Sometimes, no matter how much you diet or exercise, getting rid of pesky stubborn fat can feel far from easy. Thankfully, the world of non-surgical, non-invasive body contouring treatments offers several medical treatments that effectively target fat cells on the body. So much so, that surgical procedures for fat removal, such as liposuction, are barely spoken of anymore.

If you’ve decided to explore these non-surgical options, you may be wondering “Which is better – CoolSculpting or EmSculpt?” Ultimately, the decision is up to you and your practitioner, but this guide will help you get a head start.

What is CoolSculpting, and how does it work?

CoolSculpting reduces unwanted fat through a process known as cryolipolysis (or fat freezing), which puts fat cells under extremely low temperatures to break them up and destroy them. During treatment, an applicator is placed onto the treatment area where it’s suctioned, and a targeted cooling process will begin, destroying the fat cells beneath. A gel pad protects the skin, and the surrounding tissues remain unharmed. When the treatment time is up, the practitioner will remove the applicator and massage the frozen fat to kick-start your body’s natural process of excreting the fat cells, which naturally passes through the liver over the following twelve weeks.

What areas can it treat? 

CoolSculpting certainly leads the way when it comes to the number of body areas you can treat. The most requested area is the stomach, closely followed by love handles and the pesky-double chin.

CoolSculpting is used to treat all of the following areas:

·      Thighs

·      Abdomen

·      Flanks

·      Bra fat

·      Back fat

·      Upper arms

·      Double chin

·      Underneath the buttocks (banana roll fat)

When will I see the results?

You should start to see changes three weeks post treatment, with optimum results showing at around three months. You can expect to achieve a 20% to 25% fat reduction of the treated area, however, additional treatments may be required to achieve your desired result.

What is EmSculpt?

EmSculpt uses high intensity focused electromagnetic energy (HIFEM energy) to penetrate muscle mass and stimulate muscle growth. It essentially causes 20,000 muscle contractions in a 30-minute treatment, beyond any physiological norm, and targets fat loss to the area of the muscle – something sit-ups alone could never accomplish.

When the muscles realise how hard they’re working they signal fat cells in the area to break down their contents and release them as free fatty acids. This causes the fat cells to malfunction and die, after which, they’re metabolised by the body and excreted as waste.

As well as this, EmSculpt remodels and builds stronger muscles, resulting in a combination of muscle mass enhancement and fat reduction.

What areas does it treat?

EmSculpt is currently FDA-cleared to treat the following areas:

·      Arms

·      Legs

·      Buttocks

·      Abdomen

What results can I expect?

Patients require a minimum of four sessions, spaced 2-3 days apart to achieve optimum results. After this time, you can expect to see a 19% average reduction in fat stories 2-4 weeks post-treatment. This is slightly less than CoolSculpting, but it excels when it comes to building muscle. Patients achieve a 16% average increase in muscle mass in their targeted treatment areas, producing a firmer and more sculpted physique around four weeks after their final treatment session.

Combining CoolSculpting and EmSculpt

Many of our patients undergo a combination of the two treatments for profound results. Firstly, CoolSculpting is used to minimise fat stores across stubborn, hard-to-treat areas such as love handles or double chin. We can then finish with a course of EmSculpt to increase muscle strength and definition. When blended together, these treatments contour and shape your body in a much more strategic and effective way.