20 Apr Study Says Emsculpt NEO Works in the Most Boring Way Possible
Does Emsculpt NEO really work? According to the authors of a peer-reviewed “narrative review and position paper” published in 2021 in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, the answer is unequivocally YES. We at RefinedMD could have told you that (and we have!). However, we get that it sounds too good to be true, and you know what they say: if it sounds too good to be true, check the science. The full title of the paper is “The role and clinical benefits of high-intensity focused electromagnetic devices for non-invasive lipolysis and beyond: A narrative review and position paper.” That’s quite the mouthful, so let’s just get straight to the point. Emsculpt and Emsculpt NEO works, and this is how.
The original Emsculpt is pretty new, introduced in 2018 with technology that forces muscles into 20,000 supramaximal contractions in just 30 minutes. To your body, it’s identical to doing 20,000 perfect lunges, crunches, etc. That’s fab, but what about the fat covering those muscles? Emsculpt combined the supramaximal contractions with HIFEM technology with radiofrequency, a long-known means of blasting away small amounts of fat—and Emsculpt NEO was born. Here’s what researchers say about that.
The Not-So Mysterious Mystery of Emsculpt NEO
In 2020, an “advisory board” met to talk about HIFEM devices in the world of aesthetics. This included “senior aesthetic physicians” who routinely treat patients with tools like Emsculpt NEO. They agreed that, when considering numerous clinical studies*—which involved 500+ clients and 30 investigators—that the claims are true. Emsculpt NEO averages a 30 percent reduction in fat, 25 percent more muscles, and a 19 percent reduction in “abdominal separation” along with approximately a 5.9 cm reduction of waist circumference. As a bonus, they also found that there’s an average 30 percent increase in satellite cell content, which can be compared to the 36 percent average when a person undergoes a new 12-week course of exercise.
According to the authors of the paper,
The advisory board unanimously agreed on several messages related to HIFEM technology, including that the pairing of HIFEM and radiofrequency [Emsculpt NEO] enables a higher intensity of muscle stimulation and lipolysis, compared to HIFEM [Emsculpt] alone.
However, not every facility has the latest Emsculpt NEO. Don’t cheat yourself. Emsculpt is great for muscle-building, but it’s the rare person who wouldn’t benefit from lipolysis (fat loss) at the same time. If you’re shopping around for body contouring and Emsculpt technology piques your interest, make sure you clarify that the facility you’re talking to has Emsculpt NEO (spoiler/not really: we do).
What You Need to Know Before Emsculpt NEO
Before scheduling your Emsculpt NEO session, you’ll want to know what it will feel like, recovery, and when you’ll see results. We get it. The treatment itself is pain-free, but can feel a little strange. Still, most clients scroll through their phone during their 30-minute sessions. You can also book back-t0-back treatments if you want to target more than one site (the glutes, abs, upper arms, and legs are all popular spots). Right before, during, and after your treatment, it’s a good idea to sip on BCAA-infused water to help reduce delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). Remember, your muscles are actually performing 20,000 contractions per treatment site, something you’d never come close to managing in the gym. Which means …
You’re going to feel sore. That soreness means it’s working. Expect to feel this for the next few days after your treatment, as this is likely the most intensive workout of your life! You can also help maximize those results by consuming at least 20 grams of protein right after the treatment to feed those muscles. Most clients have 4 – 6 treatments spaced one month apart, followed by maintenance sessions every 6 months for the best results. Just like muscle-building in the gym, results are slow and steady. You’ll start to see initial results about one month after the first treatment. Ready to get started? Contact RefinedMD today to book your consultation or appointment. Give us a call, or for the fastest response complete the online contact form.