Non-surgical body treatments, in general terms
Body treatments are the part of a med spa menu that focuses on the body instead of the face. They are non-surgical, which means no incisions and no general anesthesia. Most use a device placed on the skin, such as a cooling applicator or a heated handpiece. Some are hands-on, like lymphatic massage.
Visits often come as a series, and the number varies. Different devices suit different areas and different people. A licensed provider looks at the area, your health and your medicines, and decides what is suitable. They can also tell you when a doctor's visit makes more sense than a med spa treatment.
What a provider looks at first
Before suggesting a body treatment, a licensed provider usually asks about:
- your health history, including heart, circulation, nerve or skin conditions
- implanted devices such as a pacemaker, and metal implants in the area
- medicines and supplements, including blood thinners
- pregnancy or breastfeeding
- recent surgery in or near the area
- conditions that react to cold, for cooling devices
- hernias or other concerns in the area
These answers decide which devices and methods are an option, if any.
Getting ready for a body treatment consultation
A few notes make a body treatment consultation more useful:
- the area or areas you want to ask about
- your health conditions, especially heart, circulation, nerve or skin conditions
- implanted devices or metal implants
- medicines and supplements, including blood thinners
- recent surgery, and whether you are pregnant or breastfeeding
- any past body treatments and how you found them
Bring the notes, photo ID and your questions. A licensed provider uses them to decide what is suitable.
Questions about body treatments
Who should skip body contouring?
A licensed provider decides that. Common reasons to wait or skip a device include pregnancy, recent surgery in the area, a hernia, some implanted devices, and conditions that react to cold. Bring your full health history and medicine list to the consultation.
How many visits do body treatments take?
It depends on the method, the area and the person. Many body treatments are planned as a series, and the number varies. A licensed provider can tell you what is typical for a given method after a consultation, without promising a set number.
What if I have pain or swelling afterward?
Follow the aftercare instructions and contact the provider who treated you. For severe pain, swelling that keeps growing, signs of infection or anything that worries you, see a doctor. This site is not a clinic and cannot give medical advice.
Have a question about a med spa treatment? Send a short consultation request to a provider in or near Columbus.
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