If they are all getting Emsculpt on Bling Empire, it must be great, right? Body Sculpting has become very popular, and what’s a better indication of trendiness than appearing on reality TV? But what about the science? Should you believe the hype? [Aside: If you haven’t seen it, Bling Empire is a reality TV version of Crazy Rich Asians. Totally ridiculous but quite entertaining.]

Now that we have some experience with the Emsculpt Neo, we can talk about how it is different from other devices and from the original Emsculpt, and how results differ too. We’ve had to field lots of questions and can tell you definitively that the Neo, with its combination of HIFEM muscle stimulation and RF heating is a huge advance, placing it far ahead of any other device in the body sculpting world.

The original Emsculpt uses High Frequency Electro-Magnetic (HIFEM) muscular stimulation to cause massively strong contractions – called supramaximal because they are stronger than the muscle contracts in any normal physiologic condition. Emsculpt delivers over 20,000 of these supramaximal contractions in 30 minutes. No amount of cross-fit can equal that. The Emsculpt studies showed that HIFEM alone can produce on average a 16% increase in muscle and a 19% decrease in fat with 4 sessions.

Radiofrequency (RF) is a great tool to heat and melt fat. At Glow, we have many years experience with Vanquish ME and Exilis Ultra, both of which use RF. We have used these devices in combination with Emsculpt to get the best results. RF works by heating the fat cells causing damage and ultimately cell death. Emsculpt Neo has RF built in to the paddles, deploying both HIFEM and RF simultaneously. The question I had when first looking at the Neo is how does it improve results over using these technologies separately? Is there a benefit from simultaneous treatment? Will we still need those RF devices? The answer is yes and yes, as it turns out. Here’s what we have found.

The addition of RF heating improves the yield for both muscle and fat. It was not surprising that RF improves the fat loss— RF has a strong record killing fat. It turns out that warmer muscles are stronger and provide more effective contractions. This increases the yield on muscle as well. The official studies of the Emsculpt Neo show a 25% increase in muscle and a 30% decrease in fat, a marked improvement over HIFEM alone. We have seen this borne out in real life experience.

How do the other machines fit in? As always every body is different, and treatments have to be designed around each individual. Emsculpt Neo has paddles that are focused in one area about the size of the center belly fat. We use Vanquish ME because it can reach all the way from one love handle to the other, and it can also treat both the inner and outer thigh at the same time. We have found that for those areas, combining Emsculpt Neo with Vanquish ME gives us the absolute best results. Exilis Ultra can be used in many different areas that the other devices can’t reach, and it also tightens skin. So for some bodies, these devices are very helpful in achieving the desired results.

We are adding the latest before and after images to our gallery on the website here. We have found a very high patient satisfaction with our suite of body sculpting treatments, in which the Emsculpt Neo has now taken center stage. Feel free to contact us with any questions.

Emsculpt just got even more amazing. The new Emsculpt NEO is as big a game changer as Emsculpt was just a couple years ago. You may have already tried Emsculpt– it has been the number one body sculpting treatment in the aesthetics industry since 2018 when it first came out. BTL, the company that makes Emsculpt, developed it to use along with Radiofrequency (RF) devices Vanquish ME and Exilis Ultra for body sculpting. Here’s a quick review of how these work, and why Emsculpt NEO is going to completely change the way we do body sculpting.

RF devices are able to heat the skin and the fat– to tighten the skin and kill the fat. Vanquish ME selectively tunes to the fat in order to heat it enough to destroy fat cells. Exilis Ultra heats from the skin down, but keeps the surface cool enough to penetrate into the fat. RF devices are great at tightening the skin and melting fat, but did nothing for the underlying muscle.

Then BTL invented Emsculpt. It uses powerful magnetic waves that cause supramaximal contractions of the muscle. Supramaximal means that these contractions are way more than what you would normally do in any vigorous workout. These contractions are more powerful than your brain can make your muscle do. Emsculpt does this about 20,000 times in a half-hour treatment. Though intense, it doesn’t hurt. The result is a stronger, more sculpted muscle. In the studies done to validate Emsculpt, it was found (amazingly!) to kill fat as well. The only thing it didn’tsculpt NEO, Author: Kate Dee, Fat Reduction, Body sculpting, do was tighten skin (that’s why we still need Exilis). And it also couldn’t get to the love handles and leg fat (that’s why we still need Vanquish).

