Body Contouring: Why, Emsculpting?

Everyone has one problematic area of their body that they tend to obsess about. For most people, the culprit is usually the mid-section of the abs.

The problem, however, is that most people don’t like going to the gym. So, they give up on their dreams of having a core that even closely resembles that of Bella Hadid.  Fortunately, there is a way to get rid of that waist flabbiness that doesn’t involve spending countless hours at the gym or stringent diets.

Enter Emsculpting. As a body contouring treatment, BTL’s Emsculpting treatments are the solution. This machine builds and tones muscle in just four 30-minute sessions. This may sound a little far-fetched, but that’s exactly what it does.

However, it’s not a magical pill that will suddenly melt away those extra pounds. While it does a great job of building, improving, and toning muscles, it doesn’t transform someone’s physique instantaneously. During the treatment phase, it does raise your metabolic rate significantly. So, this can boost a weight loss routine and leave you feeling rejuvenated.

WHAT IS EMSCULPT?

According to Paul J. Frank, who was among the first few cosmetic dermatologists in the U.S. to get the device, Emsculpt is a revolutionary new treatment that allows magnetic fields to be used therapeutically to shed fat and build muscle.

Think of it as a small, condensed Magnetic Resonance Imaging or MRI machine. It’s a non-invasive treatment that uses high-intensity electromagnetic fields, i.e., HIFEM technology, to activate supramaximal muscle contractions, which cannot be achieved through voluntary muscular action.

In half an hour, Emsculpting triggers approximately 20,000 supramaximal muscular contractions, which helps boost fat metabolism and strengthen muscles. It’s been approved by the FDA as a body contouring treatment mainly used for strengthening, toning, and firming the body, i.e., the buttocks and abs.

With smaller probes, Emsculpting can be used on other parts of the body, including the arms, i.e., triceps and biceps, as well as the legs, specifically the thigh and calf muscles. Smaller parts of the body are can also be targeted for rehabilitation or therapeutic purposes.

It’s the most recent product to enter the non-invasive fat-reduction industry. Emsculpting is the newest kid on the block in a category that has been previously dominated by CoolSculpting and Sculpsure in an industry that’s been steadily growing.

What’s more, there’s strong scientific evidence to suggest that Emsculpt promotes muscle growth and enhances strength as study participants noticed during their normal workouts. And according to a survey conducted by RealSelf, approximately 88% of patients voted for EmSculpting.

What makes Emsculpt distinctively different from the other body-shaping tools in its category is its duality. On the one hand, it helps patients achieve up to 19% fat loss in the treatment area over the next 3 months, and on the other, it promotes muscle fiber grow by approximately 16% for a much firmer rear-end and/or toner abs.

Unlike SculpSure or CoolSculpting therapies, where fat cells are targeted directly, the fat-burning effect of Emsculpt is residual thanks to the supramaximal muscular contractions.

Most people don’t know the difference between the two: CoolSculpting works best for people looking to directly target fat alone. When combined with emsculpting, it can be a great way of losing even more fat in the treatment area as well as firming and defining muscles. However, for those that have a major gut, it won’t do much to help get rid of it.

It’s worth noting that while these body-shaping technologies are great for burning fat, they are by no means substitutes for regular exercise and mindful eating. They were created to be supplements for people living a healthy, active lifestyle.

THE SCIENCE BEHIND EMSCULPTING

When muscles are voluntarily contracted, there’s an interval of time between each neuron firing where muscles relax called the refractory period. During this phase, the brain is unable to initiate another contraction in that single group of neurons.

Emsculpt produces signals that are separate from those of brain activity and fires them rapidly at such a high frequency that it won’t allow muscle fibers to relax. Thus, the refractory period is bypassed.

Normally, the highest level of tension that can be attained and maintained physiologically is referred to as MVC or maximal voluntary contraction. Under normal conditions, it only lasts for a split second.

When contractions exceed the MVC threshold, they are subsequently referred to as supramaximal muscle contractions. The Emsculpt machine can generate these contractions and maintain them for several seconds, which raises the workload on the muscle cell beyond what your brain can do.

Muscle cells exposed to such extreme conditions adapt and respond by remodeling their core structure by creating new fibers, strands of protein, and growing myofibrils. Emsculpt helps increase muscle volume and mass and consequently leads to a firmer and well-toned body.

Because muscles require energy to produce action, this energy typically comes from a variety of sources, the main ones being ATP, glycogen, and creatine phosphate.

