Q: What are the pros and cons of a body wrap?

Pros At-home body wraps are easy to apply. Spa body-wrap treatments may include a massage that can also relieve stress, increase circulation, and loosen fascia. Compared to other aesthetic treatments, body wraps are relatively inexpensive. Some providers and patients swear by the moisturizing, tightening, toning, or detoxification effects of body wraps. Cons Medical professionals and studies have not supported the claimed results from body wraps, particularly for skin tightening, slimming, and weight loss. While it might improve the appearance of cellulite, that effect is only temporary. Spa body wraps may not be relaxing for people who are claustrophobic or get uncomfortable lying in the same position for a long time. Body-wrap creams contain a variety of ingredients and fragrances. People with sensitive skin have reported such adverse reactions as rashes.

Question 1

What is a body wrap?

Accepted Answer

A body wrap is an at-home or spa treatment that involves the application of hydrating lotions and moisturizers (often an herbal or botanical blend), followed by neoprene, plastic, cloth, or even mylar wraps.

There are a variety of different types of body wraps, from herbal wraps to infrared body wraps and seaweed body wraps.

For most wrap treatments at spas, your provider applies the recline for half an hour or longer before your provider removes the wraps.

When you're entirely wrapped with your arms at your sides, the electric thermal blanket is pulled up. The blanket's heat is typically hot enough to make you sweat throughout the course of your 30-minute downtime.

Some at-home body wraps are left on longer, even while you exercise.

Question 2

What are the pros and cons of a body wrap?

Accepted Answer

Pros

At-home body wraps are easy to apply.
Spa body-wrap treatments may include a massage that can also relieve stress, increase circulation, and loosen fascia.
Compared to other aesthetic treatments, body wraps are relatively inexpensive.
Some providers and patients swear by the moisturizing, tightening, toning, or detoxification effects of body wraps.

Cons

Medical professionals and studies have not supported the claimed results from body wraps, particularly for skin tightening, slimming, and weight loss.
While it might improve the appearance of cellulite, that effect is only temporary.
Spa body wraps may not be relaxing for people who are claustrophobic or get uncomfortable lying in the same position for a long time.
Body-wrap creams contain a variety of ingredients and fragrances. People with sensitive skin have reported such adverse reactions as rashes.

Question 3

Do body wraps work for weight loss?

Accepted Answer

Body treatments claim to hydrate, slim, tighten, or detoxify different parts of the body—most commonly the stomach, legs, and arms. Some even claim to treat cellulite.

However, there is no credible evidence that they're an effective weight loss solution.

Question 4

Are body wraps safe?

Accepted Answer

Body wraps do carry some risks, beyond the potential for skin irritation.

The wraps act as insulators, which raises your body temperature and causes you to sweat and lose fluids—similar to a sauna. You can become dehydrated during a body wrap, and too-tight wrapping can cut off circulation or lead to overheating, especially if you’re wearing the wrap while exercising.

Proponents of body wraps say that this fluid loss leads to the "detox" effects, though there's no guarantee that your is losing impurities.

For both spa body wraps and at-home wraps, drink lots of water during and after treatment, to prevent dehydration. (Just keep in mind that drinking too much water can lead to hypoglycemia or water intoxication.)

“As you urinate that much water or sweat it out, you will be losing a lot of electrolytes and minerals from your body—which can deplete sodium, potassium, magnesium, and zinc,” explains Dr. Erik Suh, a physician in Bellevue, Washington. “Too much loss can cause muscle cramps and even irregular heartbeat.”

If you’re claustrophobic or have anxiety about tight materials constricting your body or movement, it’s probably best to not try body wraps.

They’re also not recommended for people with circulatory issues, endocrine disorders, or metabolic diseases or for women who are pregnant. If you have a chronic condition, ask your doctor before you try this treatment.

Question 5

How does a body wrap treatment work?

Accepted Answer

During a spa body wrap treatment, an esthetician or massage therapist usually starts with exfoliation, to remove dead cells from the surface of your skin, followed by a moisturizing, tightening, or detoxifying cream.

Each spa has its own unique blend, but common ingredients include clay, honey, algae, caffeine, green tea, eucalyptus, fruit, aloe vera, essential oils. Herbal wraps may also have herbs like rosemary and mint.

Neoprene (a type of rubber), plastic, or cloth is then tightly wrapped over the cream and left on for about 30 minutes. Your provider may cover this with a warm blanket.

At-home body wraps are similar, with the exception that many wraps come prepared with cream, so you don’t have to apply it first. After applying your own wrap, you’ll leave it on for anywhere from 45 minutes to several hours. Some wrap brands recommend exercising during this time, to boost the effects.

When you’re done, you’ll unwrap the materials and take a shower.

Providers recommend eating light, avoiding alcohol or caffeine, and taking it easy for the next couple days.

Question 6

Do stomach wraps really work?

Accepted Answer

Reviews are decidedly mixed on whether body wraps work. A majority of RealSelf members who’ve written body wrap reviews say that the treatment was “Not Worth It.”

If you decide to try a body wrap, keep in mind that your results (if any) will be temporary.

“While body wraps may tighten your skin, it's not permanent,” says Dr. Sheila Nazarian, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills, California, in a RealSelf Q&A. “It's not really taking off fat or firming tissue. It's simply reducing water weight and retention.”

When you consume food and water post-treatment, you’ll replace what was “lost.”

Question 7

How often should you do body wraps?

Accepted Answer

Doctors and aestheticians have different opinions. Some say you can wrap every 72 hours, while others recommend doing it no more than twice a week.

It really comes down to your treatment choice and physical condition.

BODY WRAP

Colleen Williams

Colleen Williams

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