Body shaming is a relatively new term but as a concept it has arguably been around for more than a century. Ever since the first printed publications, be they magazines or newspapers, started to appear and circulate through society, there has been implied pressure on readers to achieve a perfect look that matches the carefully posed photos that appear in print. Body contouring machines are a classic reflection of this demand for the ideal outward appearance – and it’s an approach that doesn’t necessarily require dieting or exercise.

Body contouring machines are also a sign of the growing popularity of non-invasive procedures. They are a quick and relatively pain-free way of achieving that desired body shape without agonizing surgical procedures, uncomfortable recovery periods and possible scarring and soreness. Body contouring is also relatively low-risk and stops people taking on the additional risks of unproven dietary fads, many of which can do more harm than good.

Why the interest in body contouring?

The concept of body contouring is arguably already being acted out in a virtual sense by many people through their use of social media and photo apps. As a practice that is solely focused on outward appearance, actual body contouring concentrates on physically altering body shape to a more pleasing visible state for the individual. Traditionally this was taken care of by physical exercise and diet, which had the extra benefits of actually boosting health and nutrition levels in the process.

The huge popularity of photo editing apps, many of which are built into social media platforms, shows that a form of body contouring has already been taking place for years. While there has been substantial criticism of such apps for encouraging the body shaming crisis, there is little doubt that their continued influence reflects a growing desire among people to alter their faces and bodies in a non-surgical way. 

The positive impact of cosmetic interventions has been proven in clinical studies. Many people have seen improvements in their overall psychological wellbeing with benefits for their social lives, leisure activities and sex lives. Some of the more extreme examples of invasive cosmetic surgery are far less likely in the type of non-invasive processes employed by body contouring machines, meaning there is much to offer in this field for anyone unhappy with their appearance.

How popular is body contouring going to be?

Cosmetic experts point to body contouring being a key beauty trend for 2020. And this is a view backed up by market analysts, who predict non-invasive and minimally invasive fat reduction procedures to be worth more than $1 billion by 2022. Technological advancements promise to push body contouring even further away from discomfort, opening up more areas of the body than ever before for possible treatment.

New innovations hold even more promise for body contouring machines. These include a new approach to actually build and develop muscle mass, through removing the fat areas covering places like abdominal muscles. Other developments are due to see the greater use of warmth and heat in processes used by CoolSculpting, which was one of the first body contouring machine treatments on the market but uses intense applications of extreme cold to literally freeze fat off.

How do body contouring machines work?

Although there are a number of new approaches emerging on the market, the usual approach up to now has been the CoolSculpting method of freezing fat cells off the body. It utilizes the natural process of selective cryolipolysis, where the body sheds dead cells; the body contouring machine freezes fat cells until they essentially become those dead cells – the body then rids itself of them. The freezing process has a further benefit in that it can target the fat cells without damaging the skin or any healthy cells and tissue that is close by.

What body contouring is not is a weight loss technique. Diets and exercise are still the recommended methods of achieving weight loss, although it is noted that many people confuse their motivation to lose weight with their unhappiness with or failure to appreciate their unique body shape. So body contouring will be a welcome solution for many people who already have reasonably healthy diets and for whom further weight loss may actually be a risk.

Another fact to consider is that weight loss doesn’t actually remove fat cells – it just makes them smaller. The approach of many body contouring machines is to provide a more permanent solution: CoolSculpting in particular is set up to remove 20-25% of fat cells in a treated area. This focus on removing fat cells is also particularly timely in the modern age of heavy consumption of fatty foods, as this practice has meant more fat ends up in fat cells because our livers are unable to process the excess fat.

Body contouring without being invasive

The development of more sophisticated body contouring machines means more people than ever can address the areas of their body they are most unhappy with. This in turn could lead to less reliance on ‘virtual’ solutions that merely provide a short-term confidence boost, such as photo editing apps. And with the promise of pain-free treatments it’s even more likely that people will opt for this approach of improving their body image.

Facial hair was once problematic.  Both men and women with too much facial hair had no real options in previous decades besides shaving and/or tweezing.  Which of course, had to be done almost daily depending upon the amount of facial hair removal.  There are now several methods to effectively and sometimes permanently remove facial hair.  Tweezing and shaving are still done routinely by individuals, but now depilatory creams and lotions exist, as well as epilation, which grabs several hairs at once and removes them by the root.  Now individuals have the option to remain hair-free for weeks. Epilation can be done almost anywhere on the body and can be done at home by an individual. It simply requires the purchase of a good epilator. Skill is required especially for facial hair removal.  

Waxing also is still very common as a salon procedure and as an at home way of removing hair.  However, waxing at home can be difficult and even in a salon sometimes painful as hot wax is applied and then when the wax dries, it needs to be pulled off quickly thereby “ripping” the hair out by the root from the body part.  With waxing, different body parts can be more sensitive, and caution should be used if attempting this as a personal project. Again, it lasts longer than shaving or plucking, but is not permanent either.  Both waxing and epilation last approximately four weeks. Each has requirements, with individuals being advised to let the hair grow out a bit first to more effectively be grabbed by the waxing or epilation.  It’s also advised to avoid any type of dermabrasion materials and to allow the skin to be unbroken and intact before using either method. Waxing especially should be used with caution and a skin sensitivity test on a small portion may also be a good idea initially with either method.  

Another method of facial hair removal is called “sugaring”.  This process originated in the Middle East initially and is less painful than waxing and can be quicker than epilation.  Sugaring uses a sweet sticky substance, water, and usually lemon juice and is applied much like waxing. Unlike waxing, though, it only pulls the hair out, and does not disturb the skin cells, therefore leading to a lot less discomfort.  It’s also all natural and biodegradable and can be used anywhere on the body, from eyebrows on down. It’s a favorite for many consumers that are seeking facial hair removal as the redness and soreness indicative of other methods is non-existent.  Sugaring can be done also in a salon or at home and as stated before is around for centuries as a good way to achieve facial hair removal. Sugaring also has been known to last longer sometimes, up to five weeks in some users. Like waxing and epilation, hair must be grown out a bit and like the other two methods, the sticky paste is also pulled off in the direction of the hair growth, effectively removing the root too.  

All the methods of facial hair removal should be postponed if certain drugs are being used, if there are open sores or wounds, if any underlying medical conditions exist, or if cold sores are present.  Anything that can lead to negative results should be avoided, and any infections should be prevented if precautions are taken.  

Laser facial hair removal is now becoming popular and individuals are doing this at home also.  However, this is a bit trickier and a few sessions are generally needed with an interim of two weeks between sessions.  A laser targets the hair to be removed and pulsates down into the root, effectively killing the root. Hair may grow back after six months or even in some cases not at all, but this method is best done in a salon to eliminate redness and swelling.  Threading is another methodology which involves wrapping a thread around facial hair for removal and then pulling it out by the root. Hair can stay dormant for about eight weeks with this method. Topical creams do exist too but can cause excessive redness and swelling and are usually prescription.  All these methods do work but laser facial hair removal and sugaring can provide longer lasting results with less skin irritation and sensitivity.  

Last but not leastelectrolysis is a great method of facial hair removal but like laser hair removal should be done in a salon.  Both these methods have increased in popularity in recent years, but electrolysis does not use a laser but a radio wave to kill the hair root.  Since they both can cause redness and swelling and need a good consultation first, a salon is a good bet for any consumer considering either of these.  Results can be dramatic and long-lasting with these methods, but skill is imperative to prevent negative adverse reactions and consequences. Permanent facial hair removal methods are very much still an individualized choice.