You’ve been working out consistently. Eating clean. Maybe you’ve even lost significant weight. But there’s still that stubborn pouch on your lower belly. Or love handles that won’t budge no matter how many planks you do. Maybe it’s the back fat that shows through your swimsuit, or that double chin that appears in every photo.
You’re close to your goal, but those last few problem areas just won’t cooperate. Sound familiar?
Body contouring can help with exactly these situations. At Manhattan Laser Spa in Fort Lauderdale, we use FDA-cleared technology to target stubborn fat deposits without surgery, anesthesia, or weeks of recovery. Here’s what you need to know about actually getting rid of those problem areas (not just shrinking them temporarily).
Body contouring uses various technologies to reduce fat and improve your body shape without surgery. It’s not weight loss. It’s body shaping.
The goal? Get rid of those specific areas that don’t respond to diet and exercise. We’re talking about pockets of fat that stick around even when the rest of you is in pretty good shape.
Different technologies work in different ways:
Fat freezing (cryolipolysis) uses controlled cooling to freeze fat cells. Those cells die and your body eliminates them naturally over the next few weeks. CoolSculpting is the most well-known fat freezing treatment.
Radiofrequency (RF) treatments heat fat cells to the point where they break down. The heat also stimulates collagen production, which tightens skin at the same time.
Laser lipolysis uses laser energy to liquefy fat, which your body then processes and removes.
Ultrasound cavitation uses sound waves to disrupt fat cell membranes, causing them to release their contents.
High-intensity electromagnetic (HIFEM) technology (like Emsculpt) goes further by building muscle while reducing fat. It forces muscle contractions that you can’t achieve through regular exercise.
All these treatments permanently eliminate fat cells. When those cells are gone, they’re gone for good. But here’s the catch. You can still gain weight if you’re not careful about your lifestyle afterward.
Body contouring works on stubborn pockets of fat, not large areas of excess weight. Here’s where it’s most effective:
Abdomen. Both upper and lower belly. This is the most common treatment area. Post-pregnancy pooch, beer belly, that lower abdominal fat that hangs over your jeans.
Love handles (flanks). Those rolls that spill over your waistband. They’re incredibly stubborn because that’s where your body naturally stores fat.
Back fat. Bra line bulge, upper back rolls, lower back fat. This stuff shows through clothing and is really hard to lose through exercise alone.
Thighs. Inner thighs (that area that rubs together), outer thighs (saddlebags), front thighs. Each area needs different treatment approaches.
Arms. Upper arm flab, sometimes called bat wings. Common after weight loss or as you get older and lose muscle tone.
Double chin. Submental fat that creates a double chin appearance. This area responds really well to treatment.
Buttocks. Specifically the area under your buttocks (banana roll). Also useful for reshaping and lifting.
Knees. Fat above and around the knees. Not as common but bothers some people.
Chest. Men with chest fat (gynecomastia). This can be embarrassing and hard to fix with just exercise.
This is important. Body contouring isn’t for everyone.
You’re a good candidate if:
You’re NOT a good candidate if:
Let’s be clear about something. Body contouring refines. It doesn’t transform. If you need major body reshaping, you’re probably looking at surgical options like liposuction or a tummy tuck.
CoolSculpting uses controlled cooling to freeze fat cells without damaging surrounding tissue. An applicator sucks up your fat bulge (kind of like a vacuum) and cools it to a precise temperature. Fat cells freeze and die. Your body’s lymphatic system eliminates those dead cells over the next 8 to 12 weeks.
Each treatment reduces fat in the treated area by about 20% to 25%. That’s not huge, but it’s noticeable. Most people need 1 to 2 treatments per area for good results.
Treatment takes 35 to 60 minutes per area. You can read, work on your laptop, or watch videos during treatment. There’s no downtime. You might be numb and red for a bit, but that’s it.
CoolSculpting works well for abdomen, love handles, thighs, arms, back, and double chin. It’s FDA-cleared and has been around long enough that we know it’s safe and effective.
RF treatments use radiofrequency energy to heat fat cells and destroy them. The heat also tightens skin by stimulating collagen production. This makes RF treatments good for people who have both stubborn fat and slightly loose skin.
Treatment feels like a warm massage. Some systems have cooling built in to keep you comfortable. Sessions take 30 to 60 minutes depending on the area.
You’ll typically need 4 to 6 treatments spaced 1 to 2 weeks apart. Results show up gradually over a few months.
RF treatments work well on areas with both fat and skin laxity. Think post-pregnancy belly, upper arms, thighs, and abdomen.
Emsculpt uses high-intensity electromagnetic energy to force your muscles into supramaximal contractions. These are contractions way beyond what you can achieve voluntarily. In a 30-minute session, you get the equivalent of 20,000 sit-ups or squats.
