Get ready to meet CoolTone; the latest body-contouring device to receive FDA clearance. While it’s not to be confused with CoolSculpting (more on the difference between the two in a minute), both are owned by Allergan, hence the name similarity.
Unlike CoolSculpting, which works by freezing and killing fat, the new kid on the block uses magnetic muscle stimulation to make your muscles involuntarily contract. (For reference, doing crunches and lifting weights also contracts your muscles.) The result? Stronger muscle fibers—which, in turn, look stronger, firmer, and … well, more toned. CoolTone isn’t the first device of its kind, but it claims to have 50% more magnetic intensity than the competition. However, it’s worth noting that the clinical significance of that data hasn’t yet been established.
CoolTone’s closest existing competitor is Emsculpt, which also elicits intense muscle contractions using electromagnetic energy and is approved for use on similar spots as CoolTone. Emsculpt, however, also has some effects on fat when used on the stomach, since the muscles are stimulated to the point where they release chemicals that cause fat cells to break down and die.
While the abs are CoolTone’s target spot, the device can also be used on the butt and thighs, similar areas to CoolSculpting, though the latter is also FDA-cleared for use on bra and back fat. We’re not psychics, but we’re willing to bet pairing up the two—CoolSculpting to destroy fat, CoolTone to shape muscle—will soon be a popular protocol. Allergan is taking orders for CoolTone machines now, and the first batch is scheduled to be shipped out toward the end of the year.
Doctors already seem to be excited about it. “As physicians we are always interested in looking at what is the best option for patients—new innovations or improvements are always welcome. And body sculpting and toning devices leading to the improvement of skin laxity are what’s trending,” says Dr. Dendy Engelman, a New York-based dermatologist. “Medically speaking, there are studies and literature that support the benefits of magnetic muscle stimulation, and it also has cosmetic and aesthetic effects when it comes to strengthening muscles and improving tone.”
So if you’re looking to tone a few problem areas without spending hours at the gym, it may be worth it to mark your calendar.
