“What’s the difference between a slimming salon and an aesthetic slimming treatment?”
“I want to achieve a beautiful body as soon as possible.”
If you’re thinking about undergoing body slimming treatment to achieve a slimmer, more beautiful figure, this guide is for you.
There are two main types of body slimming treatment: aesthetic slimming (esthe) and medical slimming. Among these, medical slimming tends to deliver noticeable slimming results more quickly. By targeting areas of unwanted fat and directly reducing fat cells, it can help create a body that is less prone to weight gain, as well as enable spot reduction.
On this page, we explain the specific differences between aesthetic slimming and medical slimming, along with the advantages and disadvantages of medical slimming in detail. We also introduce the medical slimming treatments available at our clinic, so please read to the end.
Table of Contents
- 1 What Is Body Slimming? Aiming for a Toned Physique Through Massage and Medical Devices
- 2 Is Aesthetic Slimming Pointless? Differences from Medical Slimming
- 3 Three Benefits of Medical Slimming Treatments
- 3.1 Results May Be Noticeable Soon After Treatment
- 3.2 Less Prone to Rebound Weight Gain
- 3.3 Spot Reduction Is Possible
- 4 Are There Disadvantages to Medical Slimming? Treatment Costs May Be Higher Than Aesthetic Slimming
- 5 Four Medical Slimming Treatments at IC Clinic: Features and Pricing
- 5.1 GLP-1 Injection
- 5.2 Botulinum Toxin Injection
- 5.3 BNLS Injection
- 5.4 Fat Dissolving Injection
- 6 Visit IC Clinic for Medical Slimming Treatments
What Is Body Slimming? Aiming for a Toned Physique Through Massage and Medical Devices
Body slimming refers to treatments aimed at achieving a toned, healthy physique.
Rather than losing weight in an unhealthy way through extreme dietary restriction or harsh dieting, body slimming focuses on helping you achieve a naturally feminine and beautiful figure.
There are two main approaches: “medical slimming,” which uses oral medications or injections to directly target body fat, and “aesthetic slimming,” which uses massage, supplements, and similar methods to help create a body that is more conducive to weight loss.
Is Aesthetic Slimming Pointless? Differences from Medical Slimming
The differences between aesthetic slimming and medical slimming are as follows.
| Medical Slimming | Aesthetic Slimming | |
|---|---|---|
| Practitioner | Treatment performed by licensed medical professionals | Esthetician (No special qualifications required to perform treatments) |
| Slimming Methods | ・Injections ・Use of medical devices ・Surgery ・Oral medication therapy ・etc. |
・Massage ・Use of aesthetic machines ・Supplement provision ・etc. |
| Devices & Medications | Devices and medications approved by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare or the FDA | Limited to quasi-drugs |
| Treatment Cost | Moderate to high | Low to moderate |
Medical slimming refers to slimming treatments performed by medical professionals at clinics and other medical institutions.
Using medical devices and oral medications approved by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), these treatments work to destroy and reduce fat cells, reducing body fat based on medical evidence.
Aesthetic slimming, on the other hand, refers to slimming treatments performed by estheticians at beauty salons using massage, aesthetic machines, and similar methods. No special qualifications are required to perform these treatments — a trained esthetician can carry them out.
Unlike medical slimming, aesthetic slimming aims to support improvements in body constitution and help create a body that is more responsive to weight loss, for example by loosening fat tissue through massage or boosting metabolism.
This is not to say that aesthetic slimming is without value, but medical slimming tends to deliver noticeable slimming results more quickly.
Three Benefits of Medical Slimming Treatments
The benefits of medical slimming treatments include the following three points.
- Results may be noticeable from the day of treatment
- Less prone to rebound weight gain
- Spot reduction is possible
Unlike aesthetic slimming, medical slimming reduces body fat based on medical evidence. As a result, slimming effects tend to be noticeable more quickly, and spot reduction is also possible.
Let’s take a closer look at each of these benefits.
Results May Be Noticeable Soon After Treatment
One characteristic of medical slimming is that results may be noticeable relatively soon after treatment.
With conventional dieting, it is possible to shrink fat cells, but not to reduce the actual number of fat cells. In addition, even shrinking fat cells takes time, making it difficult to see results quickly.
Medical slimming treatments such as BNLS injections and fat dissolving injections, on the other hand, work to reduce fat cells directly. In many cases, results may appear within approximately 3 days to 1 week after treatment.
If you would like to see slimming results sooner, please consider medical slimming.
Less Prone to Rebound Weight Gain
Another benefit of medical slimming is that it is less likely to lead to rebound weight gain.
Medical slimming includes treatment approaches that reduce fat cells as well as those that help suppress appetite.
For example, BNLS injections and fat dissolving injections shrink and reduce fat cells that store triglycerides. By reducing the number of fat cells in the body, the tendency to gain weight is also reduced, making rebound weight gain less likely after treatment.
In addition, GLP-1 injections — one type of medical slimming treatment — work to promote appetite suppression. By helping you feel satisfied with smaller amounts of food, they may support a body constitution that is less prone to rebound weight gain even after slimming down.
However, please note that disrupted eating habits or an irregular lifestyle may still contribute to rebound weight gain, so maintaining healthy habits remains important.
Spot Reduction Is Possible
Medical slimming makes spot reduction possible.
Areas such as the lower abdomen, upper arms, and flanks tend to be particularly difficult to slim down due to subcutaneous fat that does not respond easily to general dieting. Medical slimming can directly target these stubborn areas to reduce fat, making spot reduction achievable.
