Is more than 4 Emsculpt sessions needed? What power level should be used?

Question

I am intrigued by Emsculpt. I called a Dr’s office who provides it and the receptionist said that a “bare minimum “ of four treatments (at $3000!) would be needed. Everything I’d read suggested it was four treatments. $3000 is already a heavy lift for me. I don’t want to waste my time and money if I can’t afford more than four treatments. Any thoughts? What power settings should each treatment be at?

Michael A. Persky, MD · Answer

Hi DML,
Emsculpt was studied treating patients with 4 30-minute sessions over a two week period.  There was 16-19% muscle mass increase and 19% fat reduction.  What has not been studied is the optimal maintenance regimen.  We are seeing results being maintained one year out, these patients have had a fifth treatment session at about 6 weeks after completion of their series.  The treatment should feel intense but not painful.  Most of our patients are able to get up to 100% power within the first 10 to 15 minutes of their first session.  I believe that with continued exercise and a healthy diet/life style patients should be able to maintain their results. As with investing in speculatively in stocks or options, you never want to invest more that you can comfortably afford to lose.  If you are worried about the cost, 24 Hour Fitness may be better for you, though you will be hard pressed to match the 20,000 supra-maximal muscle contractions per 30 minutes.  Good luck and be well.
Dr. P

Paul Flashner, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question! It is correct that 4 treatments of Emsculpt is the bare minimum. You will need to go to your nearest provider to get a proper assessment. This will determine approximately how many treatments you will need! Typically, 6 - 8 treatments is normal for the average person. It is recommended to use the highest level you can tolerate to get the best results. Thanks again!

Janet Allenby, DO · Answer

Hi There,
Thank you for your question about EmSculpt. Standard protocol recommends 4-8 sessions for your original treatment. Many of our patients start with 4 and love their results. However it really does depend on your body and what your goals are. We encourage patients to treat at the highest level that they comfortably can for best results. You will need to consult with a local provider in person to determine what the best course of action will be. Best of luck! it is an incredible treatment!

Michael A. Zadeh, MD, FACS · Answer

The number of EMSculpt treatments you would need should be determined after an in-person consultation and examination. Those within their ideal body weight need a minimum of 4 over a 2 week span. Those with a little more fat, or that want more definition may need to do more. I recommend an in-person consultation and evaluation by an experienced physician. Best wishes.

Dmitriy Schwarzburg, MD · Answer

The number of Emsculpt sessions will be determined by your provider and the goals you have in mind. Please contact a qualified provider or a board-certified physician with extensive experience in these procedures.

Kristina McAteer, MD · Answer

Yes indeed...four treatments is the recommended minimum. Some patients opt to go a bit further, 6 and sometimes 8 treatments are not uncommon. Keep in mind that it takes roughly 6 months for the full effect of the treatments to be visually appreciated. 
As far as power, start off walking before you run! The settings should be at what you can comfortably tolerate. Each person is different. I have had patients that were able to take 100% of the power fairly quickly; and I have had patients that needed all four sessions to get up to full power.
Good luck with your decision! It is certainly an investment in your body but well worth it.

Bhavlene Panesar, MD · Answer

Hi there and thank you for your question.
Depending on the amount of overlying fatty tissue a minimum of 4 Emsculpt sessions is a good place to start.  Emsculpt is reported to increase the bulk of the underlying muscle by up to 20% while eliminating up to 23% of the overlying fat.  The less fat is overlying, the more quickly you will be able to see the muscle definition underneath.  
I would recommend starting with 4 sessions and then following up at 8 weeks to see how much fat loss has taken place.  From there further sessions can be planned.  
If however, there is pinch-able fat in the area, then pre-treating with Coolsculpting to reduce the bulk of the fat may be helpful prior to starting your Emsculpt sessions.
Hope that helps.  Good luck with your treatments.

Narin (Joe) Apisarnthanarax, MD · Answer

It is correct that the minimum number of treatments is four.  This is partly dependent on the area that you are looking to treat.  Areas that have more fat will require more treatments to see more results.  If you are relatively fit and work out regularly, then you should see great results with four treatments.  Its not that the muscles will not build or develop if there is more fat overlying the treated area, but that you will need more fat reduction to see the results.  While the treatment is not inexpensive, remember that the results that you get have been shown to last for over a year.  People who have had the treatment done also report functional improvements as well in improved core strength and endurance, although this has not been well-studied or quantified.  While $3,000 is an average starting pricing for Emsculpt, added treatment courses or areas tend to be less expensive.Regarding the power level used, its actually not quite as important to always aim for 100.  Thinner people will require less power.  And muscle groups on the arms and legs also require less power.  As long as your muscles are fully engaged during the contractions, you are getting an effective treatment.  Your technician should spend some time to gradually increase the power level during your treatment to a point where you are getting good engagement without too much discomfort.  You'll find that subsequent treatments will allow you to accelerate the power faster, and you'll be able to reach higher levels as your muscle fibers proliferate and become larger.

Ariel Haus, MD · Answer

Thank you for this excellent question.  EmSculpt is a non-surgical treatment for the body and like all non-surgical devices, the number of sessions required is always going to depend on the characteristics  or existing condition of the individual patient and the results they hope to achieve.  At our clinic all patients undergo an initial assessment before any treatment commences and at that point we create a personalised treatment plan and can advise on the number of sessions that we believe will be necessary.
However typically we recommend that patients complete a course of between 4 to 6 individual sessions.  Some patients only need 4 sessions, (which is what the manufacturer advises) but others require 6 appointments.  Unlike other body sculpting treatments, patients can have EmSculpt every 2 to 4 days.  This means that a course of EmSculpt can be completed in just 2 weeks and results would usually be visible around 2 to 4 weeks after the last treatment.  Best wishes with your treatment.  Dr Ariel Haus, London.

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