Is Body Sculpting Painful? What does it feel like?

Body Sculpting treatments have been gaining popularity  and more and more individuals are venturing into getting treatments done to target stubborn fat and reach their body goals but there are still some uncertainties on these treatments such as if they are painful. 

The answer is no. 

Body Sculpting is a non-invasive treatment that requires no downtime. There are no incisions made and sessions can last anywhere from an hour to three hours depending on the protocol of each Body Sculpting Specialist and if they do prep work, sauna blanket, vibration plate or other options.

Treatments can sometimes be uncomfortable if the specialist is working with wood or treating cellulite on the legs which is a bit more of an aggressive treatment but it should never be painful. If You are in pain during your treatments and/or you leave with bruises, your specialist is being too aggressive or doing something wrong.

Lets go over briefly how each modality works and what you can expect to feel from each one. 

Radio Frequency

Radio Frequency technology works with heat and is more commonly known to tighten the skin by stimulating your body’s own collagen production. RF is also very effective in fat reduction because it is able to liquefy stubborn fat and make it available for your body to either use as energy or release from the body through your lymphatic system. 

In order for Radio Frequency to stimulate your body’s collagen production it needs to heat up your skin just enough for your body to register it as a burn. This is a controlled burn in which the specialist is closely monitoring to make sure that your skin reaches about 104 degrees fahrenheit but doesn't go over to prevent burning the skin. This is controlled so it should be warm but not hot. Make sure to inform your specialist if the heat is uncomfortable. 

Ultrasonic Cavitation

Ultrasonic Cavitation technology works with sound to target stubborn body fat. The cavitation head is placed over the skin of the area being targeted and is manipulated strategically to target the stubborn area. The sound emitted creates microbubbles within the adipose cells which builds up and causes the adipose tissue to release its fat contents, toxins and water. 

When having Ultrasonic Cavitation performed on your body you should expect to hear ringing in your ears. Since sound is being emitted to target your stubborn areas, the sound travels internally to your ears, so you will hear the ringing be louder as soon as the cavitation head makes contact with your skin. Your Body Sculpting Specialist can sometimes hear a slight ringing from the machine but not as strong as the individual receiving treatment. 

If the ringing is too loud for you or too uncomfortable, you can ask your specialist to turn down the intensity. If it's your first session, your specialist shouldn't be starting off on the strongest level but instead working up the intensity with each level based on your comfort. 

Cavitation can emit some heat, especially if the cavitation head also has Radio Frequency technology which works with heat to liquefy the fat and tighten the skin. If the heat is too much, make sure to inform your specialist so they may adjust accordingly. 

Low Level Light Therapy aka Laser Lipo

Laser Lipo works with red light and infrared light to heat, melt fat, stimulate collagen production and improve the skin’s appearance. This therapy can be done with laser pads that are attached to a machine or with a laser light belt; normally, the stronger of the two are the pads that are attached to the machine.

The pads or belt is placed strategically on the stubborn areas being worked on. You should expect to feel them get warm and slightly increase in heat the longer they are on the body. 

Vacuum Therapy

There is a variety in relation to vacuum therapy. There is a Vacuum probe that is attached to the machine that would normally include the Cavitation and Radio Frequency. The vacuum is used to help drain and drag lymphatic fluid and broken down fat to the lymphatic system. The vacuum suctions the skin and the specialist manipulates it strategically to move and drag to the appropriate areas. This suction can be done as pulsing or continuous, you should feel some pressure from the vacuum but it should not be painful or leave bruising.  It is normal to experience some redness on the surface of the skin due to the increase in circulation. 

Some skins are more sensitive and can bruise more easily, if you are prone to bruising, make sure to inform our specialist so they can adjust the intensity accordingly. 

The vacuum probe can sometimes come with RF technology so it could also generate heat. If it gets hot, please inform the specialist so you don't get burned. 

The other Vacuum Therapy is the popularly known Body Sculpting BBL which uses suction cups on the glutes to stimulate the muscle, increase blood flow, and help with cellulite. These can be done in continuous suction or have a programmed suction and release protocol. You can expect to feel pressure, and the pressure can be a bit uncomfortable especially if it is your first time but it should not be painful. 

There are some Body Sculpting businesses which use a higher intensity to achieve greater results right after treatment, but if the pressure is too high, this can damage the skin and potentially lead to saggy skin. This isn’t surgery and that plumped look is only temporary, the majority of the swelling goes down after the first day. This therapy works best on active individuals who weight train and target their glutes. With vacuum therapy the increased blood flow and muscle stimulation helps the muscle recover and grow quicker. 

Stronger is not always better, if there is too much pressure on the vacuum it can lead to bruising, skin tenderness, increase in appearance of stretch marks, creation of stretch marks, and the skin can be overly stretched and eventually sag. There should be a build up of pressure, but not pain. 

Wood Therapy

Wood therapy should not be painful but it can be uncomfortable depending on the area being worked and body fat percentage. 

Wood therapy is used to break down the stubborn areas and to mold the body. Many clients report feeling the most discomfort in their legs when getting cellulite treatments. In most cases the areas with cellulite are sensitive and don't handle pressure and manipulation as other parts in the body. 

If wood therapy is being used on areas with little body fat, it will be a bit more uncomfortable since the wood is making contact with the muscles. Specialists are careful in identifying the bones surrounding the area being treated to make sure to avoid direct contact with them in order to not hurt their clients. 

If the specialist is applying too much pressure or you have areas that are tender or more sensitive make this known so pressure and manipulation can be adjusted to your needs. There should be some pressure and in some body areas more than others but wood therapy should not be painful. 

Techniques vary from specialist to treatment type. There are some treatments that focus on breaking down fat content to make muscles more pronounced and this can require a bit more pressure and manipulation on the body which can be a bit uncomfortable and leave the area tender for a day or two.

Do your research and ask questions

These are the most used modalities in Body Sculpting and a bit of information on how they work and what to expect. 

Body Sculpting treatments can be a bit uncomfortable for certain body areas or treatments but they should not be painful or leave bruises. 

Not all treatments are the same and each body Sculpting specialist has their own way of working. Always make sure to schedule a consultation prior to accepting treatments and ask the specialist to explain their treatments, how they work and what to expect. Don't be afraid to ask questions and to go to a few consultations before you decide on where to receive your treatments.