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I Tried Emsculpt, And Here’s What Happened (Part 1)

I’ve always had an issue with my stomach. Even at my thinnest in my 20s and “wedding weight” in my early 30s, I never (ever) felt confident baring my belly in a bikini. Fast forward to almost 20 years later at the age of 42, I do Pilates six days a week—and while I’m definitely in the best shape of my life, I still see room for abdominal improvement. When Emsculpt received FDA clearance last year I immediately became obsessed, and as it turns out I’m the ideal candidate.

After about 1,000 attempts, this is the most flattering “before” photo I took.

The first treatment of its kind, Emsculpt uses HIFEM (high-intensity focused electromagnetic energy) to strengthen abdominal muscles (as well as the buttocks, upper arms, thighs and beyond) and visibly enhance muscle tone—along with a proven reduction in overlying fat. So, when I had a chance to try it at Body Squad (the first body-sculpting-only aesthetic center in Florida created by Dr. Janet Allenby of Allenby Dermatology in Delray Beach, Florida—with more locations to come), I was all over it.

TREATMENT #1

Appointment number-one started with the requisite “before” photos wearing a paper bra and panties, which was definitely the most uncomfortable five minutes of my entire Emsculpt experience. (I’m so used to “sucking it in” that I don’t respond well when told to “relax” my abs—it’s not pretty.) I was also weighed, which is an important part of the “before”—and this is the driving force that will keep me dedicated to my current fitness and diet regimen so I can see the real results after 12 weeks. Yes, I have to wait three months to see the “final” results (although many patients see improvement in muscle tone within a month after completing four treatments.)

I then removed all of my jewelry (major props to Body Squad for providing a screwdriver for the Cartier Love bracelets that are de rigueur in Boca—see above), tucked my phone away and got comfy in a robe under a blanket before the Emsculpt device was strapped to my abdomen with a Velcro belt.

With HGTV to keep me occupied for the next 30 minutes, the treatment began. I found the sensation to be so peculiar that I couldn’t stop laughing for at least the first five minutes. My provider Nadja gradually increased the intensity as I got accustomed to the completely bizarre feeling—which I can liken to childbirth contractions without the actual pain, or the world’s strongest sit-up. The waves of energy—which promote such deep contractions that your legs involuntarily lift—are broken up by “tapping” phases to eliminate the build-up of lactic acid so you don’t feel any soreness after treatment. Considering 30 minutes of Emsculpt simulates the effects of 20,000 sit-ups, this is a good thing.

I got up to 85% during my first treatment, and although I was a little sweaty, I felt great when I was done and didn’t feel any side effects afterwards. Nadja told me I may feel a bit fatigued later in the day, but I’m always tired thanks to working full-time and managing a household with a 10-year-old son, and didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary. The next day, I felt the slightest tinge of soreness going up the middle of my abs. This is likely because I experienced diastasis (a separation of my abdominal muscles) thanks to carrying an 8.5-pound baby more than a week beyond term. I took a Pilates class that was super-ab-heavy the next day, and I honestly felt stronger already. Two days later my abs definitely felt sore, but I’m pretty sure it was from my class the day before and not the treatment. When I inspected my abs in the mirror, was I imagining that my tummy looked more toned? (Maybe, maybe not.)

TREATMENT #2

En route to my second Emsculpt session I was really wishing I was headed to a massage since I’m not a big fan of Mondays and I was exhausted after an all-weekend travel lacrosse tournament with my son. But, Nadja cranked up the intensity to 100% and the treatment went by so fast thanks to alternating between The View and several magazines within arm’s reach. I felt great afterwards and went on with my day after scheduling treatment number-three for a few days later after my son’s year-end class party. (“Sorry, honey… I have to leave to get my stomach done!”)

TREATMENT #3

This time I was treated by Mandy, and when she asked how I was doing/feeling I said great, but I felt a little bloated because I thought I was getting my period. She told me that patients with less fat sometimes get a little swollen during the series of Emsculpt treatments and I was surprised to learn this. (I’ve never read this anywhere—and I’ve done my fair share of research.) She emphasized that I really need to give it 12 weeks to see the final results, and that three months after she completed her treatments, it was like she woke up one morning and was ripped. Music to my ears! I told her to crank it up to 100% and I watched Pickler & Ben, which was awesome because it was all animals doing tricks. It’s been more than a decade since I watched daytime TV, and this might have been the best 30 minutes of my week.

Me giggling with the machine at 100%.