So why is Emsculpt NEO different? It offers two treatments in one. It combines the muscle treatment of Emsculpt with RF at the same time. The RF in the NEO is the same frequency that Vanquish uses to tune to your fat. It also heats up your muscles, and it turns out that Emsculpt muscle-building is even more effective on warm muscles. So the NEO can not only build muscle and kill fat, but it does so even better than Emsculpt or Vanquish or Exilis can do on their own. There have been 7 published studies of the new Emsculpt NEO. The results showed marked increase in muscle mass and decrease in fat on MRI, CT and Ultrasound. On average, there was a 25% increase in muscle and a 30%reduction in fat 1 month after a series of treatments. This is like having Emsculpt and Vanquish in only 30 minutes per treatment (this used to be a 2-hour appointment).

Emsculpt NEO is currently FDA-cleared to treat the abdomen, buttocks, thighs, arms (biceps and triceps) and calves. The Emsculpt NEO protocol is a series of 4 30-minute treatments. We are also working on a new protocol for the thighs (finally a treatment that actually works for saddle bags!).

We are excited to be able to offer the new Emsculpt NEO at our West Seattle office. As before, our full suite of body sculpting services will be available, so we can treat almost any body contouring challenge. Emsculpt continues to be available at our Kirkland location. For a full list of services at each center, see our brochures online: West Seattle and Kirkland.

Our most popular body sculpting service is now available in Kirkland and West Seattle!

Ever since 2008, I have really wanted Michelle Obama arms. When Emsculpt was first FDA-approved in 2018 and arrived in our spa weeks later, I asked the company, “When will you have applicators for arms?” I have always been fit, but no matter how much I lift weights, I have never been able to achieve that toned look that turns heads when you wear a tank top. Until now. For the first time in my life at almost 52 years old, I am finally getting compliments on my arms.

BTL, the company that makes Emsculpt, worked on those applicators for over a year. To maximize the effectiveness in the smaller arm (and calf) muscles, they made the hand pieces smaller and curved to focus the magnetic waves in the right place. Working out the positioning and best practices for the settings was a long process. The result of this effort is a treatment that delivers the same 20,000 pulses in only 20 minutes per muscle. For the arms, we are able to treat both the triceps and the biceps muscles separately, both building muscle and killing fat. The treatment itself takes a longer than the abdomen or buttocks, which are each 30 minutes with a simpler set up. We treat the Biceps and triceps muscles for 20 minutes each, and positioning takes a little longer, so the total time per visit is one hour to treat the arms. (Don’t worry — we have kept the price the same as for abdomen or buttock despite the longer visit.)

We have found the arm treatment to be very effective. Your experience will depend partly on how toned your muscles are to start with. The larger the muscle, the more intense the contractions during treatment. When I do it, I come away feeling like I just fought a 40-minute boxing match. I do find it a little more intense than the abdominal or buttocks treatment. The experience is intense but not painful. You will feel stronger almost immediately. As always, the fat destruction happens over a longer time frame, with most of that process evident after just 1 month, but the total fat melting time is up to 6 months as with other fat-melting procedures.

As always, at Glow we are most concerned with providing safe treatments that are clinically effective. Before FDA approval, studies were done to prove effectiveness using MRI to objectively measure muscle mass and fat. The MRI was performed at 1 month following the series of 4 treatments, done 2-3 days apart over a time period of just 2 weeks. In the arm studies, on average there was 17.1% increase in muscle mass in the Biceps, a 10.2% increase in the Triceps and a 12.8% decrease in arm fat. For calves, the studies showed a 14.6% increase in muscle mass and a 9.9% decrease in fat thickness. These measurements were done at 1 month. Follow-up studies have yet to be published, but if they parallel the previous Emsculpt studies done for the abdomen and buttocks, we expect to see continued fat loss up to 6 months post-procedure.