Once these sources of energy are depleted, the catabolic processes of the body kick in and degrade lipids into glycerol and fatty acids, a process referred to as lipolysis. These newly released particles become energy sources for metabolism and fuel muscle activity as well.

In an Emsculpting session, the target muscles are contracted, which sends a signal to the brain to let it know that a huge amount of energy is going to be needed to fuel these contractions. In response to this, the brain drastically increases the amount of epinephrine released by the body.

As a result, the body’s catabolic reactions go into overdrive as well as lipolysis induced by supramaximal muscle contractions, which subsequently leads to a huge release of free fatty acids.

Once the amount of free fatty acids goes beyond normal levels, they begin collecting inside nearby fat cells and renders them useless.

This effect is most evident in the tissue surrounding the target muscle region thanks to the increase in blood flow to fatty tissue and other substances released by muscle cells while contracting.

In simple terms, when performing a squat or crunch, only 25-50% of the muscles involved are activated, and that happens every 3-5 seconds. Emsculpting, on the other hand, has a 90-100% muscle activation rate, and the muscle is triggered to contract approximately 20k times in a half an hour session.

WHAT DOES EMSCULPT FEEL LIKE?

Going through the process is relatively easy and painless. It’s as simple as getting comfortable, getting the device strapped over the target area—it could be over the stomach or butt, and then the technician turns the power on.

During an emsculpting session, the technician typically starts at a relatively low power setting and gradually increases power. That’s because jumping from a low setting to 80% or full power can stress muscles to the point that a hernia develops; that’s why it’s essential to find a trained technician.

The contractions are designed to occur at intervals of a couple of seconds and will feel strange for the first time, but it gets easier with each subsequent treatment. It feels like an intense squeeze that is stronger than any muscle contraction you’ve had before.

You may also find your legs moving upwards with each contraction, but that’s how you know it’s working. After every 3 ½ minutes of supramaximal contractions, the machine has a built in resting phase of contractions or “tapping” for your muscles. The lactic acid produced by muscle cells during the supramaximal contractions is broken up during this resting phase so that your muscles are not sore the next day.

To see any real results, the recommended treatment schedule for patients is to go for four sessions evenly spaced out over a couple of days. You start seeing some results immediately, and these results become even better after 1-3 months as the fat cells die and are cleared from the treatment area.

WHO IS THE BEST CANDIDATE
FOR EMSCULPT?

Emsculpt is a therapeutic or rehabilitation treatment for people with low BMIs. The ideal person for Emsculpt leads an overall active and healthy lifestyle and wants to get better definition and toning in those hard to define areas like the glutes and abs.

It can also be used to supplement physical therapy and to help enhance the strength of muscles that have been weakened due to inactivity or damage.

That being said, there are contraindications to treatment with Emsculpt. The treatment itself will heat up any metal in the treatment area. So, individuals with copper IUDs and other metal-based implants near the treatment area cannot be treated. Additionally, pregnant women and people suffering from medical conditions that can be exacerbated by the electromagnetic field generated by the device, i.e. pacemakers, cannot be treated with Emsculpt.

Generally speaking, to prepare for the first session, the patient should not exercise the day before or on the day of the session, and clients are also encouraged to drink plenty of water and stay hydrated throughout the entire treatment process.

CELEBRITY RESULTS

Former actress and director of the hit movie Charlie’s Angels, Drew Barrymore, is known for being blatantly honest and has often shared her struggles with weight and fitness, especially after being a mother.

This 44-year-old mother of two daughters and business owner faced a lot of challenges when working out that would often end with her visiting a physical therapist. That’s when she decided to try Emsculpt to help her manage her new body. It has since become her ab “secret.”

Other celebrities that have used Emsculpt include Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez, Rob Gronkowski, Kim Biermann, Lisa Rinna, and Deontay Wilder, among many more. Click here for EMSculpt Before & After photos, from clients just like you.

Ready to take the next step?

Look no further than Holden Timeless Beauty. We offer a wide range of services for our clients, from wrinkle relaxer treatments to lash volumizing to, of course, Emsculpt treatments. Body-shaping treatments are one of our notable specialties. With no need for expensive surgery or downtime, our Emsculpt treatments provide 20,000 muscle contractions in thirty minutes.

We recommend two treatments a week for two weeks, totaling four treatments for the best results. We currently offer Emsculpt treatments for abdominal muscles, glutes, triceps, and biceps.

Currently, Holden Timeless Beauty is offering $500 off Emsculpt treatments. Learn more about how Holden Timeless Beauty can help you get the body sculpting results you need.