This builds muscle and burns fat at the same time. It’s particularly good for people who are already in decent shape but want more definition. Think abs, buttocks, arms, and thighs.
You need 4 sessions spaced 2 to 3 days apart. Each session takes 30 minutes. It feels weird. Your muscles contract intensely and you can’t stop them. Some people find it uncomfortable, others don’t mind.
Results? About 16% increase in muscle mass and 19% reduction in fat, on average. You’ll see more definition, tighter appearance, and improved strength in treated areas.
Laser treatments use laser energy to heat and liquefy fat cells. The liquefied fat is then naturally eliminated by your body over several weeks.
These treatments can be done with paddles placed on your skin (non-invasive) or with tiny probes inserted under your skin (minimally invasive). The invasive version gives more dramatic results but requires some recovery time.
Non-invasive laser treatments typically require multiple sessions. Minimally invasive treatments often just need one session but have a few days of downtime.
Most body contouring treatments are pretty straightforward.
Before treatment: We’ll take measurements and photos of your treatment areas. We’ll mark the areas we’re treating. You’ll change into comfortable clothing or a gown depending on what area we’re working on.
During treatment: For CoolSculpting, the applicator gets placed on your skin and starts suctioning and cooling. You’ll feel intense cold for the first 5 to 10 minutes, then numbness. After that, you can relax, read, or work.
For RF treatments, a handpiece glides over your skin delivering controlled heat. It feels like a hot stone massage. Most people find it relaxing.
For Emsculpt, paddles are strapped to your muscles. The contractions start gradually and build in intensity. It’s a weird sensation but not painful.
Treatment times range from 30 to 60 minutes per area. If you’re treating multiple areas, plan for longer.
Right after: You can usually get dressed and leave immediately. With CoolSculpting, the treated area will be numb and maybe red. With RF treatments, you might be slightly pink. With Emsculpt, your muscles might feel fatigued like after an intense workout.
Here’s one of the best things about non-surgical body contouring. There’s minimal to no downtime.
CoolSculpting: Numbness can last a few hours to a few days. Some people get tenderness or mild bruising. You might feel weird sensations (tingling, stinging, aching) for a week or two as nerves wake back up. All of this is normal.
Some people experience paradoxical adipose hyperplasia (PAH), where the treated area gets larger instead of smaller. This is rare (about 1 in 4,000 cases) but hard to fix if it happens.
RF treatments: Slight redness for a few hours. That’s usually it. You can go right back to your normal activities.
Emsculpt: Your muscles will feel sore, like after an intense workout. This lasts a day or two. Some people love it because it proves the treatment worked. Others find it annoying.
Most people go back to work the same day. You can exercise immediately with RF and Emsculpt treatments. With CoolSculpting, wait a day or two before intense workouts.
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This varies by technology and how much fat you’re trying to reduce.
CoolSculpting: 1 to 2 treatments per area, spaced 8 to 12 weeks apart. Sometimes 3 if you want maximum reduction.
RF treatments: 4 to 6 sessions spaced 1 to 2 weeks apart.
Emsculpt: 4 sessions spaced 2 to 3 days apart, done over about 2 weeks.
Laser treatments: 6 to 8 sessions for non-invasive versions. One session for minimally invasive.
You won’t see results immediately. Your body needs time to eliminate dead fat cells or build muscle. Most people start noticing changes around week 4 to 6. Full results appear at 8 to 12 weeks.
This gradual timeline is actually good. It means results look natural. No one will know you had treatment. You’ll just look like you finally figured out the right workout routine.
Here’s the thing about body contouring. The fat cells we destroy are gone permanently. But you can still gain weight in untreated areas or even in treated areas if your remaining fat cells expand.
If you maintain your weight within 5 to 10 pounds of your treatment weight, results typically last years. Some people maintain results permanently.
If you gain significant weight after treatment (20+ pounds), you’ll likely lose some of your improvement. Not all of it, but some.
Think of body contouring as a tool to help you reach your goal, not as a free pass to stop taking care of yourself.
Most people find that body contouring motivates them to maintain their results. You’ve invested time and money. You’re seeing improvement. You’re more likely to stick with healthy habits.
When done by trained professionals using FDA-cleared equipment, yes. These treatments have been performed millions of times with good safety records.
Potential side effects:
CoolSculpting: Numbness, redness, bruising, cramping, tingling, and rare cases of PAH.
RF treatments: Mild redness, warmth, rare burns if settings are too high.
Emsculpt: Muscle soreness, fatigue. Very rare cases of muscle injury if you have certain conditions.
Serious complications are rare. The biggest risk is paying for treatment and not getting results, which happens if you’re not a good candidate or don’t have realistic expectations.