If you have ever coveted Michelle Obama arms, this treatment is for you! Emsculpt is available at both our centers in Kirkland and West Seattle. Call us or schedule a consultation here.

What Is EMSCULPT?

The treatment uses a handheld device to remove unwanted fat. The treatment is exceptionally effective for removing stubborn fat that diet and exercise cannot remove. There is no surgery involved in the treatment, and it is not invasive like liposuction. The treatment is great for those who already live a healthy lifestyle and is not meant for significant fat loss.

What to Expect

When you visit Glow Medispa, you will speak with a specialist who will go over your goals and needs. When the specialist determines the treatment that is right for you, we can set up a treatment session. The treatment can take one or more sessions to reach your goal and can be combined with other treatments for greater results.

A specialist uses a handheld tool that stimulates the muscles to flex. The device repeats the stimulation up to 20,000 times in a 30-minute session. We can use the treatment on the abdominal area as well as the buttocks for a butt-lift without surgery. After treatment, you may only feel a bit of tenderness, and you can immediately get back to work or your normal routine.

Who Can Benefit From EMSCULPT?

EMSCULPT is best for those who are already living a healthy lifestyle with proper eating and exercise. Continuing a healthy lifestyle will help the results and allow you to maintain long-lasting fat reduction. Both men and women can benefit from the treatment, and the treatment is safe for all skin types. On average, there is a 19% fat reduction and a 16% muscle gain after 4 sessions.

Will It Tighten My Skin?

The treatment will not only reduce fat but also increase muscle as you would expect from exercise. The treatment is the only FDA approved method to increase muscle, giving you a toned appearance. The increased muscle will keep the skin smooth and tight so there is no laxity after the loss of fat.

How Long Will Results Last?

The treatment takes only 30 minutes but provides the results of thousands of workouts. After the first session, you will likely see a visible improvement, but it may take more than one session to reach your goal. Treatment sessions can be done with only a week of rest in between. After your goal is reached, the results can be maintained for life, but you will need to continue a healthy lifestyle to keep the fat from reappearing. Another session can be used to retouch the area if needed.

How Can I Start the Process?

If you want to take the step to hard and toned abs, contact Glow Medispa in Seattle, WA for a consultation today. EMSCULPT is a safe and quick way to get the abs you want.

How Much Does It Cost for Body Sculpting?

If you are considering getting this process done, then you are probably wondering how much it costs. The price will depend on the type of body sculpting that you have done and other factors. You can learn more about cost specifics during a consultation.

Downsides of Surgical Procedures

There are many different types of body sculpting that can be done to improve your looks and get rid of excess skin after massive weight loss. These can include getting rid of excess skin in the lower abdominal region and your inner arms or thighs, liposuction to remove excess fat, or buttock augmentation. As you can imagine, surgical procedures come with their host of downsides. These include involving invasive measures, discomfort and a long recovery period.

Non-Surgical Procedures to the Rescue

Fortunately, there are non-surgical procedures that can be done, and these include skin tightening and body sculpting treatments. You might also consider having some muscle-enhancement treatments done. These are often focused on the stomach and buttocks regions. For this process, you are hooked up to an electromagnetic energy machine that will contract your muscles. This process is similar to what you experience at the gym, but it takes less time and effort to strengthen and tone the muscles in these areas.

Finding the Best Treatment

When it comes to finding the best treatment for your needs, talking to a professional is the best option. Which treatment you have done will depend on your age, genetics, how much weight you have lost (if any), and how much sun exposure you get. You may need some help in a few areas, or you may need to have just one area treated. We will also be able to let you know which of our non-surgical body sculpting treatments will give you the best results. You might have been considering other treatments, such as CoolSculpting. During a consultation, you can learn about the downsides of this treatment and why body sculpting options like Vanquish ME and EMSCULPT are better.

If you have loose skin and/or a few areas of fat, consider body sculpting at Glow Medispa in Seattle. You are warmly invited to contact our office today to book a consultation and get started. We look forward to hearing from you!

