Content warning: mention of weight and exercise.
Imma level with y’all, I struggled to find the right way to approach this review. I benefit greatly from being straight-sized and acknowledge that the “normalize normal bodies” movement is 100% not about me. At all. I am still trying my best to learn how to navigate and approach body positivity/body neutrality. I have only recently acknowledge how hurtful it was for me to say “it’s okay if you gain weight during a pandemic” because it’s okay if you gain weight, period. That being said, as the weather gets warmer and the clothes, at least for this slutty toddler (iykyk), are getting skimpier I can’t help but feel some kind of way about the clothes I already own not fitting me anymore.
Maybe it’s my own internalized fatphobia, maybe it’s me not wanting to replace all of my clothes, I find myself dissatisfied with my appearance. I’m at a weight/body shape I’ve never quite been at before. I’ve been curvier and thinner than my current body so all of my clothes are either too big or too small for me and I can’t keep buying new clothes (I mean, I could, but I won’t). So I looked for ways to get my body into clothes I already spent the money on and have partnered with Contour Body Labs in Vancouver to showcase their non invasive body contouring treatment. I also love trying unique products and treatments, so here we are.
(Also, before you send me an angry email or comment keep in mind that while body and face alterations may stem from societal pressures, body acceptance means also accepting plastic surgery and other treatments. If anything I say actually hurt your feelings I would love to have a dialogue about it and learn why. Email me here.)
Wood Therapy
Think of this like gua sha for your body, but way more intense in sensation. They use a variety of wooden, handheld tools that resemble kinky rolling pins and suctions cups. Like gua sha, it has been linked to increasing lymphatic circulation, alleviating stress, reduction in the look of cellulite and may make the skin appear more taut. The idea is that you massage and break down fat and then manipulate towards your lympathic system to be drained.
Like any massage, I thought this part was fantastic. Similar to a massage, they really dig in there and work through any knots and help break down/loose up excess fat which is a great jumping off point for those hoping to shed fat.
Lipo Cavitation
Also known as an ultrasound machine, lip cavitation breaks apart fat deposits and is considered to be the less invasive alternative to liposuction. This process is meant to help target small areas you’re finding difficulty with vs being a weight lost treatment. The device sends waves into your skin causing a disruptive vibration that helps fat cells break apart from one another therefore aiding in fat loss and lymphatic drainage. It is recommended that you work out within the first few days of getting the procedure done to help accelerate the process. If liposuction is the fat loss portion of the equation, this is the tone portion. Because it helps break down (or loosen) stubborn fat the benefits of lipo cavitation may exceed weeks or even months.
TriLipo Maximus
This is the part that’s the most painful/uncomfortable which is what makes me believe that this is the part that is the most effective. The machine can be set to different level of intensities and the best comparison I can make is that it feels like rubber bands being snapped on your skin. What is this doing exactly? Well, this futuristic-looking device releases focused heat to cause your muscles to contract and squeeze fat cells. This squeezing helps promote the movement of less-than-stubborn fat into your lymphatic system. It felt like I was doing crunches while I laid there and did nothing – truly a dream, but the after care also felt like I did core work and I was sore for a few hours, it actually made me sweat.
The Verdict
Right before first session, left after 3 sessions.
Like any procedure, results will vary person to person. Reviewing the Contour Body site, a lot of the before and after photos on their site are more drastic than my own. Chatting with the team at Contour Body they vocalized that this procedure was a popular one for those who have gone through actual invasive surgery, like liposuction, because they found that non-invasive body contouring to be a suitable after treatment procedure to address their concerns with excess and loose skin.
Not going to lie, parts of the treatment were extremely uncomfortable and even hurt at times, especially the TriLipo portion. Maybe because I am also extremely ticklish but I found myself tense the entire time. I also went pretty much the entire pandemic without anyone touching me ever so to have ALL OF THAT physical contact on my tummy made me squirm a bit. Overall I was happy with the results and it did encourage me to continue to focus on my workouts after the fact because while I am fine with never being skinny, I would like to at least fit into my own clothes again.
