Sculpted, Not Skinny: What Body Contouring Can Do That Diets Can’t

“Body contouring is the perfect way to target specific areas of fat to enhance the natural curve of the body,” explains Baker. “It is a wonderful addition to a healthy lifestyle. But body contouring is not a weight loss procedure.”

Different techniques target different areas of the body, from the belly to the hips, from the thighs to the arms, and even under the chin. When we use a fat-freezing treatment like CoolSculpting, it changes the shape of your body, not the number on the scale. The two leading technologies in the non-surgical fat reduction realm are:

Non-surgical body contouring isn’t just gaining popularity—it’s redefining how people think about physical transformation. Globally, this market is expected to grow from over $6 billion in 2025 to more than $10 billion within a decade. But it’s not just the numbers that are rising—patient satisfaction with these treatments regularly exceeds 80%, especially when expectations are clear and realistic. People love the subtle, sculpted results—and the confidence that comes with them.

Reaching your health and fitness goals is no small feat—and sticking to them is even harder. But even after making all the right choices, many people find they’re still battling the same problem areas. That’s because some aspects of body shape and fat storage are influenced by factors that workouts and calorie tracking can’t fully change. If you’ve done the work and are still frustrated by what you see in the mirror, body contouring can help you take the next step. Here’s why stubborn fat often needs a more targeted approach:

The latest research indicates that genetics makes a big difference in how and where our bodies store fat, as well as how our bodies use and burn fat. While healthy lifestyle choices are absolutely essential, they can’t always overcome the genetic programming to shave off those belly bulges.

Some fat cells can also be especially hard to burn. People who have struggled with obesity and overweight for one reason or another over the years may find it particularly hard to burn off stubborn fat simply because some kinds of fat cells actively fight against being burned.

Hormones and how they change as we age are incredibly influential in how our bodies store and burn fat. In addition to hormonal differences in the ways men’s and women’s bodies store fat, there are also additional impacts from the stress hormone cortisol.

Combine these hormonal, genetic, stress, and fat-stubbornness issues, and you might be fighting an uphill battle against the bulge. It’s not your fault! You’re not a failure. It’s just normal biology. And this is where a combination of non-surgical fat reduction techniques like “fat freezing” can slim and smooth those stubborn spots.

Body contouring modalities are especially helpful for people who:

There are also a couple of body contouring myths we’d like to debunk to balance out the two items above:

The bottom line is that non-surgical fat reduction techniques are a complement to healthy lifestyle choices and striving toward a healthy weight. They are not a replacement for the work you’re already doing

How Long Until I See Results from Non-Surgical Fat Reduction?

“Body contouring is not an overnight fix,” says Baker. “It takes time for your full results to show.”  Just like anything worth doing, the results are worth the wait, as she explains further: “Typically, full results take approximately 3 months after your last treatment. However, most patients begin noticing improvements approximately 4-6 weeks after their first treatment. The fat reduction is permanent since we are literally destroying the fat cells, and your body is eliminating them.”

Baker has treated many body contouring patients who have had areas from head to legs sculpted and smoothed:

“The abdomen and flanks are probably the most common areas that I treat, but I have CoolSculpted everything from the chin to the knees. Most patients tend to hold additional fat in the midsection, which leads them to the CoolSculpting journey.”

The most commonly sculpted areas include:

The Apex Skin aesthetics team works with each individual patient on a customized body contouring plan that addresses their target areas of concern, taking their medical history and personal needs fully into account.

CoolSculpting and EmSculpt Neo both trim stubborn bulges, but they use different means to accomplish this goal, and often on different areas of the body. Some patients benefit from using one or the other approach, but many of our patients use a combination of both in different areas, as Baker explains:

“Utilizing both CoolSculpting and EmSculpt NEO modalities is an ideal treatment package since CoolSculpting does an amazing job of fat reduction and EmSculpt NEO can finish off your results by building muscle.”

They each work a little differently, of course, and can be combined to accomplish the desired aesthetic goals:

Safe, tested, and FDA-approved CoolSculpting uses cryolipolysis—controlled, clinically-administered cooling to freeze and, subsequently, eliminate stubborn fat cells from the body. ” CoolSculpting is the world’s #1 non-invasive fat reduction treatment,” says Baker. “It is the tried and true to deliver the best overall fat cell reduction.” It is best used in situations where there is “pinchable fat” in targeted areas like the belly and flanks. There is no downtime after an appointment, and you can go from our office straight back to your daily schedule. As “fat freezing” kills the fat cells, the body simply eliminates them when you go to the bathroom over the course of a few weeks. Want to know what a treatment actually feels like? We break it down in this article.

“EmSculpt NEO focuses more on building muscle with the added bonus of some fat loss,” says Baker. The treatment uses a combination of radiofrequency to heat and shrink fat cells and high-intensity focused electromagnetic energy (HIFEM) to stimulate thousands of deep muscle contractions in a single session. This powerful combination not only tones muscles but also boosts collagen production and tissue remodeling—especially helpful in areas where you want more definition.

It’s a great option for people targeting areas like the abs and glutes that benefit from both slimming and strengthening. Appointments typically take about 30 minutes, and there’s no downtime. Most patients start with a series of four treatments spaced a few days apart.

Neither one is better than the other—they simply do different things.

While CoolSculpting is exclusively fat-focused, EmSculpt Neo targets both fat cells and muscle tissues. As Baker explains, “It is very patient-dependent. If fat reduction is the goal, I will almost always choose CoolSculpting. If muscle building is the goal, I will always choose EmSculpt.”

In addition, Emface uses similar technology, but it’s designed especially for facial contouring. So, if you’re looking to lift that chin in a non-surgical manner, making your neckline look smoother and more tight, Emface is a great option for that.

You’ve done the hard work; now it’s time to let us help you refine and smooth the results to get you over those genetic, hormonal, stubborn-fat-cell obstacles. It’s all about feeling empowered in your body. Baker loves the feedback she gets from patients who come in for non-surgical fat reduction all the time:

“They are thrilled, and we begin planning the next area of treatment!”

If you’re curious about body contouring, but still a little hesitant, the best thing you can do is talk to the experts at the Apex Skin location closest to you to find out if this is your best option. “A one-on-one conversation, including education on the treatment, the plan, and the goal, is the most important step,” says Baker. “That meeting will help you make an informed decision whether body contouring is the best plan for you and allow time for all of your questions to be answered.” Schedule an appointment to take the next step in your journey today!