Yes, this is all about vaginas. As a doctor and a mom of 3, I’m so over any shyness about the topic. If you’re not in the mood to hear about it, maybe skip this one. If you are like me, this is a topic near and dear to your heart. We have always called our program “Vaginal Rejuvenation.” I was recently told the preferred term is “Women’s Intimate Wellness.” However you package it, an overwhelming number of women suffer from these symptoms eventually, and we no longer have to just put up with it.

At Glow we now have over 2 years of experience with vaginal rejuvenation procedures using the Exilis Ultra Femme 360, and the verdict is that it works and results are surprisingly long-lasting. This helps with changes related to both childbirth and menopause. Vaginal rejuvenation can specifically address:

• Dribbling
• Stretched-out tissues
• Dryness
• Pain during sex

The biggest reason women are having the procedure has been for dribbling post-childbirth, but a close second and third are for tightening and dryness. The Ultra Femme uses a 360 degree wand and radiofrequency technology to heat the vaginal wall and labia. This induces collagen formation, thickening of the vaginal wall, increased lubrication and tightening of the tissues both inside and out. Treatment consists of a series of 3 painless sessions, and we have found that results happen within 1-2 months have lasted for up to 18 months, but most women have needed some maintenance within 1 year of first treatment. In 2 years we have treated over 50 women, and 98% report either improvement or complete resolution of their symptoms and we have had zero complications.

The main benefits of treatment with the Exilis Ultra Femme 360:

• Very high success rate in treating urinary symptoms, dryness, stretched tissues and painful intercourse
• Requires only 3 sessions
• Non-invasive
• Painless
• No Downtime

What is vFit+?

vFit+ is a brand-new device for at-home use that can be used alone or for maintenance after vaginal rejuvenation with the Ultra Femme. It uses red light LED, heat and vibration to stimulate the tissues to increase blood flow. Studies have found a 95% improvement in intimate wellness, 89% increased confidence with intercourse and an 89% increase in sensation. Our own informal investigation has found that vFit+ is a good option for maintaining results from the Ultra Femme and there are anecdotal reports that is can be used as a stand-alone at-home treatment for some of the same symptoms.

vFit+ is recommended to be used for 10 minutes every other day. Results are reported to be within 1-3 months. Do you match any of these patient profiles?

1. Young Adult: exercise and activities and intimate wellness are important to you. Whether you might have a child in the future or not, maintaining sexual health and intimacy are a top priority.
2. Mom: very little time to yourself, starting to address changes in appearance and health. Connecting with your partner is important to you and things have changed since giving birth; Kegels have not worked. Looking for something easy and convenient to help.
3. Perimenopausal: have a little more time to invest in yourself and fighting aging, a strong emotional connection to your partner is more important than ever. Looking to get back the youthful feeling inside and out.
4. Postmenopausal: your mental and physical state don’t quite match and you’d like to restore the intimacy and confidence you used to have.

The main benefits of vFit+

• Improved confidence with sexual function
• Increased blood flow
• Privacy: at-home treatment in the privacy of your own home
• Affordable
• Non-invasive
• No downtime

We think that both the Ultra Femme and the vFit+ are fantastic tools for, OK I’ll say it– Women’s Intimate Wellness. If you have any questions about these treatments or whether you might be a good candidate, we are here to help! Please contact us if you’d like to find out more.

The Truth About Targeted Fat Loss

For many years, experts believed that you could target pockets of fat with specific movements. Carrying out crunches and other abdominal exercises will strengthen your midsection, but those movements aren’t going to eradicate fat in the stomach and flanks. Your body naturally metabolizes random pockets of fat whenever you burn calories, and you can’t decide which pockets are going to be destroyed first. That is one of the reasons why many people exercise for years without seeing any major changes to the midsection.

With EMSCULPT, you won’t have to worry about a lengthy recovery or any unusual aftercare instructions. This innovated treatment strengthens your core and melts away your abdominal fat with pulses of high-intensity electromagnetic energy. No incisions or anesthetics are needed for EMPSCULPT, and you can resume all normal activities following each of your appointments.

