To be clear, there is nothing at all wrong with having fat wherever on your body. But when it comes to my {physique~, I’ve always appreciated working smarter, not harder, which is why I’ve been willing to try and evaluate aesthetic body procedures like EmSculpt, CoolSculpting, and now EmSculpt Neo. EmSculpt Neo is a cutting-edge new body sculpting procedure that firms the skin and reduces fat in the butt, arms, legs, and stomach at the same time. HIFEM energy is also used in this procedure; more on that later. Naturally, I was really interested.

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I spoke with dermatologist Rebecca Marcus, MD, to get the lowdown on EmSculpt Neo since I had a lot of concerns that needed to be answered before scheduling an appointment to test the therapy for myself. Read on for my in-depth analysis of the procedure and Dr. Marcus’s opinions on it.

Is the EmSculpt Neo genuinely effective?

“EmSculpt Neo works by using high intensity electromagnetic—also known as HIFEM—energy to stimulate muscle contractions,” according to Dr. Marcus. It basically feels like you’re doing crunches or squats endlessly whether you’re working on your abs or glutes—24,000 for the duration of the 30-minute session, to be precise.

But what makes it unique, according to Dr. Marcus, is that it also uses radiofrequency radiation to heat the fat directly beneath your skin, effectively burning it to help shrink it and encourage collagen. Your body will appear more “toned” overall as a result of strengthening your muscles, burning fat, and tightening your skin (stiff skin typically looks smoother and slimmer).

How does EmSculpt vary from EmSculpt Neo?

HIFEM energy is used by EmSculpt Neo and EmSculpt to help you tone your muscles. The EmSculpt Neo treatment differs in that it uses radiofrequency, which may help remove fat and tighten your skin slightly after a few sessions. However, you might not wish to reduce fat in all places (like your butt, for example), which is why some people might still want to use the original EmSculpt.

However, bear in mind that EmSculpt Neo treatments are somewhat more costly than standard EmSculpt procedures due to this. One neat thing, though? You could book back-to-back appointments for a 45-minute EmSculpt session on your butt and a 30-minute EmSculpt Neo abdomen treatment, or you could combine the two treatments into one. Pretty high tech, huh?

What drawbacks does Emsculpt Neo have?

EmSculpt Neo truly has no drawbacks or adverse effects. Following a treatment, you may have some pain in your muscles (similar to the day after a strenuous workout), and depending on your skin tone, you may have some redness in the treatment region for an hour or two. But keep in mind that, according to Dr. Marcus, you cannot have EmSculpt Neo if you have metal implants, a pacemaker, active cancer, epilepsy, or certain blood problems.

What is the lifespan of EmSculpt Neo?

Dr. Marcus claims that if EmSculpt Neo is used in conjunction with a nutritious diet and regular exercise, the benefits will stay forever. “As with any kind of muscle strengthening treatment, results need to be maintained as muscles are capable of growth when exercised and atrophy when not used,” she says. “Typically, we start with four treatments over the course of a month, and then consider a quarterly maintenance treatment as needed.” I’ve increased the amount of ab exercises in my fitness regimen to assist keep the EmSculpt Neo effects on my stomach intact.

It’s also important to remember that EmSculpt Neo treatments don’t always work right away. Most patients may anticipate complete effects two to three months after treatment, however others notice an improvement in skin tone and elasticity around the six-week mark.

Which is better, EmSculpt or CoolSculpting?

According to Dr. Marcus, there is no “better” EmSculpt Neo or CoolSculpting procedure in and of itself—it all depends on the region being treated. EmSculpt Neo is a fantastic product for regions like your arms, legs, or stomach where you want to simultaneously lose fat and develop your muscles using heat. In the meantime, tiny, targeted locations where muscle definition isn’t a problem may be better candidates for CoolSculpting, which freezes fat to help reduce it. Consider the areas on your lower back, behind your chin, and around your bra line.

For the record, I’ve used EmSculpt Neo on my inner thighs and stomach and CoolSculpting on my chin. Each procedure has advantages and disadvantages. For me, CoolSculpting was really uncomfortable and caused a lot of swelling and redness that persisted for about three weeks. As a consequence, I preferred EmSculpt. I experienced no edema or downtime at all with EmSculpt Neo.

After just one EmSculpt Neo session, are results visible?

About 45 to 90 days following treatment, Dr. Marcus states that you might be able to observe a meaningful, albeit tiny, response with one EmSculpt Neo appointment. To get your desired outcomes, your physician would probably advise three to four treatments separated by one week. Dr. Marcus notes that after four treatments, you may be able to anticipate an average increase in muscle thickness of 25% and a decrease in subcutaneous fat of 30% in the treated region.

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