Body contouring or body sculpting refers to a surgical or non-surgical treatment that creates visible changes, such as fat loss or improved skin laxity, to the body. Body contouring can include invasive procedures such as liposuction as well as non-invasive procedures such as radio frequency for fat reduction. It is common to combine invasive and non-invasive body sculpting procedures to achieve the desired outcome. On the other hand, skin tightening focuses less on the movement of fat and concentrates on improving loose skin and the strength of existing collagen to provide lift to sagging skin. Skin tightening procedures also stimulate new collagen production for a prolonged skin tightening effect.

Accent Prime™ is a treatment platform, or workstation, utilizing radio frequency and ultrasound, both separately and in conjunction, for a suite of customizable treatments for face and body contouring, skin tightening and esthetic enhancement². The proprietary software and integrated cooling system allows the practitioner to control the intensity and depth of the radio frequency and ultrasound energy to create custom treatments for optimal skin tightening and body contouring results. A range of proprietary applicators are available for treating specific areas of the face and body, including difficult-to-treat areas such as the eyes. The most recent addition to the Accent Prime™ workstation is the Colibri handpiece, a unipolar RF-based technology to produce and deliver microplasma sparks via a specially-shaped tip to create micro-perforations which repair skin in hard to treat areas to improve the appearance of saggy or lax excess skin. ³

No body contouring treatment, even if non-invasive, is completely without risk. However, the radio frequency and ultrasound body sculpting technology used in the Accent Prime™ platform for skin tightening was FDA approved in 2007 and since then technological innovations and improvements have decreased treatment times while increasing results.⁴ There are possible side effects such as redness and swelling, bruising or even blisters in very rare cases. If the practitioner is not mindful there is also the chance of over-heating the tissues leading to unwanted and permanent fat loss. As always, when considering any kind of body contouring or skin tightening procedure, it is important to consult with an experienced and trusted professional.

The sensations experienced in a body contouring treatment will vary depending upon the device used and personal sensitivity. Patients may experience a heating sensation but the integrated cooling technology in the applicator reduces the heat sensation to a level that is tolerable for most. Typically, an Accent Prime™ body contouring and skin tightening treatment is not painful and described as similar to a warm massage.⁵

Side effects of body contouring with Accent Prime™ are rare, but some people may experience redness, swelling and/or bruising on treated areas. These symptoms generally self-resolve after 24 hours. Typically, a patient may return to their normal activities directly following a body contouring or skin tightening treatment with Accent Prime™.⁶

Body contouring with Accent Prime™ does create permanent destruction of the fat cells targeted by the ultrasound and radio frequency waves.⁷ However, if the results are not maintained with a daily lifestyle of healthy eating and exercise, the remaining fat cells can unevenly collect the new fatty acid molecules giving a lumpy appearance to the treated area. For this reason, it may be helpful to consider a body contouring procedure when at a weight and lifestyle that can be maintained. The skin tightening effect of the treatment can be understood in a similar way. The skin tightening treatment does correct loose skin with new and strengthened collagen, but collagen degrades. To maintain the plumping and skin tightening results of new collagen, it’s important to maintain a healthy lifestyle that includes daily use of broad spectrum sun protection and effective skincare.

A body sculpting treatment such as Accent Prime™ is not a weight-loss treatment. This body contouring procedure is recommended for people who have small areas or pockets of loose skin and/or fat that have resisted the effects of healthy eating and exercise. Also, it’s important to note that “losing weight” is not necessarily the same thing as destroying fat cells. Multiple factors may affect weight loss, such as water retention and, unlike exercise that will “burn” fat causing the fat cell to “shrink”, body sculpting methods destroy the fat cell entirely. In a single Accent Prime™ body contouring treatment significant circumference reduction of the body can be achieved depending upon the placement and concentration of fat.⁸

The longevity of a body contouring or skin tightening treatment depends on the unique chemistry of your body and on the daily habits you adopt post-procedure. A body sculpting treatment cannot stop the body from enlarging remaining fat cells nor can it stop the degradation of collagen and elastin. Therefore, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and following a daily skincare regimen with sun protection and effective products is a must to achieve long-lasting results.

Some patients may see results after a single Accent Prime™ body contouring and skin tightening treatment, but, depending upon the treated area, the general recommendation is 4-8 body sculpting sessions performed two weeks apart. Results will continue to improve for months after the last treatment as the radio frequency and ultrasound stimulate ongoing production of new collagen and elastin. Patients may choose to repeat the body contouring procedure once every 6 months to a year to maintain results.⁹

Generally, body contouring or body sculpting procedures are considered cosmetic and are not covered by insurance.¹⁰ However, if it can be shown that body contouring is medically necessary for certain conditions, some procedures may be covered.¹¹