TREATMENT #4

I squeezed in this Sunday treatment before meeting my husband and son for lunch on the beach (it was Memorial Day weekend after all), and everything went as I’ve come to expect. This was my first treatment with Briana, and when she asked how I was feeling I told her about my last conversation with Mandy, who said I might see bloating before I see toning. She confirmed this, added that that my next period might be a bit more intense. (Thanks for the heads up.) All went as expected, but the craziest part was making my 12-week post-treatment appointment for “after” photos and realizing that will be my son’s first week back at school after being away at camp for seven weeks. (Slight buzzkill, considering school hadn’t yet ended.) So basically, now I just have to wait—and I’m going to be extra diligent about sticking to my current fitness and diet routine so I can really see what Emsculpt accomplishes.

Yes, I understand that I need to wait three months to see the final Emsculpt results, but I already feel an increase in ab strength. Whether it’s lifting my upper body a little bit higher when doing “The Hundred” at Pilates or being able to lift and lower my legs with more control during the traditional ab series, I’ve definitely noticed improvement. Appearance-wise, I think I may see enhanced muscle definition—but at the very least I feel confident enough to pack a bikini for our family trip to the Bahamas next week—although I can’t guarantee I’ll wear it.

Stay tuned for my follow-up story (including before-and-afters!) in August!

Click here to view the original blog post on Beauty in the Bag.

NO MORE CELLULITE, JUST SMOOTHER AND TIGHTER SKIN

As you age, your body goes through a number of visual changes as time passes by. If you’re currently experiencing the formation of unsightly wrinkles, saggy skin, and cellulite, it’s natural to feel a bit self-conscious about your appearance.

Fortunately, there are plenty of options available to help remedy these issues, and not all of them require the use of a highly invasive surgical procedure. For people who desire smoother, cellulite-free skin without surgery, there’s ThermiSmooth. This innovative treatment can help rejuvenate the look and feel of your skin.

WHAT IS THERMISMOOTH?

ThermiSmooth is an incredibly effective, non-invasive solution to aging skin and cellulite. Typically, any other surgery out there causes a certain degree of discomfort and leaves unsightly post-surgical marks, and some non-invasive procedures may require you to follow a special diet to reach maximum results. However, ThermiSmooth is painless and leaves no scars behind for you to hide.

HOW DOES THERMISMOOTH WORK?

The ThermiSmooth treatment typically uses a thermistor – a specially designed, regulated handpiece – supplied with the Thermi250 system. ThermiSmooth treatments are gentle and often feel like you a warm massage. The biggest selling point and most effective factor is that ThermiSmooth doesn’t use fillers or an injection. Radiofrequency is applied to heat the skin during the procedure, which causes some targeted collagen to diminish, which further gives way for your skin to tighten and smooth out. Simultaneously, your body naturally produces new collagen that eliminates wrinkles and dimples that were a result of cellulite. This additionally makes you look more youthful and healthy.

WHAT HAPPENS DURING A THERMISMOOTH TREATMENT?

ThermiSmooth is usually performed to reduce saggy skin, cellulite, and smoothes out wrinkles. The procedure is quite simple and begins with your doctor placing a gel on the area that will be treated. The doctor uses a small instrument to administer the radiofrequency energy onto your skin when she is treating your facial area.

To deal with the other parts of your body, your doctor will use a larger handpiece or wand so that she can treat and improve more areas targeted all at once. You will feel a warm sensation, which is necessary to stimulate collagen and tighten your skin. The system is designed to receive feedback from the temperature on your skin (that is continuously being monitored). It can adjust the temperature to help prevent any discomfort that might arise.

RECOVERY FROM A THERMISMOOTH TREATMENT

Since ThermiSmooth is a non-invasive treatment, it does not require a long period of downtime to rest and recover. You can return to your normal activities soon after the treatment is completed. Most patients usually go through a series of three to six treatment sessions for ThermiSmooth Face and four to six sessions for ThermiSmooth Body to acquire the desired results.

Treatments are applied over a timeline of six to eight weeks. After each application of ThermiSmooth, patients have witnessed a reduction in fat as well as a significant improvement in the firmness of their face and skin.

The results and benefits of ThermiSmooth are known to last for about a year or more. If you remember to go through regular treatments every 9 to 12 months, you will surely be able to prolong those results.

CONTACT OUR OFFICE

If you’re interested in learning more about ThermiSmooth, contact the BodySquad to schedule your consultation today! Our world renowned team will help you achieve your bodily goals through non-invasive treatments.

