Non-Invasive Body Contouring Technologies - FDA

On this page:

• What is Non-Invasive Body Contouring? 
• Risks Associated with Non-Invasive Body Contouring Technologies
• If You Are Considering Non-Invasive Body Contouring
• Medical Device Databases
• Report Medical Device Problems to the FDA
• Resources

What Is Non-Invasive Body Contouring?

Body contouring, also known as body sculpting, refers to changing the shape of an area on your body and is used to describe a variety of effects such as:

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• Changing the circumference of an area on your body like your waist or thighs.
• Changing your body’s silhouette by reducing small areas of fat.
• Improving tone and firmness of certain muscles. 
• Improving the appearance of cellulite. 

There are no FDA cleared or approved non-invasive body contouring devices for treating the breasts in males or females.

Body contouring procedures may not always result in your desired effect, or your result may only be temporary. Non-invasive body contouring describes non-surgical procedures that do not remove any tissue (fat or skin) from the body. It is different from a surgical body contouring procedure, like tummy-tuck surgery, which cuts out excess skin, or liposuction, which uses a narrow vacuum-type device to pull fat out through a small incision. Non-invasive body contouring does not treat obesity or improve your health. It will not result in weight loss or contribute to the health benefits associated with weight loss. 

Some non-invasive body contouring devices are designed to achieve your desired effect by decreasing small amounts of excess fat in the treated body area. This can help reduce visible bulges by reducing the amount of fat that is in the bulge. Some non-invasive body contouring procedures that are meant to only improve the appearance of cellulite, even if they do not change the shape of your body, are grouped with body contouring. Cellulite appears as large dimples, such as on the thighs and buttocks, between small mounds of soft fat. It is thought that the soft, fatty mounds are caused by extra fluid between the fat cells, while the dimples are caused by short strands of connective tissue (fibrous septae) that pull the skin down into and through the fat to connect the skin to the underlying bands or sheets of connective tissue (fascia) between the skin and muscle. 

Many of the procedures result in temporary improvement in the appearance of the bulge or cellulite. Ask your health care provider how many treatments will be needed, how long the effects are expected to last, and whether additional procedures will be needed to maintain the effect.

This web page does not discuss technologies which involve putting volume into the body for body contouring. Certain dermal fillers have been approved by the FDA for certain indications such as correction of moderate to severe facial wrinkles, and for augmenting (increasing) volume of lips, cheeks, chin, and back of the hand. The FDA has not cleared any dermal filler, including silicone, for injection in body contouring procedures. Silicone injections can lead to long-term pain, infections, and serious injuries, such as scarring and permanent disfigurement, embolism (blockage of a blood vessel), stroke, or death.

For more information about body contouring devices that have marketing authorization from the FDA, see the Medical Device Databases section below.

Risks Associated with Non-Invasive Body Contouring Technologies

As with any medical procedure, there are risks and complications associated with using body contouring devices. Each technology described below has its own set of risks and may have certain limitations on who can be treated safely. 

Minor complications may occur shortly after a procedure and last only a short time. However, some complications may last a long time, become permanent, or require surgery to correct. If you are considering body contouring, do your research. Talk with your health care provider and read the device manufacturer information to understand your personal risk factors and whether the effect you are seeking is reasonable. Be sure to understand all your options and consider each device’s benefits, limits, and the risks involved.

Complications reported for all body contouring devices may include:

• Pain or discomfort 
• Redness 
• Swelling 
• Bruising
• Nodules (lumpiness you can feel but not see)

Additional complications have been reported for certain body contouring devices. See the following section on non-invasive body contouring technologies for more information. 

Non-Invasive Body Contouring Technologies

Non-invasive body contouring devices and procedures are performed on the skin surface. They do not involve incisions (cutting the skin). Before a non-invasive body contouring device is legally authorized for the market, the FDA reviews the safety and effectiveness of the device for the intended uses and body sites on which the device is intended for use. The technologies used in these devices are described here. The descriptions are organized by whether the technology is thermal (cools or heats tissue) or non-thermal (does not cool or heat tissue). 

