Our love for BTL is well documented. We’ve sung the praises of Emsella,

showed you how to get and stay fit with Emsculpt NEO, and even taught you how to combine both treatments for a total-core transformation.

With one of our favorite times of year coming up —- National Emsculpt Week — we’re starting the celebrations early by answering some of your biggest questions about BTL’s devices. Do they actually work? Can they help you achieve your goals? And most importantly, are they really worth it?

The answers are yes, yes and yes, but you don’t have to take our word for it — let’s see what the science has to say.

Does Emsculpt Work for Muscle Building?

Emsculpt and Emsculpt NEO utilize high-intensity focused electromagnetic (HIFEM) energy to strengthen muscles in the abdomen, buttocks, arms and lower legs. HIFEM is the newest of the five non-invasive body contouring techniques currently approved by the FDA. 

A study by Kinney et al reported a muscle thickening of 15.8% after four abdominal treatments with Emsculpt.

A German study from 2021 found that patients who underwent four 30-minute abdominal Emsculpt treatments within two weeks saw an average increase of 26.1% in the thickness of the rectus abdominis muscle two months after completing their sessions.

Three of Emsculpt NEO’s clinical studies showed a 25% growth in muscle volume on average.

Does Emsculpt NEO Work for Fat Reduction?

Emsculpt NEO blends HIFEM energy with radiofrequency technology for a two-in-one body shaping effect. It is the first and only non-invasive body sculpting device that provides simultaneous fat reduction and muscle building.

Clinical studies showed, on average, a 30% reduction in subcutaneous fat using Emsculpt NEO.

In the 2021 German study, participants saw, on average, a 15.7% reduction of subcutaneous fat and an overall decrease in waist circumference of 2.84 centimeters (approximately 1.1 inches). No increase in waist circumference was documented in any participant.

The study by Kinney et al documented a reduction in fat thickness by 18.6% after four Emsculpt NEO treatments.

Are Emsculpt and Emsculpt NEO Safe?

Both devices have strong safety track records. The German study documented no adverse events or side effects associated with the treatment. A 2018 study on abdominal contouring and a 2018 study on buttock contouring also reported no adverse events. 

In a paper on the mechanism of action of Emsculpt NEO, the authors conclude that Emsculpt NEO “represents a new class of device far ahead of any devices currently in the marketplace for body contouring” and that the treatments are “ faster, safer and more effective than ever before.”

Is Emsculpt Worth It?

Emsculpt and Emsculpt NEO were among RealSelf’s ‘Most Worth It’ honorees in 2020. The ‘Most Worth It’ procedures are determined by patients’ "Worth It" ratings – RealSelf’s proprietary satisfaction score based on first-hand reviews from real patients following a treatment.

For more data, we turn again to the German study, which reported a patient satisfaction rate of 87.5% immediately following the fourth treatment session. Eight weeks after that session, patient satisfaction reached a mind-boggling 100 percent! As a final assessment of the treatment, all participants in the study said they would recommend Emsculpt to friends.

How Common Is Urinary Incontinence?

BTL’s Emsella is the latest technology for urinary incontinence (UI). According to an article published in 2003, UI impacts an estimated 15 to 35% of the adult ambulatory population aged 60 and older. UI prevalence rates for women are twice that of men.

Unfortunately, UI is under-reported and under-treated because many people are hesitant to discuss an issue they consider so personal and embarrassing. Many also mistakenly believe that UI is “just part of life” and can never be improved.

What Is the Impact of Urinary Incontinence?

UI is distressing for women and men alike. The article cited above reports that researchers have found links between incontinence and depression and between incontinence and anxiety. Women with urinary incontinence are also more likely to report a poorer quality of life.

Multiple studies have shown that UI imposes a significant financial burden on individuals and their families, as well as healthcare organizations. 

The impact of UI is often especially devastating for women. An article published in The Aesthetic Guide reports that many women experience reduced sexual function and desire alongside UI and that an estimated 45% of women with UI are unwilling to be sexually intimate.

Does the Emsella Chair Really Work?