In addition, for women, it is possible to reduce fat around the abdomen while maintaining breast volume.
If you are looking for spot reduction, please consider medical slimming.
Are There Disadvantages to Medical Slimming? Treatment Costs May Be Higher Than Aesthetic Slimming
So far, we have covered the benefits of medical slimming. However, one characteristic of medical slimming is that treatment costs tend to be higher than aesthetic slimming.
Medical slimming treatments offered at clinics are generally provided as out-of-pocket (non-insured) services and are not covered by health insurance. Specific pricing varies by clinic, but costs are typically higher than those of aesthetic slimming treatments.
Additionally, while the risk is low, the possibility of side effects and the presence of some downtime are also potential disadvantages of medical slimming.
If you have concerns about pricing or side effects, we encourage you to contact a clinic and speak with a professional for more detailed information.
Four Medical Slimming Treatments at IC Clinic: Features and Pricing
Our clinic offers the following four types of medical slimming treatments.
- GLP-1 Injection
- Botulinum Toxin Injection
- BNLS Injection
- Fat Dissolving Injection
We will explain the details of each treatment below.
GLP-1 Injection
A GLP-1 injection is a slimming treatment that involves directly injecting GLP-1 — a hormone that naturally occurs in the human body — into the body.
GLP-1 is thought to play a role in why some people tend to gain weight more easily than others. When GLP-1 levels in the body are low, it may be harder to suppress appetite, leading to overeating. Conversely, when GLP-1 levels are higher, a moderate amount of food may feel satisfying, which may support a constitution that is less prone to weight gain.
The injections use fine, short needles, allowing most patients to self-administer with minimal discomfort.
In the early stages of treatment, side effects such as stomach discomfort, constipation, diarrhea, or headaches may occur. In most cases, these symptoms tend to subside with continued injections. Our clinic conducts thorough examinations before starting treatment and is prepared to respond promptly should any concerns arise.
For more details about GLP-1 injections, please visit the page below.
What Are GLP-1 Injections? Expected Effects for Weight Loss and Potential Side Effects
Botulinum Toxin Injection
A botulinum toxin injection is a type of slimming treatment that uses a preparation to relax targeted muscles.
While primarily used for cosmetic purposes such as facial slimming and wrinkle improvement, injecting into the calves or thighs may also support a leg-slimming effect.
For example, the calf contains two major muscles — the soleus and the gastrocnemius. By reducing the volume and firmness of these muscles with botulinum toxin injections, it becomes possible to create a slimmer appearance in the legs.
Pain and swelling from botulinum toxin injections are generally minimal; however, some patients may experience a sense of discomfort following treatment. In most cases, this discomfort tends to resolve over time.
If you have tried massage and other aesthetic slimming treatments without noticing the results you were hoping for, we encourage you to consider botulinum toxin injections.
For more details about botulinum toxin injections, please visit the page below.
What Are Botulinum Toxin Injections? Five Potential Cosmetic Benefits and Possible Side Effects
BNLS Injection
A BNLS injection is a type of slimming treatment in which a plant-derived formulation is injected directly into areas of unwanted fat to promote fat breakdown. It is primarily used as a facial slimming injection for face contouring purposes.
The treatment can refine various areas of the face — for example, defining the nose or making heavy, sagging eyelids appear lighter.
The primary active ingredient in BNLS, deoxycholic acid, is derived from plant sources, which is associated with a lower likelihood of post-treatment side effects. Results tend to appear relatively promptly, and in many cases, slimming effects may be noticeable within approximately 3 days to 1 week after treatment.
If you would like to reduce facial fat and achieve a slimmer facial contour, please consider BNLS injections.
For more details about the expected treatment effects of BNLS injections, please visit the page below.
What Are BNLS Injections? Three Expected Effects and the Differences Between Ultimate and Neo
Fat Dissolving Injection
A fat dissolving injection is a slimming treatment that works to break down and dissolve fat.
In addition to defining facial contours for a slimmer face, injections can be administered to areas of concern such as the thighs or abdomen to reduce localized fat. Furthermore, because fat dissolving injections work to reduce the fat cells themselves — the cells responsible for storing fat — they may support a body constitution that is less prone to weight gain.
The number of sessions and overall duration of fat dissolving injection treatment vary depending on the area and extent being treated, but as a general guideline, treatments are spaced approximately 2 weeks apart over a course of 3 sessions, requiring a total period of approximately 1.5 to 2 months.
After treatment, there is a risk of swelling, pain, or bruising; however, these symptoms typically subside within a few days to approximately one week.
If you are looking to reduce localized fat in areas such as the abdomen, upper arms, or legs, please consider fat dissolving injections.
For more details about fat dissolving injections, please visit the page below.
What Are Fat Dissolving Injections? Is Spot Reduction of the Face and Thighs Possible? Three Expected Effects and Potential Risks
Visit IC Clinic for Medical Slimming Treatments
Body slimming refers to treatments aimed at achieving a toned, healthy physique.
There are two main types: medical slimming and aesthetic slimming. Among these, medical slimming is characterized by its tendency to deliver noticeable effects more quickly. In addition, by reducing the fat cells that store triglycerides, it may help make rebound weight gain less likely and enable spot reduction.
At our clinic, we offer the following four medical slimming treatments.
- GLP-1 Injection
- Botulinum Toxin Injection
- BNLS Injection
- Fat Dissolving Injection
Whether you would like to see slimming results as soon as possible, or have found previous dieting attempts unsuccessful, we invite you to come in for a consultation at our clinic.