Thermal: Cold (Cryolipolysis or Fat Freezing) 

Cryolipolysis, also referred to as fat freezing, uses cold temperatures that are intended to kill fat cells and reduce visible fat bulges without surgery. A targeted area of pinchable fat is drawn by a vacuum into an applicator, where it is cooled for up to an hour. Because fat cells are uniquely sensitive to cold, the controlled cooling is intended to kill the fat cells and not freeze the skin. The fat released from the damaged fat cells is slowly cleared by the body’s immune system, usually within two to three months. This causes the fat bulge to become smaller over time. Devices that use this technology are for prescription use only. The safety and effectiveness of over-the-counter or home use fat freezing has not been established.
 
You should not have a fat freezing procedure if you have one of the following cold sensitivity disorders that can affect the blood or skin:

• Raynaud’s disease, pernio, or chilblains—conditions in which cold temperatures cause poor blood circulation in the skin
• Cold urticaria—a condition in which exposure to cold causes hives
• Cryoglobulinemia—a condition in which clumps form in your blood when you are exposed to cold
• Paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria or cold agglutinin disease—disorders in which red blood cells are damaged by cold temperatures
• Poor blood circulation in the area to be treated

After a fat freezing procedure, some patients may develop complications at the treatment site. 

Common complications that may resolve without intervention:

• Redness
• Bruising
• Swelling
• Pain or discomfort 
• Skin discoloration

Less common complications that may require intervention and may have long-term effects:

• Numbness that can persist for several weeks 
• Nodules (small, temporary lumps in the fat that can be felt but not seen) 
• Freeze burns on the skin, which can be severe (partial or full thickness burns)
• Damage to a nerve that causes a temporary change in the position of the lip or tongue, if used under the jawline
• Temporary sensation of fullness at the back of the throat, if used under the chin

Least common but more serious complications that may require surgery to be addressed. Surgery may or may not resolve these complications:

• Paradoxical Adipose Hyperplasia (PAH) is a phenomenon in which fatty tissue grows instead of shrinking in the treated area. PAH is a raised, often rectangular bulge of hard, fatty tissue. It is very firm and is usually the same shape as the treatment applicator. PAH is unique to fat freezing. Reported cases developed two to five months after a fat freezing procedure. PAH does not go away on its own and may require surgery to remove the visible bulge.
• Hernia is a bulging of an organ or tissue through a weak area in the abdomen or abdominal wall lining. There have been reports of hernias in the treated area after a fat freezing procedure. The procedure should not be performed in or near the area of a pre-existing hernia or structurally weak areas, such as surgical scars or the separation between the stomach muscles, commonly seen after pregnancy. 

Thermal: Heat

Fat bulges are also affected by gentle heating when heat is applied to an area without burning the skin. 

Heating for non-invasive body contouring is thought to:

• Damage the fat cells in the layer of fat under the skin and reduce the thickness of fat in the treated area. 
• Shrink parts of the skin, including the fibrous septae under the skin, to reduce dimples in cellulite. Fibrous septae are the short strands of connective tissue that pull the skin down into and through the fat to connect the skin to the underlying bands or sheets of connective tissue (fascia) between the skin and muscle. 
• Trigger the skin to produce collagen to give the skin a tighter appearance.
• Temporarily improve circulation to remove fluid buildup outside of the fat cells and reduce the bumpy appearance of cellulite.

Heat Technology Examples:

Radiofrequency Energy

Electrical energy, in the form of radiofrequency (RF) energy, causes heating. When RF energy is carefully applied to the skin, it can cause heating in the layer of fat under the skin and in the strands that connect the skin to the fat layer. Some devices use tiny needles to place the RF energy into the skin. Procedures that apply RF energy can temporarily improve the appearance of cellulite or reduce the circumference of your body in the treated area. They may also cause the skin to feel or look tighter because of some skin shrinking or increases in collagen. Not all RF devices that may be on the market are intended for cosmetic use. Only devices intended for cosmetic use and authorized for marketing by the FDA for such use should be used to achieve these body contouring effects. 

Do not use RF energy devices if you have:

• Active implants, such as a pacemaker or an implanted cardioverter defibrillator
• Metal under your skin from an implant or injury
• Tattoos with ink that contains metal particles in the treated area

If you have an intrauterine device (IUD) for birth control, ask your obstetrician-gynecologist or primary care provider if the procedure may pose additional risks for you.