People often ask about the difference.
Liposuction (surgical):
Body contouring (non-surgical):
Which is better? Depends on your situation. If you need major fat removal (think 5+ pounds per area), liposuction is more appropriate. If you need subtle refinement of already decent body shape, non-surgical contouring works well.
Many people start with non-surgical options and move to surgery later if needed. There’s no rule that says you have to do one or the other.
Let’s talk about why body contouring is so popular here.
Fort Lauderdale is a beach town. The lifestyle revolves around water. Boats, beaches, pools. You’re in a swimsuit or shorts most of the year. There’s no hiding under sweaters for six months.
Plus, the fitness culture here is strong. You’ve got beach volleyball, paddleboarding, outdoor gyms, running along A1A. People work out and care about how they look.
Body contouring fits this lifestyle perfectly. You can get treatment and go right back to beach activities. No long recovery keeping you out of the water.
The best time for treatment? Fall and winter, actually. Even though it’s still warm here, it’s slightly cooler. Plus, you’ll see full results by spring when beach season really kicks in.
That said, you can get treatment year-round in Fort Lauderdale. Just stay hydrated and be smart about sun exposure after treatment. Sunburned skin doesn’t respond as well.
Expecting weight loss. Body contouring removes fat cells, not weight. You might lose an inch or two in circumference, but the scale might barely budge. That’s normal.
Treating too many areas at once. Start with your biggest problem area. See how you respond. Then treat other areas if you want. Don’t commit to six areas on day one.
Not maintaining results. Treatment gives you a boost, but you need to maintain it with healthy habits. If you gain 30 pounds after treatment, you’ll lose your results.
Choosing based on price alone. Cheap body contouring usually means inexperienced providers or old equipment. This isn’t something to bargain shop.
Having unrealistic expectations. You won’t look like an Instagram fitness model after a couple treatments. You’ll look like a better version of yourself. That’s still great, but it’s important to be realistic.
Medical supervision. We’re a state-licensed medical spa. You’re getting treated by trained professionals, not someone who learned how to push buttons on a machine.
Multiple technology options. We offer different treatment types so we can recommend what actually works best for your body and goals.
Honest assessments. If we don’t think body contouring will work well for you, we’ll tell you. Maybe you need to lose more weight first. Maybe surgery would be better. We’d rather be honest than take your money for treatment that won’t give you good results.
Realistic expectations. We’ll show you before-and-after photos of what’s actually achievable. No Photoshopped nonsense.
FDA-cleared equipment. We use medical-grade devices that have been cleared by the FDA for safety and effectiveness.
Fort Lauderdale knowledge. We understand the lifestyle here and what people are looking for. Beach body, swimsuit confidence, active outdoor lifestyle. We get it.
Prices vary based on treatment type, how many areas you’re treating, and how many sessions you need.
General price ranges:
CoolSculpting: $600 to $1,500 per area per treatment. Most people need 1 to 2 treatments per area.
RF treatments: $300 to $800 per session. Need 4 to 6 sessions.
Emsculpt: $3,000 to $4,000 for a package of 4 sessions.
Multiple area packages often give you better pricing than treating areas individually.
We offer financing through CareCredit and Alphaeon Credit, which makes treatment more affordable with monthly payment plans.
During your free consultation, we’ll give you an exact quote based on your treatment plan.
Not really. Here’s how the timeline actually works.
With CoolSculpting, dead fat cells take 8 to 12 weeks to be eliminated by your body. You might notice subtle changes around week 4 or 5, but real results show up at 8 to 12 weeks.
With RF treatments, you need multiple sessions before you see anything. After your 4th or 5th session, you’ll start noticing improvement. Full results appear 2 to 3 months after completing your series.
With Emsculpt, you might feel muscle changes after 2 to 3 sessions, but visible results take 4 to 6 weeks after completing all 4 treatments.
This gradual timeline frustrates some people, but it’s actually a benefit. Results look natural. No one will suspect you had anything done. They’ll just think you’ve been working out more consistently.
If someone promises instant results with body contouring, they’re lying. Your body needs time to process and eliminate fat cells.
It depends on how much weight you need to lose.
If you’re 10 to 20 pounds from your goal weight and have specific stubborn areas, body contouring can work. We might recommend losing some weight first, then doing treatment to refine problem areas.
If you need to lose 30+ pounds, body contouring isn’t appropriate yet. You should focus on weight loss first. Get within 20 pounds of your goal, then come back for body contouring to target whatever’s left.
Here’s why. Body contouring is designed to remove localized pockets of fat, not large amounts spread across your entire body. If you need general fat reduction everywhere, that’s weight loss, not body contouring.
Also, treating someone who’s significantly overweight often gives disappointing results. The improvement gets lost in the overall volume. You spend money and don’t see much change.
