Harper’s Bazaar: Everything you need to know about non-surgical body contouring
A leading aesthetic doctor answers all
The body contouring market is only getting bigger. According to research from GlobalData, the market for non-invasive and minimally invasive fat reduction procedures is set to rise in value from around £500 million in 2015 to over £830 million by 2022. Arguably part and parcel of the ‘Kardashian effect’, this kind of ‘subtly surgery’ is sought after to enhance curves, while giving the figure a toned effect.
We spoke to Dr Nick Milojevic, one the UK’s leading aesthetic doctors and owner of the Milo Clinic, to find out more about how non-surgical body contouring procedures actually work, the results and any potential risks.
What exactly is non-surgical body contouring?
“The treatment of body contouring allows you to safely achieve a more shapely, toned body in multiple sessions. These fat dissolving and skin-tightening procedures which are minimally invasive are much more appealing when weighed against other options (such as liposuction) and the treatment sessions are relatively shorter when compared to traditional surgeries. Many women choose this over surgical procedures as they have minimal downtime and cause little to no discomfort.”
Why do you think more women are opting for non-surgical body contouring?
“Body sculpting and contouring treatments without surgery are being used for exterior and cellulite reduction all around the world, having gained the attention of both consumers and doctors alike. Apart from being non-invasive, it offers other appealing benefits like no downtime, zero risk of infection, and no scarring due to the nature of the procedure.”
What has influenced the rise of body contouring?
“I think body contouring and sculpting has evidently become more popular due to the Kardashian family, with many women requesting bigger buttocks, fat reduction, lip augmentation and facial and body contouring – mostly using images of the Kardashians as guides to illustrate the looks they want. Other major influences are reality TV – notably Love Island – Hollywood stars, Instagram culture, and the fact that people now know they can change their aesthetic areas without serious surgery.”
What does a procedure entail?
“Here at Milo Clinic we use the Med Contour, a new scientific achievement and more advanced version of the previous instrument (Med2Contour) which combines ultrasound and radio-frequency for non-surgical body shaping, reduction of fat deposits, removal of cellulite, and the firming of facial and body skin. Using the machine’s probe, we massage over the treatment areas which then damages the targeted fat cells enough so that they will die and dissolve.”
How does the Med Contour work?
“The Med Contour applicator has two low-frequency ultrasound heads that target unwanted localised fat just beneath the skin. It penetrates the targeted subcutaneous adipose tissue and is designed so that it causes fat cells to implode, thereby leaving the skin, blood vessels and connective tissue intact. During the treatment, tissue and fat cells are sucked in a vacuum in the applicator. Through two mutually coordinated actions of ultrasound, stages of compression and decompression are created, allowing the tissue to create a lot of gas bubbles. As these bubbles become bigger and bigger they implode and encourage the decomposition of fat cells.”
What does the Med Contour treatment feel like and is it painful?
“The treatment has been described as feeling like a hot deep massage. This should be a relatively painless experience, except for a few seconds using a high energy every time you treat the least desirable and most prominent areas of fatty deposits.”
Which areas can be treated?
“The stomach, thighs, arms, buttocks, knees, calves, and upper elbow fat.”
Are the results instant?
“Results are immediately visible right after the first treatment, with reductions in volume measured in centimetres. However, this type of procedure is designed to have a gradual effect over several treatment sessions.”
How many treatments do I need and how long do procedures take?
“Each session is about an hour and we advise clients to go for around 5 to 10 sessions overall, once a week, for maximum results. The duration of the treatment depends on the area and level of difficulty, and ranges in duration from 30 to 75 minutes.”
Are the results permanent?
“The results are similar to liposuction, except without the long recovery period and pain. The results are permanent, as long as you follow the recommended diet provided and practice some form of physical activity.”
Are there any risks or side effects?
“The procedure is FDA-approved and there are no serious risks or side effects; after treatments you can return to your regular activities. The procedure may cause a few seconds of pain when using high-energy ultrasound on the areas with the highest levels of fatty deposits, but this should be momentary. Patients might see a little redness of the skin post-procedure and feel slightly thirstier, but nothing that is long-lasting, and this can be mitigated by drinking lots of water before and after the treatment.”
What can you do if you don’t like the results?
“If you are not happy with the results, consult your aesthetic doctor and explain exactly what it is that you are seeking. The treatment should only take place after an in-depth consultation, so any unwanted results are highly unlikely. As the procedure is for contouring, rather than a radical re-sculpting of the figure, the results should not be so drastic that it causes a shock.”
Who are good candidates for non-surgical body contouring treatment?
“Women and men older than 16 years with realistic expectations to achieve a better body shape through an active lifestyle and a balanced diet in addition to this.”
Prices of The Med Contour Body Contouring Treatment at Milo Clinic start at £1500