Complications may include:

• Pain or discomfort
• Redness
• Swelling
• Blisters
• Burns
• Nodules
• Change in skin color
• Scars

Light-Based Energy

Some body contouring devices use powerful light, such as lasers or intense pulsed light (IPL), to heat tissue. Most often the device will use infra-red (IR) light, which is not visible to the human eye. Carefully controlled application of IR light can cause heating under the skin without burning the skin surface. The heating is thought to damage fat cells and to cause some shrinking of the short strands of connective tissue that connect the skin to fat and deeper tissues beneath. Because of these heating effects, IR light procedures may temporarily improve the appearance of cellulite or reduce the circumference of the body in the treated area. 

Light-based energy procedures can injure the eyes. Your health care provider should give you protective goggles to wear during the procedure.

Light-based energy procedures may not be appropriate for you if you:

• Are tan or planning to be in the sun after the procedure 
• Have skin that develops dark marks after any injury
• Have a sensitivity to light or take medications that make you sensitive to light

Complications may include:

• Pain or discomfort
• Redness
• Swelling
• Blisters 
• Burns
• Nodules

Ultrasound

Ultrasound uses sound waves with frequencies higher than the upper audible limit of human hearing. Ultrasound may be used therapeutically to treat tissue. During a therapeutic ultrasound procedure, a sound wave (energy) is applied to the skin surface. When the energy enters the fat layer beneath the skin, it can cause fat cells to rupture, which may reduce the circumference of the body in the treated area. 

Therapeutic ultrasound can cause burns in tissue. Ultrasound requires complete contact with the skin. Your health care provider will put ultrasound gel on the skin to make sure there is good contact and to reduce the risk of burns.

Do not have an ultrasound procedure if you have:

• Open wounds or lesions
• Compromised skin surfaces
• Active implants, such as a pacemaker or an implantable cardioverter defibrillator
• Metal under your skin from an implant or injury

Complications may include:

• Pain or discomfort
• Redness
• Swelling
• Blisters 
• Burns
• Nerve damage

Non-Thermal

Photobiomodulation (Low-Level Light)

Low-level light therapy (LLLT) procedures, which are different from the laser and IPL devices, use extremely low doses of visible light that do not heat the skin or fat. Usually, these devices have several lamps or LED panels which are placed near the body and may not even touch the body. LLLT devices are thought to work by photobiomodulation, which means they may change the way a cell works with just a small amount of light, without any change in temperature. LLLT may temporarily reduce circumference of the body in the treated area. 

Light-based procedures can injure the eyes. Your health care provider should give you protective goggles to wear during the procedure.

Photobiomodulation therapy is not recommended if you:

• Have photosensitivity disorders
• Are pregnant or planning pregnancy 
• Have active implants, such as a pacemaker or implantable cardioverter defibrillator
• Have skin cancer or a history of cancer at the treatment site
• Are taking photosensitizing medication
• Have an active infection, wound, or lesion in the area to be treated

There are few risks of complications because the energy level is extremely low. Some procedures are performed while you are dressed, so the dose to the skin is even lower. 

While rare, some complications may include:

• Sensitivity at the treatment site
• Electrical malfunction leading to injury
• Burns
• Skin pigmentation changes
• Itching
• Nodules
• Pain

Magnetic Field

Pulsed magnetic fields work by triggering a small electric current in the muscles. This short, low energy current causes muscles to contract. Repeated muscle contraction during the procedure may improve muscle tone and firmness of the abdominal muscles and muscles of the arms, or strengthen, tone, and firm the buttocks, thighs, and calves. These effects may be temporary and may require you to have ongoing procedures to maintain the effects. 

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Cryolipolysis Fat Freezing Machine.

Do not use magnetic field devices if you have:

• Active implants, such as a pacemaker or an implantable cardioverter defibrillator
• Metal under your skin from an implant or injury

Complications may include:

• Muscle soreness
• Cramps

Mechanical (Massage or Vibration)

Massaging the skin and fat, using a rolling or vibrating handpiece, may temporarily improve the appearance of cellulite on the body in the treated area. Sometimes a handheld “shock wave” device may be used to cause vibration like a small jackhammer. Pressure and vibration are thought to work like a lymphatic massage, by removing the extra fluid between the fat cells and improving the bumpy appearance of cellulite. Stretching the skin may also trigger collagen formation and may give the skin a more youthful appearance.

