August 15, 2025

Non-surgical Body Contouring:

What are Your Choices?

Medically reviewed by Arman Karapetyan, MD, PhD

Non-surgical aesthetic procedures have gained immense popularity in the last decade, thanks to their minimally invasive, or sometimes even non-invasive nature. Non-invasive body contouring is more popular than ever because of the convenience it offers.

What are its pros, cons, and costs? Let’s find out in today’s article.

What is Non-surgical Body Contouring?

Non-surgical body contouring includes elective cosmetic treatments that improve the aesthetic appeal of your body without the need for general anesthesia and incisions. It enhances the natural curves of your body through targeted fat reduction. Technologies, including but not limited to laser lipolysis, cryolipolysis, and radio frequency, are used to achieve the desired look.

Such treatments are an alternative for liposuction, which involves vacuuming fat via a small incision or a tummy tuck, where excess skin and tissues are surgically removed.

You can explore the full range of various minimally invasive body contouring options at our medical spa in Los Angeles.

Popular Non-surgical Body Contouring Options

While the options are many, some of the most common (and popular) non-invasive body contouring options include:

CoolSculpting

This alternative for liposuction uses cryolipolysis or fat freezing to get rid of wanted bulges from your body. An applicator device is used to freeze fat cells in the target area for an hour. The freezing action kills fat cells, which are then eliminated from the body by natural processes.

You may experience mild discomfort and pain during the procedure. Redness, swelling, skin discoloration, and bruising are also common side effects. That said, this type of body contouring without surgery is relatively hassle-free and painless compared to liposuction or a tummy tuck.

Anyone with pinchable fat deposits is a good candidate for CoolSculpting, although you should avoid this treatment if you have Raynaud’s Disease, Cryoglobulinemia, or develop hives when exposed to cold.

Want to learn more about CoolSculpting in Los Angeles? Contact us.

Morpheus8 Body

Morpheus8 Body is one of the most effective alternatives to liposuction for belly fat that uses a combination of microneedling and radio frequency (RF) to destroy fat deposits. This technique also stimulates collagen production, so you end up with better, smoother, and taut skin in the treatment area.

It’s particularly great for reducing cellulite, but steer clear of it if you have tattoos in the target area, medical implants like pacemakers, or metal rods/plates from an earlier injury.

CoolTone

CoolTone uses something called Magnetic Muscle Stimulation (MMS) to induce repeated muscle contractions in the target area. These contractions can tone the muscles in your arms, thighs, buttocks, and even your abdomen. CoolTone is an FDA-approved non-invasive body contouring treatment with no downtime.

You may experience some soreness in the target area, but that’s a common side effect in most non-surgical body contouring options and is manageable. Avoid if you have medical implants or metal plates.

To know if you are eligible for CoolTone treatment in Los Angeles, talk to our experts today.

Which Areas Of The Body Can Be Contoured?

Traditional body contouring techniques can be used to tone up the abdomen, arms, thighs, and legs. Non-invasive body treatments target the same areas, although some may show better results in specific parts of the body. For example, CoolTone is fantastic for arm fat reduction, while CoolSculpting gives great results when stubborn abdominal fat reduction is your priority.

You can also consider non-surgical body contouring options for your neck and the jawline.

Talk to our experts to figure out which non-surgical body contouring option will work the best for you.

What To Expect During And After Treatment

Irrespective of which non-invasive body contouring treatment you are undergoing, your medical specialist will closely collaborate with you to understand your primary concerns and expectations.

During the treatment, you can expect them to draw on the target areas and use some form of anesthetic (in case of Morpheus8) to make the process bearable. That said, the exact course of action still depends on the non-surgical body contouring you are undergoing.

You will experience some side effects after the treatment. Redness, swelling, and skin discoloration are all common post-treatment. Most of these are manageable. Your medical professional will discuss discomfort and pain management well before you undergo the session, so rest assured, you’ll know what to expect.

More serious complications may include:

01blood clots

02bleeding

03hematoma

04severe skin discoloration

05extreme pain and swelling

While these are rare, it’s best to exercise precaution to ensure that you experience none of it. Choose your provider wisely to avoid adverse outcomes. Follow all the pre- and post-op self-care tips prescribed to you with precision. That’s going to ensure that you have a favorable experience.

How To Maintain Your Non-surgical Body Contouring Results

Before we get to that, here’s a disclaimer.

The results of non-surgical body contouring are pronounced but not permanent. Neither are non-surgical body contouring options a treatment for weight management, especially if you suffer from obesity.

In order to maintain the results, you must follow a healthy lifestyle, supplemented by a well-balanced diet and regular exercise that suits your body. Cut out processed foods and make sure to stay hydrated. It bodes well for your body to follow all post-procedure care recommendations.

You can always schedule a follow-up session with your plastic surgeon if needed.

Will You Need More Treatments Over Time?

That depends on your initial shape and desired outcome. Usually 3 treatments, 4 weeks apart, are recommended for the optimal results.

You may need more sessions if:

1. You did not achieve the desired outcome from the first treatment. In that case, you should discuss further sessions with your aesthetician to understand how the outcome can be improved, what are the risks associated with it, and how long you need to wait between sessions. Do not rush the process — your body must be able to tolerate the exertions.

2. You have witnessed fat accumulation in other parts of your body previously untreated. Repeating non-surgical body contouring treatments that have worked in other parts of your body may be a good idea.

3. The results of the first non-invasive body treatment are starting to wear off.