The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reported more than 17.7 million aesthetic procedures performed in 2019. That’s up to nearly 300,000 treatments from 2018, mainly due to the popularity of non-surgical therapies.
One such non-invasive procedure leading the way is a fat-loss procedure called body sculpting. This category increased 6% from 2018 to 2019, totaling 377,000 treatments.
Non-surgical fat loss procedures are FDA-approved to help people lose stubborn fat that doesn’t respond to diet and exercise. These procedures aren’t for everyone, though. Body contouring works best for people within 30 pounds of their ideal weight.
Sound good? We think so too, and that’s why we created this guide to understanding the cost of non-invasive fat loss procedures. So keep reading to learn how much body sculpting is and how we can help make it more affordable.
THE PRICE OF BODY SCULPTING BY TECHNIQUE
The FDA has approved four non-surgical body contouring techniques as of this writing. Cryolipolysis, radiofrequency, ultrasound, and laser body sculpting therapies are safe and effective for fat loss in individuals with a BMI of 30 or below.
The cost per session varies depending on the body sculpting technique used. Keep reading to learn about the cost of each non-invasive fat-loss procedure.
CRYOLIPSYS THERAPIES
Cryolipolysis is a non-surgical fat reduction technique known as fat freezing. Professionals utilize medical-grade cryo-lipolysis machines to freeze and permanently destroy fat cells in a particular region.
CoolSculpting is one brand of cryolipolysis fat reduction that’s been around since 2012. It’s best for treating areas like double chins, the jawline, thighs, abs, flanks, and more.
According to its official website, CoolSculpting costs anywhere from $2000 to $4000. Why the wide price range? The total price of getting CoolSculpted also depends on the number of sessions you need and the area you want to target.
RADIOFREQUENCY APPLICATIONS
Radiofrequency body contouring treatments use heat energy to melt away stubborn fat cells literally. A highly-targeted sensor automatically calculates the power the target area needs, eliminating stubborn fat cells.
TruSculpt iD is a radiofrequency body sculpting technique from Cutera. This technique can reduce fat cells by up to 24% in 15 minutes. Even better, one session of TruSculpt iD tends to cost an average of $750.
ULTRASOUND TECHNIQUES
Like radiofrequency contouring, ultrasound techniques destroy fat cells with energy. In this case, the energy comes from ultrasound vibrations. This type of body sculpting is ideal for small fat reductions, especially on the stomach.
UltraShape was the very first ultrasound body contouring technology to hit the market. It’s FDA-approved, safe, and effective. According to Healthline, UltraShape can cost between $1000 and $4500.
LASER THERAPIES
Laser therapy is a minimally-invasive alternative to traditional liposuction. That’s why it’s also known as laser lipo treatment. It’s meant for people who don’t want to undergo lipo but have more fat to lose than one of these body sculpting techniques can handle.
SculpSure takes the laser fat removal technique a step into the future because it’s completely non-invasive. However, according to Healthline, SculpSure costs an average of $1400–$1500.
ADDITIONAL COST FACTORS TO CONSIDER
The total price of non-surgical fat loss treatments doesn’t depend on the cost per session alone.
The body area you want to target and the number of sessions you need to reach your target appearance will also contribute to the price. Additionally, full-time professionals may wish to factor time missed from work into the total cost.
TARGET BODY AREA
Body contouring methods are currently approved for areas that hold onto stubborn fat, including:
Arms
Thighs
Stomach and abs
Double chin
Butt and flank
Regarding price, sculpting a smaller body area will always cost less than a larger one. For example, it would be much pricier to contour your entire stomach than to contour the neck fat on your jawline.
Along the same lines, treating multiple areas on the same body part costs more. For example, the price to contour both arms or thighs is higher than the price to target only one arm or thigh. It would also be more expensive to contour the inner and outer thigh than the inner thigh alone.
NUMBER OF SESSIONS
One body sculpting session may not be enough to get your desired results. This is especially true; the more fat you have to lose. Most non-surgical fat reduction professionals recommend between one and four treatments for the best results.
The more sessions you need, the higher the price of body contouring. There is good news, though. Many providers offer discounts on the more sessions you book to help lower the total cost. We recommend you always ask your provider if they offer a package price.
WORK MISSED
When calculating the cost of body sculpting, don’t forget to factor in the time you’ll have to miss at work. That means considering how much time you’ll miss from work per session and for recovery.
Non-invasive fat loss professionals recommend that patients wait at least 3 days between sessions. That means you could complete 2–3 sessions within two weeks.
A single fat reduction procedure generally lasts between 15 minutes and an hour. So you could schedule your body contouring appointment in the morning and make it back to work that same afternoon.
You may not even have to miss a single day of work after a non-invasive fat reduction. Most people report no recovery time and very mild side effects. That’s not the case for invasive and surgical methods, of course.
HOW TO GET AFFORDABLE BODY CONTOURING?
The cost of body sculpting will vary based on the technique used, the body part you want to target, and the number of sessions needed to achieve your desired results. You may also want to consider additional costs like time missed from work. Always ask your provider if they offer financing options for invasive and non-invasive treatments.
DOCUMENT YOUR PROGRESS
Whatever treatments you opt for, create a system to track your progress. You do not need a fashion photographer to document everything (unless you are modeling), but you can take pictures of the treatment area to compare progress. If you are doing it in a medical facility, ask your provider to take pictures before and after every session so you can refer to the photos when evaluating your progress. That should be free, so never pay anything extra for a couple of pictures you can take yourself.
CONCLUSION
Are you convinced that non-surgical fat loss is right for you but think you can’t afford it? We believe that cost should be a topic to discuss after finding out what treatments are best for you. We encourage you to do your research and find a trusted provider first. A trusted provider should offer you a free consultation with zero purchase obligation, so you can make an educated decision instead of wondering about the price. Once you find out what treatments are best for you, you should discuss costs and ask about package pricing and potential financing options.
If you’re planning to get rid of more than the stubborn fat pockets on your abdomen or other body parts, you may want to look into surgical options like liposuction surgery. But, no matter what method, never choose your cosmetic surgeon because they charge less than others. Surgical prices are high because of the high costs, and low prices can be a red flag!
