You did it: you committed to your body sculpting treatment, showed up for yourself, and now you’re seeing the results you hoped for. There’s nothing quite like the feeling you get when you look in the mirror and see a more sculpted, confident version of you staring back.
But as with any aesthetic journey, the results you love today will need a little maintenance to stay tomorrow. At The Skin Clinic Aesthetics & Wellness, we’re here to make sure your investment in body sculpting near Fairmont, MN, pays off in the long run, not just the short term.
Whether you’ve recently had a body sculpting appointment or are planning your first session, our team has packed this guide with expert tips. It helps you keep your results looking sharp, strong, and sculpted for the long haul, without sacrificing your sanity (or your snack drawer).
Understanding Body Sculpting
Body sculpting (also known as body contouring) is an umbrella term for a set of aesthetic treatments that work to reduce unwanted body fat while sculpting a more flattering silhouette. At The Skin Clinic, our body sculpting treatments harness the power of Emsculpt NEO or Exion to melt fat cells, enhance muscle tone, and tighten skin.
Emsculpt NEO is a non-invasive and non-surgical treatment option for body sculpting near Fairmont, MN, that uses high-intensity focused electromagnetic (HIFEM) technology coupled with radiofrequency (RF) energy.
Exion is also non-invasive and non-surgical, combining RF energy with targeted ultrasound to reduce fat while tightening the skin.
How does Emsculpt NEO do the sculpting?
The power of Emsculpt NEO comes from HIFEM and RF energy. The HIFEM technology stimulates muscles in the treatment area, causing intense muscle contractions that are much stronger than what can be achieved through traditional workouts.
These contractions help the muscles in the treatment area tighten and tone. Studies have shown that patients experience 25% muscle growth with 29% improvement in muscle strength after completing a series of treatments.
As the HIFEM technology works to improve and enhance your muscles, the RF energy gently heats the fat cells under the skin. This damages the fat cells, causing them to undergo a process called “apoptosis” (which means cell death).
The body naturally eliminates and flushes these damaged cells from the body, permanently removing them in the days following an Emsculpt NEO treatment.
While Emsculpt NEO is used to reshape and contour areas on the body, its sister treatment, Emface, is specially designed to treat the face. Learn more about what to expect from an Emface treatment in this blog.
How does Exion work?
Exion utilizes the same RF energy that Emsculpt NEO does, but replaces the HIFEM technology with targeted ultrasound. Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to heat and destroy fat cells in a specific area.
Similar to the Emsculpt NEO treatment, your body naturally flushes out these damaged fat cells in the days following your Exion session.
Body Sculpting Results Timeline
Before we take a look at how to prolong and maximize your results with Emsculpt NEO, we want to walk you through what the timeline looks like after your treatment.
- After the first treatment: Patients may notice subtle improvements in muscle tone and slight fat reduction 1 to 2 weeks after the first session.
- Progress over multiple sessions: Body sculpting near Fairmont, MN, is most effective when a patient receives a series of treatments. This is usually 4 to 6 sessions spaced 5 to 10 days apart. With each session, muscle definition improves, while fat reduction becomes more noticeable.
- When to expect full results: Everyone’s body is a little different, and the time it takes to see the full results of a body sculpting treatment plan varies. Generally, full results are most noticeable 2 to 3 months after completing your sessions. During this time, your body metabolizes and flushes the fat cells, while your muscle fibers strengthen and grow.
Maintaining and Maximizing Your Results
Though patients notice significant improvements after completing their body sculpting treatment plan, these results do require a little upkeep to ensure they last. Think of body sculpting as an ongoing journey, rather than a one-off treatment.
The first step to maintaining and maximizing your results is to follow your post-care instructions that are provided to you after your body sculpting session. We always recommend:
- Reducing direct sun exposure until you’re fully healed (usually about a week).
- Avoiding using ointments and pain medications to treat muscle tenderness unless prescribed by your doctor.
- Reporting any unusual symptoms after your treatment.
Beyond the post-care instructions, here are some steps you can take to keep loving your newly sculpted body for the long term.