6 Questions You Have About CoolSculpting

Getting in shape and losing the last of your stubborn fat is difficult, time-consuming, and a lot of times, not fun! Thankfully there are tools out there that can help supplement your hard work at the gym and your healthy lifestyle habits. One of those tools is CoolSculpting – the #1 non-invasive fat reducing treatment. We know this info can be a lot to take in, that’s why we are going to break down the science for you. Read on to learn more about this ground-breaking technology!

SO, HOW DOES COOLSCULPTING WORK?

Let’s start with some basics – what is CoolSculpting? CoolSculpting is the world’s leading non-invasive fat reduction treatment. Due to the treatment being non-invasive, this means there is absolutely no surgery (needles, incisions, blood) or downtime (yay!).
CoolSculpting utilizes freezing temperatures to break down fat cells and ultimately removes areas of stubborn fat.
The fat cells are destroyed and naturally excreted from the body over the next couple of months. You can expect to see up to a 25% reduction of fat cells in a given treatment area.
If you are wondering if CoolSculpting is right for you, get your free consultation at BodySquad.

CAN’T I JUST WORKOUT AND BE HEALTHY?

While we recommend continuing a healthy diet and workout regimen, adding CoolSculpting to your routine allows you to achieve your desired look, which wouldn’t be possible with diet and exercise alone.
Sometimes, no matter how hard we workout or how healthy we eat, we still can’t seem to get rid of stubborn fat that is resistant to diet and exercise. With CoolSculpting, you can target specific areas on your body that have always bothered you. Just imagine easily zipping those jeans, not seeing that extra roll from your bra strap, and never editing that double chin again. Talk about body goals!
When you diet and exercise, your fat cells’ shrink,’ however, with CoolSculpting, your fat cells are ‘eliminated’ FOREVER.

WHAT CAN I EXPECT DURING THE PROCEDURE?

During the treatment, a Certified BodySquad Specialist will apply a gel-like substance to your targeted area. Using a hand-held device, the provider will then apply the applicator (think of a vacuum nozzle) to the skin and suction will begin. You will start to feel the coolness set in; it’s normal to feel a bit of pulling and a lot of coldness on the area treated area.
Most sessions are 35 minutes; however, there are specialty hand pieces that can range from 45-75 minutes. During this time, people often watch TV, listen to music, or even work from their computer.When the session is complete, the provider will massage the treated area to break up the fat cells. This method has been proven to enhance results by 40%!

Discover What CoolSculpting is All About:

SOUNDS GREAT, BUT IS IT SAFE?

Yes, CoolSculpting has been FDA-certified as a safe medical treatment. CoolSculpting remains at the top of the list when it comes to safety, due to the fact that it is non-surgical and non-invasive.
Some patients may experience mild side effects such as tingling, numbness, and redness, which will go away within 1-5 days. It is important to note that CoolSculpting experts use professional-grade applicators and are well trained to minimize these side effects.
Over 5 million CoolSculpting procedures have been performed worldwide, proving to be the safest and most effective way for non-surgical fat reduction.

WHERE ON THE BODY CAN COOLSCULPTING BE DONE?

CoolSculpting is best for areas on the body where there is excess fat buildup, such as:

✓Stomach/Abdomen

✓Back/Bra Area

✓Under the Chin

✓Thighs

✓Male Chest

✓Underneath the buttocks

✓Arms

✓Lovehandles/Flanks

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER TREATMENT?

One of the best things about this non-surgical procedure is that there is no downtime, so you are free to get right back to your normal activities right after your treatment.
Some patients begin to see results as soon as four weeks after their treatment. However, the most dramatic results are typically seen between 2-3 months. The body will continue to flush out the fat cells in the treated area for 4-6 months. Certain people and areas of the body may require more than one treatment.
What’s incredible about CoolSculpting is that the results last indefinitely because the fat cells are killed off for good.

HERE ARE SOME BEFORE & AFTER PHOTOS FROM REAL PATIENTS:

If you’re interested in CoolSculpting or want to learn more about it check out our site or come on in for your FREE consultation.

It’s Not Only About Losing Fat: Why Building Muscle Matters, Too

Did you know it’s possible to build muscle just by lying there? You’re probably waiting for that “gotcha” moment, but you won’t find that here, because this is all entirely possible with magnetic muscle stimulation (MMS) technology. We’re here to tell you about this ground-breaking technology, which targets the muscles and induces a hyper intensive muscle contraction. This type of contraction cannot be achieved by human strength alone. Read on to learn 4 reasons why you should invest in this technology.

TONE MUSCLE AND REDUCE FAT

Not only does this revolutionary technology tone your muscles, but it also burns fat at the same time.
EmSculpt, a leading treatment utilizing MMS technology, found the average patient will lose 19% fat and increase muscle mass by 16% in a given treatment area.

