Emsculpt

This electromagnetic treatment burns fat and builds muscle—all you have to do is lie down.

- Erin Reimel

WHAT IT IS

Emsculpt is an in-office body-contouring treatment that targets fat and muscle in the stomach, buttocks, and thighs (with other areas in line for FDA approval). The Emsculpt machine’s paddle transmits high-intensity focused electromagnetic energy (HIFEM) through the skin, which induces approximately 20,000 muscle contractions—far more than you’d get from doing regular crunches or sit-ups at the gym. “This overload of activity in the muscles leads to effective muscular growth and burns local fat stores,” says New York City dermatologist Arash Akhavan, MD. But it’s not as simple as snapping your fingers and dropping two dress sizes. “The ideal Emsculpt candidate is of average weight and has a stubborn area of fat that does not benefit from exercise,” explains New York City–based dermatologist Patricia Wexler, MD. When it comes to toning the butt, the machine’s settings can be tweaked to lift and tone rather than to burn fat.

COST