Diet, a healthy lifestyle and exercise can usually make a difference in how your body looks. But there are often those stubborn areas of excess fat or low muscle tone that won’t budge no matter what you do. EMSCULPT NEO and CoolSculpting were designed to target those areas and give you the body you’re after.
EMSCULPT NEO and CoolSculpting are two non-invasive body contouring procedures. Both promise to sculpt and tighten problem areas of stubborn fat and weak muscles, thus creating a toned and slim appearance without the need for surgery.
If you’re interested in having this type of treatment, you’ve likely come across EMSCULPT NEO and CoolSculpting as popular options and wondered whether there is any difference between the two. To help you understand what sets these two apart so that you can make the right decisions, we’ll explain what these treatments are, how they work, what problems they treat and their key differences.
What Is EMSCULPT NEO?
EMSCULPT NEO is an upgraded version of EMSCULPT, a body contouring device created by BTL Industries. EMSCULPT is the world’s first treatment that provides muscle building and body sculpting non-invasively and quickly. It utilizes high-intensity focused electromagnetic (HIFEM) technology, stimulating muscle contraction.
EMSCULPT NEO has all the features of its predecessor but with the addition of radiofrequency (RF) technology to provide the benefits of fat loss. This means that EMSCULPT NEO provides both muscle toning and fat reduction in a single treatment.
Keep in mind that EMSCULPT NEO is not meant to replace the benefits of diet and exercise. It cannot make you lose weight or eliminate the need for regular exercise. Instead, it can help address stubborn pockets of fat or provide subtle body sculpting where you need it.
How It Works
As a non-invasive treatment, EMSCULPT NEO does not require anesthesia, incisions or downtime. Instead, it involves using an applicator that emits synchronized HIFEM and RF energy to the treatment area.
The electromagnetic stimulation from HIFEM creates electrical currents that pass through the muscle, forcing them to contract. This is similar to what happens during exercise and has the same effect: stronger, toned muscles. At the same time, the device also emits RF energy, which destroys fat cells by heating them just enough to trigger apoptosis (cell death).
A typical session lasts about 30 minutes, and many patients need just four treatment sessions to see a noticeable improvement.
EMSCULPT NEO can reduce subcutaneous fat by as much as 30 percent. Another benefit of RF energy is mild skin tightening, which further enhances results.
What It Treats
EMSCULPT NEO can help treat stubborn pockets of fat and suboptimal muscle tone in many different areas. The device comes with different applicators for different areas of the body, which further helps make it efficient. EMSCULPT NEO is currently FDA-cleared for the treatment of the following areas:
- Abdomen
- Lateral abdomen (love handles)
- Buttocks
- Thighs
- Calves
- Arms
What Is CoolSculpting?
CoolSculpting, also known as fat-freezing, is a body-sculpting technology developed by Zeltiq Aesthetics, a subsidiary of Allergan. Often used as an alternative to liposuction and surgery, it is scientifically proven to work. And as a non-surgical fat reduction treatment, CoolSculpting also does not involve anesthesia, incisions or downtime.
The idea for CoolSculpting was originally developed by Harvard scientists and is based on the discovery that fat freezes at temperatures that do not harm surrounding tissues. Its controlled cooling technology safely and effectively freezes fat cells without harming skin, muscle and other surrounding tissue. The result is a reduction in fat at the treatment area of up to 25 percent and a slimmer and more defined silhouette.
Like EMSCULPT NEO, CoolSculpting cannot replace the benefits of a healthy diet and regular exercise. Instead, it can remove small areas of fat to give you a more defined and leaner contour.
How It Works
CoolSculpting is based on the principles of cryolipolysis, commonly known as fat-freezing. Fat freezing, however, is based on the discovery that cells are particularly prone to injury when exposed to cold temperatures than water-rich cells. Once fat cells are injured, they go through programmed cell death and are eliminated by the body over days to weeks.
The CoolSculpting device freezes fat cells with the help of an applicator that is set at the targeted temperature for 30 to 60 minutes. The applicator is kept tightly against the skin with the help of suction. While the fat cells slowly freeze, surrounding skin, nerves, vessels and muscles remain unharmed.
What It Treats
CoolSculpting treats stubborn pockets of fat in many different areas. The procedure is currently FDA-approved for the following areas:
- Abdomen
- Flanks (Love Handles)
- Area Underneath the Buttocks (Banana Roll)
- Bra Fat
- Back Fat
- Thighs
- Submental Area (Under the Chin)
- Submandibular Area (Under the Jawline)
- Upper Arms
EMSCULPT NEO vs. CoolSculpting: Key Differences
While both EMSCULPT NEO and CoolSculpting are body contouring procedures, that’s where their similarities end. These treatments utilize completely different technologies and use different methods to shape and tighten body areas.
EMSCULPT NEO uses electromagnetic and radiofrequency energy to simultaneously build muscle and burn fat. CoolSculpting, on the other hand, uses applicators that provide controlled cooling of subcutaneous fat in targeted areas to freeze fat cells.
EMSCULPT NEO is a two-in-one treatment that simulates the effects of diet and exercise, meaning it tones muscles and burns fat. CoolSculpting can only eliminate excess fat while having no effect on surrounding muscle.
Both treatments are non-invasive and don’t require any downtime. However, you may experience minor soreness and swelling around the treatment area lasting a couple of days.
Want to Learn More?
While CoolSculpting and EMSCULPT NEO are both great body contouring treatments, EMSCULPT NEO is in a class of its own. This device can eliminate the need for multiple treatments by targeting fat and muscle in a single session.
If you want to learn more about EMSCULPT NEO and how it can help you reach your aesthetic goals, feel free to schedule an appointment with one of our body sculpting experts. Contact or call our office today in South Jordan, Utah, at 801-280-9990 to get started.