Some providers will treat anyone who walks through the door because they want your money. We’d rather tell you to come back in six months after you’ve lost some weight. You’ll get better results and be happier with your investment.
Honestly? Probably not as much as you want.
Body contouring can tighten skin somewhat, especially RF treatments that stimulate collagen. But there’s a limit to what non-surgical treatments can do. If you have significant loose, hanging skin after major weight loss, you’re likely looking at surgical body contouring (skin removal surgery).
Non-surgical body contouring works best when you have good skin elasticity. That means your skin bounces back when you pinch it. After major weight loss, skin often loses its elasticity and just hangs there. No amount of RF energy will shrink that dramatically.
That said, non-surgical treatments can still help with these things after weight loss:
During your consultation, we’ll assess your skin elasticity and be honest about what non-surgical treatments can achieve. If surgery is the better option, we’ll tell you. We’d rather send you to a plastic surgeon for consultation than take your money for treatment that won’t give you the results you want.
Think of body contouring as helping you reach your goal, not maintaining it for you.
Here’s what you need to do:
Maintain your weight. Stay within 5 to 10 pounds of your treatment weight. Small fluctuations are fine. Gaining 20+ pounds means you’ll likely lose some of your improvement.
Keep exercising regularly. You don’t need to become a gym rat, but consistent activity helps maintain muscle tone and prevents new fat accumulation.
Eat reasonably well. You don’t need a perfect diet, but you can’t go back to eating junk food daily and expect to maintain results.
Stay hydrated. Water helps your body flush out fat cell debris during the elimination process and supports overall metabolic health.
Get enough sleep. Poor sleep affects hormones that regulate fat storage and hunger.
Most people find that body contouring actually motivates them to maintain healthy habits. You’ve invested time and money. You’re seeing your body look better. You’re less likely to let it all go.
Some people come back for maintenance treatments every year or two, especially for areas like the chin or arms. That’s fine. But the foundation is maintaining your weight and lifestyle.
Yes, that’s exactly what body contouring is designed for. Spot reduction.
You can’t spot reduce through diet and exercise. Your body decides where it loses fat, and it’s usually the last place you want (hello, face and chest shrinking while your belly stays put).
Body contouring lets you specifically target problem areas. Abdomen only? Fine. Just love handles? Sure. Back fat but nothing else? We can do that.
Most people treat 1 to 3 areas. The most common combination is abdomen plus love handles since those are usually the stubbornest areas.
During your consultation, we’ll look at your whole body and make recommendations. Sometimes treating one area in isolation doesn’t give the best overall result because it can look out of proportion. But if you’re only concerned about one specific area, we can focus there.
It can, but it’s not as dramatic as you might think.
Here’s how it works. Body contouring permanently removes fat cells from treated areas. Those specific cells are gone forever. But you still have fat cells everywhere else in your body.
If you gain significant weight after treatment, the remaining fat cells throughout your body will expand. That includes untreated areas and even the treated areas (though to a lesser extent since they have fewer fat cells).
Will you suddenly balloon up somewhere weird? Probably not. Your body’s fat distribution patterns are determined by genetics and hormones. Those don’t change.
What might happen is you’ll notice fat accumulating in areas you didn’t treat because the treated areas are now leaner in comparison.
Example: Let’s say you treat your abdomen but not your thighs. Your stomach is now flatter. If you gain 15 pounds, your thighs might look proportionally bigger because your stomach stayed relatively flat.
This is why maintaining your weight after treatment is so important. Body contouring isn’t a free pass to stop caring about your health.
Depends on the treatment.
CoolSculpting: Intense cold and pulling sensation for the first 5 to 10 minutes. Kind of uncomfortable but not painful. After that, everything goes numb and you don’t feel much. Some people find the thawing massage at the end uncomfortable, but it only lasts 2 minutes.
RF treatments: Feels like a hot stone massage. Most people find it relaxing. If it gets too hot, we can adjust settings.
Emsculpt: Weird but not exactly painful. Your muscles contract intensely and you can’t stop them. Some people find it uncomfortable, especially the first session. By session 3 or 4, you’re used to it.
Laser treatments: Non-invasive versions feel like warmth. Minimally invasive versions require local anesthesia, so you won’t feel pain during the procedure.
Overall, body contouring is way less painful than surgery. No cutting, no stitches, no anesthesia complications. Most discomfort is during the treatment itself and resolves immediately after.
Ready to finally get rid of those stubborn areas? Let’s talk.
We offer free consultations at our Fort Lauderdale location. We’ll assess your problem areas, discuss your goals, explain which treatments would work best, and give you realistic expectations about results.
No pressure, no obligation. Just honest advice about what will actually work for your body.
Call us or book online.
