Emsculpt NEO and Skin Tightening
Emsculpt NEO – What is it?
Emsculpt Neo is a completely non-invasive device that combines two types of energy to produce effective results in both muscle building and fat reduction of the treated area.
The two types of energy are called HIFEM (High Intensity Focused Electromagnetic) energy and RF (Radiofrequency) energy. The HIFEM energy builds muscle by causing complete, high repetition muscle contractions. The RF energy heats and destroys fat cells, thereby allowing the body to metabolize and eliminate fat cell lipids, and ultimately reduce fat in the treated areas. Emsculpt NEO is an updated version of Emsculpt, which is the original FDA cleared device for building muscle and burning fat.
The Emsculpt NEO device, combining the HIFEM and RF energy technologies together, allows for more effective muscle building and fat reduction than either technology can alone, producing more defined, toned, and contoured results in the treated body areas. It is one of the most popular cosmetic treatments amongst celebrities.
Emsculpt NEO – What are the Effects on The Skin?
Primarily designed for, and effective at, building muscle and reducing fat, Emsculpt NEO may also have a tightening effect on the skin. The skin tightening benefits have been seen in some of our patients, despite not being FDA cleared for this indication at this point. While not primarily intended for use as a skin tightening treatment, the RF (Radiofrequency) energy stimulates collagen production, which can help to improve the elasticity and firmness of the skin. The skin tightening results may vary, however, depending on factors such as skin type, age, and overall health of the individual.
For patients seeking skin tightening treatments, there are numerous additional non-surgical options such as RF, ultrasound, or laser therapy. These are specifically designed and intended for skin tightening. Since collagen is a protein that gives the skin elasticity and firmness, treatments that increase collagen production can help improve the appearance of the skin.
One of our favorite collagen enhancing, skin tightening devices, Emtone, another device from BTL (the same company that brought us Emsculpt NEO), can be used over a wide area of the body. This device uses acoustic sounds waves and RF energy, which heats the skin’s deeper layers, causing more collagen production. This typically helps to achieve a more toned and defined appearance, as well as a possible increased tightening of the skin.
The Effects of RF Energy on the Skin
There are two proteins that give skin its firmness and elasticity. These proteins are called collagen and elastin. By heating the deeper layers of the skin, RF energy can increase the production of collagen and elastin.
Collagen, the most prevalent protein in our body, is an important protein that gives structure and support in areas of our body such as the skin, bones, tendons, and muscles. Through aging, our bodies produce less collagen, and the effects can be seen with increased wrinkles, fine lines, and sagging skin. RF energy can help stimulate increased collagen production in treated areas, improving firmness and restoring a more youthful appearance to the skin.
Along with collagen, Elastin is another protein whose production decreases as we age. Elastin provides elasticity to the skin, allowing it to stretch and then return to its original shape without damage. When the amount of elastin decreases, the effects are seen in a sagging of the skin. Just as it increases collagen production, RF energy can also increase elastin production, helping the skin’s elasticity improve, thereby restoring a more youthful look to the skin.
RF energy is used to improve the appearance of treated areas in a few ways. As described above, the RF energy increases the production of collagen and elastin, two important proteins that are needed for firmness, structure, and smoothness of the skin. The RF energy also, causes the collagen present in the skin to contract and tighten, further firming and toning the structure of the skin. Lastly, the heat delivered from the RF energy dilates the blood vessels in the treated areas, allowing more blood flow to these areas, and thereby nourishing the skin making it have a healthier and more radiant appearance.
RF energy is an ideal treatment for achieving moderate improvements in the skin’s structure, tone, wrinkles, sagging, and general appearance. While it is not a replacement for surgery, RF energy can produce many desired results through a series of treatments. In general, RF energy results will not be achieved in a one-time treatment, and the individual results will vary with the patient’s specific age, skin type, and overall health.
In summary, for those looking for an non-invasive treatment to improve the appearance of the skin, RF energy can produce results in making the skin appear more firm, toned, and youthful. While not a replacement for surgery, the heat from the RF energy does increase the production of collagen and elastin, two necessary proteins that will help tighten, tone, and smooth the skin in treated areas.
Final Verdict on Emsculpt NEO and the Skin
Emsculpt Neo, is a device that was intended to be used primarily to build muscle and reduce fat in the areas treated using a combination of HIFEM and RF technology. here have been some patients who have also achieved skin tightening results from their Emsculpt NEO treatments, but for those seeking to specifically tighten the skin, there are other, more effective options. Emsculpt NEO, when combined with other cosmetic treatments, can produce the overall desired improvements an individual is looking for.
Treatments such as RF, ultrasound, or laser therapy are specifically designed for skin tightening, and when paired with Emsculpt NEO, can increase collagen, improve elasticity and firmness, creating an overall more defined, smooth, and radiant appearance. Click here to learn more about Emsculpt NEO in NYC and our other treatment options.
Arash Akhavan, MD is founder and owner of The Dermatology and Laser Group, one of the top centers for cosmetic procedures in New York City for over a decade. Arash Akhavan, MD, FAAD is a Board Certified Dermatologist and an Associate Professor at The Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Dr. Akhavan is a Castle Connolly Top Doc, New York Magazine Best Doctor, and Super Doctor featured in The New York Times. Dr. Akhavan is a key opinion leader that has been featured on hundreds of media publications including The New York Times, Allure, Marie Claire, Women’s Health, Cosmopolitan, ABC News, Fox News, Fox 5, NY1, WPIX, and more. He has been featured on nationally syndicated television programs such as The Doctors.
Dr. Akhavan serves as an educator and lecturer for multiple aesthetic device and injectable companies. This allows his office access to newer technologies at an earlier date than other offices, as well as a higher level of expertise in the use of these devices. This, in turn, translates to more effective and safer treatments for our patients.
