
- A lymphatic assist treatment for post-fat reduction
Ultrasound Cavitation
- Aka ultrasonic cavitation, fat cavitation or simply ‘cavitation’
- Ultrasound cavitation technology emits sound waves that penetrate into the body and form bubbles around the fat cells that burst and destroy fat cells
- Reduces fat and sculpts the body
An introduction to non-invasive body contouring: Levels of Machines
VI. What are the 3 levels of non-invasive body contouring machines?
The 3 Levels of non-invasive body contouring equipment are
- Level I - Medical Grade
- Level 2 - Paramedical Grade
- Level 3 - Entry Level
Level I Medical Grade Equipment and Devices
Conditions to purchase:
Your facility or business must have a physician or a medical director to purchase and/or operate these machines.
Who is Level I good for?
A great choice for medical spas and physician practices.
How do you get body contouring certification for Level I Medical Equipment?
Manufacturers of Level I body contouring machines provide the education and training post-purchase.
Examples of Level I Medical Equipment
- SculpSure
- Coolsculpting
- Emsculpt and Emsculpt Neo
Level II - Paramedical Grade Machines
Conditions to purchase:
These manufacturers require you to be a business owner prior to purchase.
Who is Level II good for?
A great choice for massage businesses, day spas, esthetician practices, tanning salons, body contouring businesses and weight loss centers.
How do you get body contouring certification for Level II Medical Equipment?
As with the Level I body contouring equipment, education and training is provided by the equipment manufacturers post-purchase.
Examples of Level II Medical Equipment
- Cryoskin
- Cryo T-Shock
- Endospheres
Level III - Entry Level Body Contouring Machines
Conditions to purchase:
No conditions to purchase
Who is Level III good for?
- Ideal choice for the body contouring beginner
How do you get body contouring certification for Level III Medical Equipment?
- Education and training is not provided by Level III manufacturers.
- Education and certification must be obtained separately.
Examples of Level III Medical Equipment
- 6in1 Cavitation machine
- Vacuum Therapy machine
- Cryolipolysis (Fat Freezing) machine
Interested in learning more about getting certified in body contouring?
An introduction to non-invasive body contouring: Profitability
VII. Is non-invasive body contouring profitable?
Absolutely! Just take a look at these numbers.
- Grand View Research findings tell us that the body contouring industry is expected to grow at a rate of 14.3% a year between 2023 and 2030.
- Businesses that added body contouring services already have seen an over 60% increase in their client base.
- Body contouring adds a significant jolt in potential income as well as client base.
- The average charge is $150 per body contouring treatment. If you see two clients a day at that rate, you’ll earn $1500 per week and at that rate, you could potentially earn an additional $6000 per month.