Do not undergo this procedure if you have conditions such asvibrational or pressure urticaria (itching or burning) that cause allergic symptoms or hives to develop with vibration or pressure. 

Complications may include:

• Pain or discomfort
• Bruising

If You Are Considering Non-Invasive Body Contouring 

• Understand that while noninvasive body contouring may be performed in a variety of facilities, noninvasive body contouring is a medical procedure with benefits and risks.
• Talk with your health care provider about the benefits and risks associated with body contouring devices and procedures.
• Talk with your health care provider about which procedures may be best for you. For individuals with darker skin types there is a potential of darkening or lightening of the skin after a body contouring procedure.
• Read any available patient brochures to understand your personal risk factors and whether the effect you are seeking is reasonable. Take time to read the information and ask questions. 
• Understand that any body contouring device could potentially cause complications. Most complications occur shortly after a procedure and may last only a short time. However, some complications may last a long time, become permanent, or require surgery to correct. 
• Know that non-invasive body contouring is not intended to treat obesity or to improve your health. It will not result in weight loss or contribute to the health benefits associated with weight loss.
• Understand that not everyone responds to body contouring procedures or achieves their desired effect, results may be temporary, and you may need more than one treatment.
• Ask the health care provider who is performing your procedure how they clean devices between patients and whether there are any disposable parts. If they use disposable parts, ask whether a new disposable piece is used for each procedure session. 
• Inform the health care provider who is performing your procedure:
  • About all medications you take, including over-the-counter supplements and vitamins.
  • If you have any implanted medical devices, including a pacemaker, artificial joints, or metal implants or screws.
  • If you have an intra-uterine device (IUD), contraceptive coil, mesh, tattoo, scar, cosmetic implant, or have had surgery in the treatment area. 

Tell your health care provider if you:

• Take anticoagulant (blood thinner) therapies.
• Are immune deficient or immune suppressed because of a medical condition or medications.
• Have a known history of clotting or bleeding disorders such as hemophilia.
• Have uncontrolled diabetes (high blood sugar).
• Have an active skin infection, including bacterial, viral, or fungal infection.
• Have an infection such as hepatitis or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
• Have or had eczema, psoriasis, vitiligo, or autoimmune disease.
• Have keloids or a family history of keloids (very prominent scars).
• Have an active rash, wart, mole, or birthmark on the area to be treated.
• Have a known malignancy or are undergoing or about to undergo treatments using chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or steroids.
• Are currently taking acne medication with the ingredient isotretinoin (Accutane) or have taken isotretinoin in the past six months.
• Are tan or planning to be in the sun in the two weeks following the procedure.
• Are pregnant or breastfeeding.
• Are allergic to stainless steel or to plastic or rubber additives or have a history of allergic contact dermatitis to these products.

Medical Device Databases

The FDA posts summary documents describing the clearance of certain medical devices in the 510(k) Premarket Notification database and the marketing authorization of certain novel medical devices in the De Novo database. These summary documents include the date the device received marketing authorization by the FDA, the indication for which the device was authorized by the FDA, and a summary of the information submitted to the FDA. 

• In the De Novo database – You can search for a device by the device name, manufacturer, or panel (e.g., General & Plastic Surgery). 
• In the 510(k) Premarket Notification database – You can search for a device by the device name, manufacturer, or product code. The product codes for body contouring technologies are provided in the table below.

Technology Product code Regulation (21 CFR) Device Type Cryolipolysis  OOK 878. Cooling with vacuum for body contouring Radiofrequency Energy  GEI 878. Electrosurgical (including RF) Radiofrequency Energy PBX 878. Vacuum massager with RF-induced heating Light-based Energy GEX 878. Powered laser surgical instrument Light-based Energy  PKT 878. Laser for disruption of fat for aesthetic use Ultrasound  OHV 878. Focused ultrasound for tissue heat or cell disruption Low level light (laser) OLI 878. Low level light (laser) for fat reduction Magnetic Field  NGX 890. Muscle stimulator Mechanical (Massage or Vibration) NUV 878. Vacuum massager with light-induced heating for cellulite appearance

Report Medical Device Problems to the FDA

If you have a problem with or after the use of any medical device, we encourage you to report the problem through the FDA’s MedWatch Voluntary Reporting Form.  

