Conditions
Muscle Toning
Results of Treatment
Treatments generally take 30-45 minutes. Some people report that their posture and core feel better almost right after treatment.
About Muscle Toning
There are 2 main types of devices for muscle toning and body shaping: one uses high-intensity and rapidly shifting magnetic pulses to create current that causes contractions of muscles, while the other uses electric current to stimulate muscles directly. Both methods work well to contract muscles. Magnetic pulses likely penetrate more deeply and affect deeper muscle layers that direct muscle stimulation. The treatments build muscles by enlarging current muscle fibers as well as stimulating the growth of new muscle fibers. These devices work by producing thousands of muscle contractions in a manner that is not possible during exercise.
These technologies have been in use for many years, decades, for rehabilitation after injury or surgery. In addition, muscle stimulation has been shown to improve rectus diastasis, or separation of the abdominal muscles, as well as help firm up pelvic muscles and improve urinary incontinence in women following childbirth. EMSCULPT® is the first electromagnetic device for building muscle and body sculpting by stimulating muscle contractions. EMSCULPT® is FDA cleared to treat 5 body areas including the abdomen, buttocks, legs, arms and pelvic muscles. Typically, 4 treatments are scheduled over about 2 weeks. People then decide if they want any maintenance treatments based upon how they are feeling. Improvement continues weeks after a series of treatments, so it takes a month or 2 to determine the results of a treatment series. EMSCULPT® treatments usually take approximately 30 minutes. truSculpt® flex uses electrical impulses to stimulate muscle contractions directly and treats multiple areas at once as does EMSCULPT®. The treatments take 45 minutes and stimulate multiple muscle contractions in a way that cannot be accomplished via exercise. truSculpt® flex treatments are also usually administered in a series of 4 treatments over a couple of weeks with programs for prepping, toning and sculpting which alter the muscle stimulation to achieve different results. Treatments are customized to the individual being treated, as are maintenance treatment regimens.
Muscle Toning FAQs
WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM MUSCLE TONING TREATMENTS?
Most people who want to improve their muscle tone on the abdomen, buttocks, and even the arms and legs is a candidate for treatment.
CAN I STOP EXERCISING IF I GET MUSCLE TONING TREATMENTS?
No way. The best results are seen in people who are already doing what they can to get and stay in shape and use muscle toning to deliver what exercise can’t. That’s not saying it won’t help people who exercise little if at all, as these treatments evolved from the physical therapy space where people who can’t exercise post-operatively. Still, it’s best to exercise AND get muscle toning treatments for that extra boost.
WHAT BODY AREAS CAN BE TREATED?
Areas cleared for muscle toning treatments by the FDA are: the abdomen, buttocks, arms, legs, and pelvic floor muscles.
HOW LONG DO TREATMENTS TAKE?
Treatments generally take 30-45 minutes.
HOW DOES IT FEEL TO GET A TREATMENT?
Treatments feel like a workout of sorts. You feel the muscles contracting but you’re not doing anything to make that happen.
WHEN WILL I NOTICE RESULTS?
Some people report that their posture and core feel better almost right after treatment. Results you can see take a couple of weeks to see following a few treatments.
IS THERE DOWNTIME?
There’s no downtime post-treatment, any more than after a hard workout
ARE THE TREATMENTS INVASIVE?
No. Applicators are applied to the body and the electromagnetic or electric muscle stimulation penetrates your muscles to induce contractions.
CAN I TREAT MORE THAN ONE AREA AT A TIME?
Yes. Body sculpting devices have more than one, and even multiple, treatment sources to treat areas simultaneously.
DO I NEED TO DO FOLLOW-UP TREATMENTS?
To maintain benefits over long periods of time, it may be beneficial to have a maintenance treatment at some time interval to maintain or build upon your previous results. This is a highly individual treatment decision based on how you look and feel and the benefits you desire.