Regular Exercise: Keep Your Body Moving
After your treatment for body sculpting near Fairmont, incorporating movement into your daily routine helps not only maintain your results but also improve them. Exercise helps improve muscle tone, which enhances the appearance of the muscles in your treatment area.
Strength training and cardio are great ways to preserve muscle tone, boost your metabolism, and maintain your fat loss. However, other forms of exercise can work well, too! Our team recommends specific exercises or activities that match your treatment and personal needs.
Hydration and Sleep: Recovery and Maintenance
Both hydration and proper sleep help our bodies and muscles recover, while also keeping them healthy and functioning properly. Additionally, staying hydrated after the treatment helps the body flush the damaged fat cells.
Try to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day, while prioritizing 8 to 9 hours of sleep at night. The CDC states that 1 in 3 adults isn’t getting enough sleep at night, and this takes its toll on our bodies in many ways, including inhibiting our results from body sculpting.
Balanced Diet: Fueling Your Results
What you eat plays a big part in maintaining your contoured results. Though body sculpting does eliminate fat cells in the treatment area, new fat cells can form. This doesn’t necessarily mean a strict diet is required, but approaching food a little differently is always encouraged.
A well-balanced diet that’s rich in vegetables, fruits, lean proteins, and whole grains helps prevent new fat cells from forming and supports skin elasticity. It also helps to minimize foods that have excessive sugars and fats.
Lifestyle Adjustments: Improving Longevity
Some lifestyle adjustments can be made to significantly improve the longevity of your body sculpting results. Though sometimes difficult to implement, all you need is a little self-discipline, and you will notice a difference!
Reducing alcohol consumption, quitting smoking, and managing stress in effective ways can contribute to better overall health and enhance the results of your body sculpting. Both alcohol and smoking affect the way our body heals, with nicotine constricting blood vessels.
We understand that changing your habits can be challenging. We encourage you to work these adjustments into your life, and never feel discouraged or upset if you face setbacks.
Touch-Up Treatments at The Skin Clinic
After your treatment, we recommend that you stay connected with our team at The Skin Clinic. Regular check-ins post-body sculpting allow us to properly monitor your progress and offer tailored advice based on your unique needs.
Our team is committed to supporting you throughout your body sculpting journey and will adjust your maintenance plan accordingly.
While body sculpting treatments like Emsculpt NEO and Exion offer long-lasting results, periodic maintenance sessions can prolong the results. If you ever notice that treatment areas aren’t as sculpted as they once were, follow-up treatments might be needed.
Understanding Changes Over Time
After your body sculpting sessions, expect some fluctuations, but always stay consistent with the post-treatment after-care. Our weight can fluctuate as a result of many of our internal functions, like hormones, stress, or diet. This can impact your results.
Don’t feel discouraged if you “fall off the wagon” one week. You can always pick back up where you left off, and reintegrate healthy habits back into your daily routine. If things are looking more difficult, you can always schedule a maintenance body sculpting near Fairmont, MN, for a fresh reset.
Body Sculpting vs. Weight Loss
Body sculpting is not a method of weight loss. This treatment works to reshape and contour the body, rather than focusing on lowering our overall weight.
Body sculpting is ideal for someone who is near or at their target weight, but still has some stubborn pockets of fat and poor muscle definition that traditional diets and exercise can’t improve on their own.
If you are looking for treatments that help you lose weight, The Skin Clinic has options. Learn more about our medical weight loss program, and start your journey with us.
Working with a practice that puts you first and has your best interests at heart ensures you get the best treatments possible with the best results. Learn more about what to look for when choosing a med spa near Fairmount in our blog.
Stay Sculpted, Stay Confident: Book Your Follow-up
Your body sculpting results are an investment in yourself, and with the right care, that investment can last for years to come.
With a little consistency, mindful habits, and the expert support of The Skin Clinic team, you can keep your contours looking tight and toned for the long haul. Whether you’re new to body sculpting near Fairmont, MN, or are looking to maintain your recent results, we’re just a call or visit away.
Book an appointment, and let’s build your long-term plan together.
