Emtone: What You Need to Know

Pros

• This noninvasive procedure can treat mild to moderate cellulite anywhere on the body.
• An Emtone treatment session typically takes just 20 minutes, depending on the size of the treated area.
• It’s also painless. Some patients compare the sensation to a hot stone massage, paired with intense vibrations from the mechanical energy. 
• People of all skin types and tones can be good candidates (as long as they have good skin elasticity).
• For most patients, Emtone side effects are limited to swelling and redness, and downtime is minimal.

Cons

• This isn’t a one-time procedure: doctors typically recommend a treatment plan that includes four to six sessions, for optimal results. You’ll also need annual touch-up sessions to maintain your results.
• As with other treatments that rely on new collagen development, you won’t see your final results until about three months after your final treatment.
• Emtone reviews on RealSelf give the treatment a 36% Worth It Rating. Of those who say it’s “Not Worth It,” several report that the treatment was very painful, and most say they saw no improvement in their cellulite, even after a series of three to six treatments.

RealSelf Tip: Unlike more invasive treatment options like Avéli (which has a much higher Worth It Rating), an Emtone treatment doesn't sever and release the fibrous bands called septae: it temporarily elongates them. That’s one of the reasons it works better on Grade 1 cellulite, often characterized as an “orange peel” texture, than Grade 2 (”cottage cheese”) or Grade 3 ("mattress" texture).

• Average Cost:
• $1,750

• Range:
• $450 - $8,400

Emtone is usually priced as a package of four treatment sessions. Some providers offer discounts for multiple treatment areas and follow-up maintenance treatments.

The price you pay will depend on your provider’s level of experience, their practice location, how many treatments you have, and the number of body areas you have treated.

Elective cosmetic treatments like this one are not covered by insurance, but you can finance your treatment with CareCredit or ask your provider about monthly payment plans.

See our complete guide to Emtone costs

The Emtone photos in our gallery have been shared by the provider who performed the procedure, with the patient's consent.

Emtone is often confused with the body contouring and muscle toning procedure Emsculpt, another noninvasive treatment developed by BTL. 

While Emtone targets cellulite, Emsculpt and the newer Emsculpt Neo devices tone muscles by inducing rapid contractions (thousands of times in a few seconds) with electromagnetic energy, burning fat along the way.

Emsculpt can tone muscles in the abdomen and buttocks, as well as smaller areas like the upper arms, thighs, and calves. (This same high-intensity focused electromagnetic energy is used in Emsella, to strengthen your pelvic muscles and restore bladder control.) 

If your goal is less cellulite and firm, smooth skin with better muscle tone, these two treatments can be very complementary.

Related: My Unfiltered Emsculpt Neo Review, from Cost to Pain Level to What Results Were Really Like

An Emtone treatment for a single body area takes about 20 minutes. Here’s what to expect:

• First, you’ll lie down on a treatment table. Your provider will apply a conductive lotion to the treatment area, which will help the handpiece move more easily over your skin.
• They’ll place a grounding pad on your back, to safely deliver the radiofrequency energy.
• Then they’ll glide the Emtone handpiece over your skin. It will feel warmer as the tissue temperature rises. The continual movement of the handpiece, real-time temperature monitoring, and an automatic-shutoff safety feature should ensure that it won’t become too hot or painful. While most found it tolerable, some reviewers on RealSelf did experience pain during their treatment.
• You’ll also feel intense mechanical vibrations. One RealSelf member who had the procedure on her abdomen said “it’s a very weird feeling,” and that the area was sore after a few treatment sessions.

Your skin may look flushed and feel warm for about 30 minutes afterward, but you’ll be able to resume normal activities immediately.

Most providers recommend a series of four Emtone treatment sessions, over the course of two weeks, for optimal results. Some recommend up to six Emtone sessions for patients with moderate cellulite.

Optimal results should appear within three months of your last session. It takes that long for the new collagen and elastin to develop.

RealSelf member Liorad started noticing a difference after her second of five treatments. “The skin on my lower abdominal area is much tighter, and I’ve lost the bit of loose skin left over from my pregnancy. My butt is smoother and less dimpled.”