Health care personnel employed by facilities that are subject to the FDA's user facility reporting requirements should follow the reporting procedures established by their facilities.

Resources

Starting a body contouring business can be a profitable choice if you’re an aesthetically minded person with a good understanding of how the body works. In addition to having the right experience and training, you also need to have business acumen and be good at working with others. If this sounds like you, read on to find out everything you need to know about getting your body contouring business up and running. 

• How Body Contouring Works 
• How Much is the Body Contouring Industry Worth?
• How Much Revenue Does Body Contouring Business Generate?
• Should You Start a Body Contouring Business?
• How Much Do You Need to Invest in a Body Contouring Business?
• How to Start a Body Contouring Business
• How Do Body Contouring Business Owners Pay Themselves?
• How Much Can You Charge for Treatments?
• Do You Have to be a License Esthetician?
• How to Get Your Body Contouring License? 

How Body Contouring Works

Body contouring, sometimes also referred to as body sculpting, is a procedure designed to reshape certain areas of the body. It can involve getting rid of extra skin, eliminating excess fat, or reshaping a certain body part. Some people mistakenly think that body contouring helps you lose weight – but this isn’t the case. It’s not about weight loss but about reshaping the body. Patients might weigh the same as before their procedure – but they’ll look different in certain areas. The parts of the body targeted by body contouring include the neck, chin, arms, back, belly, flanks, buttocks, and thighs.

There are two different types of body contouring: non-surgical and surgical. Non-surgical body counting procedures include Cryolipolysis, which destroys fat cells with cold temperatures, and Lipolysis, which targets fat cells through injections, lasers, or radiofrequency. Surgical body contouring procedures include skin lifts, skin tucks, and liposuction. Some body contouring businesses offer both non-surgical and surgical procedures, while others only offer one type of procedure. 

How Much is the Body Contouring Business Industry Worth?

The body contouring industry is growing due to several factors: rising obesity, the rising age of target demographics, and the COVID-19 pandemic are just a few of the reasons. The body contouring device market size in was valued at $2.8 billion USD. It’s expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 14.6% from to .

What does this mean for body contouring business owners? Potential. Because the body contouring industry is expected to grow, there are more market opportunities to start and grow businesses in this field. The target demographic is more accepting of body contouring procedures and has a greater need for them, which is good news for business owners in this industry.

How Much Revenue Does a Body Contouring Business Generate?

The amount of money a body contouring business generates depends on several factors that affect the business’s success. These include:

• Location of the business
• Expertise of the aestheticians and business owners
• Reputation of the business
• Who their target demographic is
• How saturated the market is
• Types of services offered
• Pricing of services
• Operational expenses

Countless other factors can affect how much revenue a body contouring business pulls in, such as their marketing budget or the implementation of a successful outbound sales strategy in the outbound sales process. However, it’s easy to extrapolate a number to figure out a starting point so that you can know the revenue generation potential.

For example, let’s assume that the average cost for a procedure is $250 and that you can complete five such procedures in a day. That means you can earn $1,250 per day. That’s for one person, but if you have multiple people working in your business doing procedures, you can again multiply your earning potential even more. You can multiply how much you think you can earn in a day by the number of days you work in a week – such as four or five – and then multiply that amount by the number of weeks you work in a year, such as 48 or 50. 

Be sure to account for taking vacations and statutory holidays, as well as a percentage of appointments being cancelled by clients at the last minute. Also, keep in mind that when you start out, you may only be doing one or two procedures a day while you build up your client base.

Should You Start a Body Contouring Business?