Your EMSCULPT Treatments

Treating a single site takes around 30 minutes, and you will be able to relax during that time while the device does all of the work. Once the machine is turned on, it will rapidly contract your muscles while heating up the fatty tissue. Most of our patients claim that they feel nothing more than gentle warmth and some involuntary movements throughout the midsection. When your appointment is over, you can immediately return to work or resume any other activities that you had planned for the day.

Every patient has slightly different needs, but we usually suggest scheduling at least four sessions. Studies have shown us that the average patient has a 16 percent increase in muscle mass and a 19 percent decrease in fat after four treatments. Your appointments need to be scheduled at least 48 hours apart so that your body has time to metabolize the unwanted fat. We also suggest that you continue to exercise and follow a healthy diet if you want to maximize your results. EMSCULPT is only going to work if you are ready to change your daily habits.

Get In Touch with Us for More Information

Sculpting the eye-catching midsection of your dreams no longer needs to be a time-consuming or frustrating process, and our team would love to help you achieve your cosmetic goals with this innovative technology. To learn more, please feel free to reach out and make an appointment with Glow Medispa. At our convenient location in Seattle, our staff will be happy to answer any questions you may have about EMSCULPT. Contact us today to set up your consultation – we look forward to speaking with you!

How Does EMSCULPT® Work?

This procedure involves using electromagnetic (hence the “EM” in “EMSCULPT®”) energy to trigger muscle contractions. These are not your average muscle contractions, however. They are called supramaximal contractions. One quick session of EMSCULPT® is equivalent to doing 20,000 squats or sit-ups!

These intense contractions trigger the release of fatty acids, just like with exercise, only on a much bigger scale. When this happens, fat deposits are broken down. The wear and tear also will cause your body to rebuild your muscles, only stronger than before. As a result, you will feel that same satisfying soreness after EMSCULPT® as you do after a particularly intense workout.

In order to achieve your body goals, you will likely need more than one session of this treatment. Most people benefit from a series of treatments that are done twice a week for two weeks. Once you have reached your goals, it is important to maintain your exercise routine in order to keep them.

Why Choose EMSCULPT®?

This is an incredibly popular treatment for many reasons. Some of the highlights include:

• It is 100% non-invasive and non-surgical
• EMSCULPT® is considered safe and is approved by the FDA
• You can get a 6 or even 8 pack with this treatment
• You can lift and tone your buttocks with this treatment
• Results can be dramatic and last a lifetime with a healthy lifestyle

Who is a Good Candidate?

The primary reason to have this treatment done is to build muscle. Any weight loss that occurs at the same time should be viewed as a bonus. As a result, this treatment is for people who are near their body goals but could use a boost. It is great for people who feel like their results with exercise have stalled.

You can learn more about EMSCULPT® by consulting our professionals at Glow Medispa in Seattle. We would be more than happy to address whatever questions or concerns you may have about the treatment and results. Contact our office today to book your appointment and get started!

At Glow, we have been developing our body sculpting program for over 3 years to create the most advanced, comprehensive treatments with 4 different devices that alone or in combination can:

1. Kill Fat
2. Tighten skin
3. Build muscle
4. Smooth cellulite

I’ve written about how these devices work in previous posts on Emsculpt, Vanquish ME, Exilis Ultra and Cellutone. Your diet and fluid intake can make a huge difference in how these machines work and how robust the treatment can be.

Whether you are in our body sculpting program or not, you can change whether you are actively Making Fat or Killing Fat with your diet alone.

If you go into Killing Fat Mode while you are in our program, you are going to accelerate the process and maximize results.

To break down fat, your body must burn fat for calories instead of carbohydrates– you must become Fat Adapted. This has nothing to do with “calories in vs calories burned.” It means that you have to burn more calories than you store. What does that mean in your daily life? I’m going to spare you the biochemistry… (but if you’re a science geek like me and want to talk about it, come on in!!) It means that you have to do away with calorie restriction and focus on the total carbs you eat each day.