Emsella currently has an 88% ‘Worth It’ rating on RealSelf.

A study published in Lasers in Surgery and Medicine in 2019 observed 75 women showing symptoms of stress, urge or mixed urinary incontinence. Participants received six 28-minute HIFEM treatments. After the sixth session, 81.33% reported significant reduction in their symptoms. Improvements were also recorded via a standardized incontinence questionnaire and a reduction in the use of absorbent incontinence pads.

Preliminary data from a prospective one-arm study presented at the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) 2020 Virtual Annual Meeting showed similar results.

Can Emsella Improve My Sex Life?

The science says… yes! Results are especially impressive with BTL’s Core-to-Floor therapy, which combines Emsella and Emsculpt to strengthen the pelvic floor and abdomen simultaneously.

After undergoing six twice-per-week HIFEM sessions, patients in the study presented at NAMS reported reduced pain during intercourse, increased libido, improved arousal and lubrication, and greater satisfaction with orgasms.

The barriers to the enjoyment of sex for women with UI are falling, and we’re proud to help break them down with Core-to-Floor therapy at Krch Aesthetic Medicine.

Ready to experience Emsculpt NEO or Emsella for yourself? Curious about the Core-to-Floor program or one of our other Emsculpt packages? Request a consultation today by calling 480-493-5833 or booking online.

References:

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Kinney, Brian M, and Paula Lozanova. High intensity focused electromagnetic therapy evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging: Safety and efficacy study of a dual tissue effect based non-invasive abdominal body shaping. Lasers in surgery and medicine vol. 51,1 (2019): 40-46. doi:10.1002/lsm.23024

Giesse, Steffen. A German Prospective Study of the Safety and Efficacy of a Non-Invasive, High-intensity, Electromagnetic Abdomen and Buttock Contouring Device. The Journal of clinical and aesthetic dermatology vol. 14,1 (2021): 30-33.

Jacob, CI, Paskova, K. Safety and efficacy of a novel high-intensity focused electromagnetic technology device for noninvasive abdominal body shaping. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2018; 17: 783– 787. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.12779

Jacob C, Kinney B, Busso M, Chilukuri S, McCoy JD, Bailey C, Denkova R. High Intensity Focused Electro-Magnetic Technology (HIFEM) for Non-Invasive Buttock Lifting and Toning of Gluteal Muscles: A Multi-Center Efficacy and Safety Study. J Drugs Dermatol. 2018 Nov 1;17(11):1229-1232. PMID: 30500146.

Broome, Barbara Ann Shelton. The impact of urinary incontinence on self-efficacy and quality of life. Health and quality of life outcomes vol. 1 35. 22 Aug. 2003, doi:10.1186/1477-7525-1-35

Todd H. Wagner, Teh-Wei Hu. Economic costs of urinary incontinence in 1995, Urology, Volume 51, Issue 3, 1998, Pages 355-361, ISSN 0090-4295, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0090-4295(97)00623-7

Dorothy I. Baker, PhD, Thomas W. Bice, PhD. The Influence of Urinary Incontinence on Publicly Financed Home Care Services to Low-Income Elderly People, The Gerontologist, Volume 35, Issue 3, June 1995, Pages 360–369, https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/35.3.360 

Samuels, Julene B et al. Safety and Efficacy of a Non-Invasive High-Intensity Focused Electromagnetic Field (HIFEM) Device for Treatment of Urinary Incontinence and Enhancement of Quality of Life. Lasers in surgery and medicine vol. 51,9 (2019): 760-766. doi:10.1002/lsm.23106  

Samuels JB, Pezzella A, Berenholz J, Alinsod R. Safety and efficacy of a non-Invasive high-intensity focused electromagnetic field (HIFEM) device for treatment of urinary incontinence and enhancement of quality of life. Lasers Surg Med 2019 Nov;51(9) :760-766 .

Samuels JB, Evans K. Female sexual function and urinary incontinence : six month follow-up after high-intensity focused electromagnetic procedure. Presented at North American Menopause Society 2020 Virtual Annual Meeting, Sept 30, 2020 – Oct 3, 2020.