No one can answer this question but you – because you know yourself best. If you’re unsure about which direction to go in and whether a body contouring business is right for you, ask yourself these key questions:

• Am I interested in working with clients daily face to face?
• Can I handle the stress of starting and running my own business?
• Do I have the financial capital to start my body contouring business?
• How much more do I need to learn about body contouring before I’m ready to work with clients?
• Are there any mentors in my area I can rely on for business advice?
• Do I plan on treating clients myself, or will I hire employees for my business?
• Who is my target audience, and how can I reach them?
• What are some unique marketing ideas I can try out to get attention for my business?
• Who are the main competitors in my area?

Once you have a clear answer for these questions and others like these, you’ll know if you’re ready to start your own body contouring business. 

How Much Do You Need to Invest in a Body Contouring Business?

The amount of capital you need to invest in a body contouring business can vary greatly from thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars. The exact amount will depend on several important decisions you need to make:

• Location: Will you run your body contouring business out of your home, for example, or will you rent a clinic space from which to practice? Your additional expenses for running a business out of your home may not be much if you already have suitable space to treat clients, but renting out a business building can cost several thousand dollars a month. 
• Equipment: All body contouring procedures require specialized equipment, which you will need to purchase or rent. Depending on which machines you require based on the procedures you want to offer and the number of machines you need, it can cost you several hundred to several thousand dollars.
• Insurance: For many business owners, this is one of the most costly but valuable expenses. There are different types of insurance you may require, such as liability insurance, business interruption insurance, commercial property insurance, equipment insurance, and more. These can cost business owners anywhere from several hundred to several thousand dollars per month. 
• Training: If you’re new to body contouring, you’ll require training and certifications to ensure your skills are up to par with the industry standards. You may also require special licensing depending on the procedures you offer. Training and education can cost several thousand dollars a year.
• Marketing: How will you increase awareness of your new business? This may include local print and online advertising, social media advertising, and referral campaigns. Depending on your marketing plans, it can cost anywhere from several hundred to several thousand dollars per year.

How Can You Start a Body Contouring Business?

Think you have what it takes to start your own body contouring business? If sourcing equipment and choosing brand colours excite you, follow these steps to get your business off the ground. 

Create a Detailed Body Contouring Business Plan

Every business, no matter what industry you’re in, begins with a business plan. This document outlines the business’s goals and how the owner plans to achieve those goals. Typically referred to by external audiences such as banks, lenders, and investors, business plans are also useful for internal audiences because they include vital information about the company’s financial, operational, and marketing strategies. 

A business plan document usually spans between 15 to 20 pages and includes the following sections:

• Executive summary: This is a brief section that summarizes the entire business plan, showcases the company’s mission statement, and provides an overview of the body contouring company’s leadership, employees, and operation.
• Services: In this section is where you need to outline the different body contouring services you will offer, what your pricing strategy is for each service, what type of technology is required to complete each service, and what benefits each service offers the consumer. 
• Market analysis: This section includes two key details: the competitor landscape and the target audience. A body contouring business needs to know which competitors it is up against in its area so it can figure out how to differentiate itself. Outlining the target audience, demographics, needs, challenges, and values are also key to creating a successful body contouring business.
• Marketing strategy: In this section, the body contouring business needs to outline how they will appeal to their target market: what marketing channels will be used, what unique value proposition will be shared, and how much the marketing campaigns will cost is all important information for this segment. 
• Financial plan: This part of the business plan clarifies whether the business can be financially viable. It includes the financial statements and balance sheets, the budget for the first one to three years of the business and financial projections for the first one to three years. If you have any other businesses, it’s important to include their financial statements in this section to showcase your business acumen.

Figure Out the Logistics

Once the business plan is approved and you have the funding you need for your body contouring business, it’s time to figure out the operational details. This includes securing a location for the business, purchasing or leasing the equipment, and getting up to speed on any training you need to operate the equipment. You will also need to acquire the business licenses you need for your area and any certifications you require.

Get an Eye-Catching Body Contouring Business Logo

Consumers are innately visual, and one way to set your body contouring business apart from your competition is with a unique logo. Work with a professional logo or graphic designer to come up with something that is eye-catching and communicates your company’s value. If you want to try it on your own, you can even find logo templates online that you can customize based on your preferences. You’ll want to carefully consider the image, colours, fonts, and style to ensure the logo captures everything you want to communicate about your body contouring business. Remember that your logo is one of the first impressions a client will have of your body contouring business, and you probably have just a few seconds to capture their interest.