Diet: The ideal daily intake for burning fat:

• Eat under 100 grams of carbs: from mostly vegetables, some fruit. No grains.
• Eat a moderate amount of protein each day (0.5 gm/lean body mass– need help figuring that out? We can do it for you at Glow)
• Eat healthy fats: coconut oil, avocado oil, extra virgin olive oil, ghee, omega-3’s and animal fats (no trans fats or polyunsaturated fats like vegetable and canola oil)

The best part about this diet is that the protein and fat make you feel full and happy. You’re never hungry. There is no calorie limit. Did you know that carbs go to your brain and make you hungrier? Did you know that excess carbs are turned into fat? Because protein and fat make you feel full, you are extremely unlikely to eat too much of them, as long as you’re limiting the total carbs.

Hydration: being well-hydrated is critical for the body-sculpting devices to work their best. These machines use the difference in hydration of your fat (not hydrated much) and the rest of the tissues (muscle and skin are very well hydrated) in order to target the fat and kill it. So, minimize alcohol consumption, which is the most dehydrating (and stops fat burning) and also try to limit caffeine.

Exercise: to maximize fat burning, you don’t need to do tons of cardio!

• 20-40 minute of strength training twice/week
• Once each week, do seven or eight 10-15 second all-out sprints (running, cycling, or any activity you love most) separated by 30-60 seconds of rest. You can do this in under 10 minutes!
• Move frequently in your daily life (don’t be a couch potato)

What if you love your cardio? Spin class? Try to limit daily cardio to under 45 min. Once your body has used up the sugar supply, it starts to break down MUSCLE (not fat!!). Why do long distance runners look so scrawny? They’re burning their muscle to keep going… You need that muscle–which has a higher metabolic rate and is how you kill fat–so you don’t want to kill your muscle.

I’ve enjoyed having these discussions with my patients so much I decided to become a certified Primal Health Coach. Doctors don’t learn much about nutrition in medical school, and the science around nutrition and exercise has completely changed since 1994 when I left Yale as a newly-minted MD. I am excited to bring an official program to help support my patients look and feel their best. Stay tuned for what I’m calling Glow Fit. Questions? Call us at 206-800-7379 or book a consultation online.

How Does EMSCULPT® Work?

The goal of EMSCULPT® body contouring treatments is to contract your muscles far more effectively than exercise can. This is accomplished using electromagnetic waves. When the contractions happen, your body releases fatty acids, breaking down fat and building up muscle.

EMSCULPT® is so effective that a session is like doing 20,000 sit-ups or squats. This is because it results in “supramaximal” muscle contractions. Just like with exercise, this stress on the body will cause it to rebuild your muscles in a stronger, more efficient way. After a session of this treatment, you may be a little sore, just like you would be after an epic workout. All this does is prove that the treatment is working!

Unlike many treatments out there, this one is not meant for those seeking weight loss as a primary goal. Instead, it is for those who want to build up their muscle mass. That being said, some fat loss generally occurs. To be considered an ideal candidate for this treatment, you should be at or near your goal weight. An ideal candidate will also already have committed themselves to a healthy lifestyle.

The Benefits of EMSCULPT®

There are many reasons to give this body contouring treatment some serious consideration. Some of the biggest include:

• It is non-invasive: This non-surgical treatment requires no incisions or anesthesia.
• There is no downtime: After your appointment, you can immediately resume your normal activities.
• Results can be very long-lasting: Maintaining your results is completely in your hands.
• Treatments are quick and efficient: This is a great treatment to have done over a break from your other activities.
• Results are natural-looking: Since your muscle is built and fat is lost through muscle contractions, your body looks exactly like it would had you used diet and exercise alone.

If you are interested in learning more about what EMSCULPT® body contouring can do for you, book an appointment at Glow Medispa in Seattle. This is one of the best non-surgical procedures available today. In fact, RealSelf recently ranked it as one of the Most Worth It Non-Surgical Procedures in 2019! You owe it to yourself to learn as much as you can about this treatment. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and get started!