ITS 100% NON-INVASIVE

Another reason why you should invest in this revolutionary technology is that it is 100% non-invasive.
The technology at play has successfully been developed for non-surgical bodysculpting for both men and women. This technology can tone the abdomen as well as lift the buttocks without any incisions. No butt’s about it!
This device is uniquely designed to destroy the fat and build muscle, all while leaving the surrounding tissues unaffected.
There are 2 impressive devices on the market, EmSculpt, and CoolTone that utilize this ground-breaking technology. BodySquad is proud to offer you both treatments!

IT’S PAIN FREE

At this point, you might be thinking well this all sounds great, but if your muscles are going through this intense contraction, there must be some pain associated. Good news for you, the procedure is entirely pain-free, and we will tell you how.
Simply put, the treatments utilizing this technology (think: EmSculpt and CoolTone) are not painful; the treatment feels like a series of strong muscle contractions. Many patients naturally laugh or smile during the first few minutes, and then the body starts to adapt to the rhythm of the muscle contractions. It is usual for patients to feel a “pulling” sensation that may feel foreign, but it does not hurt.
A trained BodySquad provider will start the patient off at a low intensity and increase the energy slowly, so the patient feels more comfortable.
The next day, patients occasionally experience a little soreness. However, there will be no feeling of “Help! I can’t get out of bed.”

Check Out This Video For More Info About EmSculpt – One of the Leading Treatments Utilizing This Technology!

NOTICEABLE STRENGTH RIGHT AWAY

One of our favorite aspects of the treatment is the apparent strength that can be felt as soon as the day after your initial treatment. Patients often feel a distinct difference in the tightness of the muscles treated.
However, it’s necessary for patients to get treated twice a week for two weeks, a total of four-eight treatments, to see the most dramatic results.
At BodySquad, an individualized Booster Plan will be devised for each patient to sustain results, and if you’re like us, we don’t like wasting time or money. So we’ve made the BodySquad Booster plan affordable and convenient for everyone.
Call us today to learn about the BodySquad Booster Plan

Check out these incredible before & after photos from our EmSculpt patients.

Pretty incredible, right? We’re currently offering unbeatable prices for EmSculpt and CoolTone at our Boca Raton location. Come in for a FREE body assessment at BodySquad to get your personalized bodysculpting assessment plan.

The Secret To Staying Healthy With A Busy Schedule

Everything You Need To Know About CoolTone

Allergen, the global leader in non-surgical body contouring and medical aesthetics introduces CoolTone, the muscle-building cousin of CoolSculpting. The CoolTone device has been FDA-cleared for strengthening, toning, and firming areas on the body such as the stomach, butt, and thighs. The CoolTone Device delivers 50% MORE magnetic intensity than the leading competitor. So, If you’re able to hit the max power on EmSculpt then this device is right for you! Read on to learn more about this revolutionary device and where to try it out!

HOW COOLTONE WORKS

Unlike its cousin CoolSculpting, CoolTone does not freeze fat. Instead, it employs a 1.8 Tesla magnet that stimulates the involuntary muscle contractions. In other words, it builds muscle and burns fat!
The CoolTone device utilizes Magnetic Muscle Stimulation (MMS) technology that penetrates the skin and fat layers, targetting just the muscle layer, which delivers muscle contractions to the treated area. These contractions stimulate muscle fiber, resulting in muscle strength.
No matter where on the body you treat, whether that be the stomach, butt, or thighs, the CoolTone device delivers enough stimulation to produce a more defined and toned figure.

50% MORE MAGNETIC INTENSITY

The Cooltone device delivers 50 percent more magnetic intensity than the leading competitor – 1.35 T versus .9 T.
So, if you are an EmSculpt patient, and have become accustomed to the machine, reaching 100%, then CoolTone is the device for you!

WHERE TO TRY THIS REVOLUTIONARY DEVICE

This incredible new device will start to ship early in the fourth quarter of this year.
However, WE HAVE GREAT NEWS! Dr. Janet Allenby, one of the nation’s leading Cosmetic Dermatologists, has been selected as one of two physicians in the state of Florida to receive the CoolTone device.
This device will be at Dr. Allenby’s BodySquad location in Boca Raton, FL.
Not to mention, BodySquad will be offering unbeatable pricing to any patients that want to join the pilot program.
So what are you waiting for? Visit the squad at BodySquad or call the office at (561)-903-4945 to lock down these incredible prices.