Set Up Your Business Website  

In today’s world, no business can succeed without a website. Most clients go online to research a company before they call and book an appointment. Your website is not only how you can create awareness for your body contouring business but also how you can showcase your expertise and skill.

Here are the pages you should include on your body contouring website:

• Home: This is the main page where clients will land. It should include your unique value proposition and links to important areas of your website. 
• About Us: On this page, you can discuss your professional background and experience as well as the mission and values of your company.
• Services: Here is where you’ll showcase all the services you offer, the technology you use, and the process for each service. Be sure to discuss the benefits of each service and who it is best suited for. Some body contouring companies also list prices in this area, while others provide custom quotes after speaking with the client. It’s important to include before and after images for each service where possible, as well as testimonials from clients you have treated.
• Blog: Many body contouring companies have a blog on their website to discuss trends, innovations, and news from the industry. This is a great way to up the SEO rank of the website as well as showcase your expertise in the area.
• Contact Us: This is typically a form page where website visitors enter their contact information so you can call or them back to book their consultation.

Regardless of your website pages, it’s important to ensure the user experience is smooth and intuitive. This means that website visitors should be able to find any information they are looking for with ease. In addition to focusing on the user experience, be sure to make website hosting and managing easy on yourself. Work with a web hosting partner that offers shared hosting or WordPress hosting plans to have the tools and resources you need to create a successful body contouring business website.

Promote Your Business

Promoting your body contouring business is essential for getting clients through your doors. Your marketing strategy should include a few key areas:

• Brand awareness: This is about getting the word out about your business through print and online ads, social media marketing, and print flyers.
• Build trust: Showcase your expertise in body contouring with testimonials from past clients, before and after pictures, and detailed blog posts about industry trends. 
• Loyalty programs: Typically, clients will need more than one service if they are interested in body contouring, so why not have them come back to you for all their needs? Create loyalty programs that encourage clients to return for additional treatments with price incentives.

How do Body Contouring Business Owners Pay Themselves? 

How much you can pay yourself as a body contouring business owner will vary significantly from business to business. It will depend on how much revenue you make, your expenses, and how much of your profit you want to invest back into your business. When creating your business plan and future projections, it’s wise to build your salary into the operational expenses to pay yourself for the time and energy you spend running your business. Many new business owners make the mistake of not paying themselves initially and run into financial issues. 

How Much Can You Charge for Treatments?

Body contouring treatments can be life-changing for your clients, so it’s crucial to price them based on the value they bring to them, not just based on your expenses. While the cost will vary based on the procedure, most treatments will likely have a price range of around several thousand dollars. To make the service more wallet-friendly, many body contouring businesses split up the cost of the procedure based on how many treatments the client will have. For example, if the procedure costs $2,500, and the client will need to have ten treatments over a year, they will charge the client $250 at each treatment session. This makes it easier for the client to pay the fee and provides the business with a recurring revenue stream. 

Do You Have to Be a Licensed Esthetician?

What kind of certifications and licenses do you need to perform body sculpting? It all depends on where you live and the regulations of your state. In some states, you will need to be licensed and board-certified to perform body sculpting, while in others, you will not. However, being a licensed and board-certified esthetician has its benefits – regardless of whether it’s required.

To get your credentials, you must pass both classroom and hands-on training to master body contouring and related procedures. You also learn the potential adverse effects and how to avoid them for your clients, ensuring you provide the type of results they are looking for. 

How to Get Your Body Contouring Business License

The type of business licenses you will need will depend on the services you offer and where your business is located. Check with the local small business bureau to determine how to register your business and acquire the proper licenses to operate safely and legally. As your business grows and you add additional services or change locations, you may need to review your business registration and licenses. If you’re looking for business registration advice, speak with a small business accountant or lawyer to ensure all your paperwork is in order. 

Ready to Start Your Body Contouring Business?

There is so much potential to explore in the body contouring industry. Are you ready to take advantage of the opportunities available? Before you jump in, there is a lot of information to consider, so do your research and create a sound business strategy for success.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of Plasma Lift Machine. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.