EMsculpt NEO is a body treatment made by BTL that builds muscle and reduces fat in the same 30-minute session. A flat applicator strapped over the area delivers two energies at once. HIFEM, high intensity focused electromagnetic pulses, makes the muscle beneath contract at an intensity you cannot reach by exercising. Synchronised radiofrequency heats the fat layer over the muscle to the temperature at which fat cells break down, and the body clears them. Nothing breaks the skin, and you go back to your day afterwards. It is FDA-cleared in the US for fat reduction of the abdomen, the thighs, the upper arms and the flanks and for strengthening and toning the muscles of the abdomen, buttocks, thighs, arms and calves.
The two energies
- Muscle: the electromagnetic field induces a current in the motor nerves, and the muscle contracts and releases in rapid pulses for the whole session. The contractions are stronger than any you can make by effort, and the muscle responds as it does to training, by growing thicker with repetition. In the sham-controlled trial (one group had the real treatment, the other a dummy one) the abdominal muscle was 24% thicker at three months.
- Fat: the radiofrequency warms the fat layer to 42 to 45 degrees, at which fat cells are damaged. A small biopsy study of four patients found the fat cells about a third smaller a week and a month after treatment, and the body clears them over the following weeks. In the trial the abdominal fat layer was 28% thinner at three months.
The applicators and the areas
- Large applicator: the abdomen, the buttocks and the thighs.
- Edge applicator: shaped for the flanks and the oblique muscles, the sides of the waist.
- Small applicator: the upper arms and the calves.
Two applicators run at the same time, so both flanks, both arms or both thighs are treated in one 30-minute session. Fat reduction is cleared for the abdomen, the thighs, the upper arms and the flanks; the buttocks and the calves are muscle-toning areas only.
A session, step by step
- Consultation. The clinician looks at the area, checks your history and the list of what rules EMsculpt NEO out, agrees the areas and the course, and quotes in euro, in writing.
- Set-up. You lie down and the applicator is strapped over the area. In our practice there is no numbing and no gel; jewellery and anything metal come off.
- The 30 minutes. The clinician starts low and raises the intensity to the level you can hold. You feel strong muscle contractions in pulses and a warmth like a hot stone massage.
- After. The skin is pink and warm for an hour or so, and the muscle is sore for a day or two as after heavy exercise. You go straight back to your day.
Why it is a course
Muscle grows with repetition and the cleared fat takes weeks to leave. So a course is four sessions about a week apart. In our experience the first change shows two to four weeks after the last session, and the result is measured at three months. The sessions page sets out the course.
Who it is for
In our experience it suits someone who exercises, has a soft layer of fat left over a muscle they want firmer, and a body mass index under about 30. Typical areas are a soft abdomen, love handles, a flat bottom, arms that have lost tone and inner thighs. It changes shape, not weight; it is not for loose skin, cellulite or a large pinchable bulge, which is CoolSculpting's job.
These rule it out:
- A pacemaker, defibrillator or any implanted electronic device
- Metal in or near the area including a copper coil
- Pregnancy
- A hernia in the area
- A cancer in the area
- Epilepsy
- A heart condition
- A bleeding disorder or blood thinners
- Recent surgery
- An open wound or an infection in the area
The clinician asks about recent abdominal surgery, a caesarean and a gap between the abdominal muscles. The full EMsculpt NEO guide carries the complete list.
See it for yourself
Book a free consultation at EMsculpt Neo Dublin on +353 1485 4911 or through the form below. The clinician shows you the applicators, explains what a course will do for your body, and gives you the price in euro, in writing.
