Emsculpt NEO combines radiofrequency heat and high-intensity focused electromagnetic energy in one applicator. You lie down while it works on the treatment area; in the published studies, sessions lasted 30 minutes and a course was usually around four sessions. It isn’t a weight-loss treatment, and results vary from person to person.

What is Emsculpt NEO?

Emsculpt NEO is a body-contouring device made by BTL. One applicator delivers two kinds of energy at the same time: radiofrequency, which warms the tissue under the skin, and high-intensity focused electromagnetic energy (HIFEM+), which makes the muscle underneath contract strongly and repeatedly. In research it has been used on areas including the abdomen, buttocks, arms and thighs.

It isn’t a weight-loss treatment. A 2024 systematic review of 15 studies of this technology found that none reported weight change; the changes measured were in fat and muscle thickness in the treated area.

What happens before your first session?

Every course at AESKN starts with a consultation. We talk through your goals, look at the area you would like to treat and go through your health history. The manufacturer lists conditions in which the device should not be used, and I check these with you before anything is booked. If Emsculpt NEO isn’t right for you, I will tell you, and explain why.

We also agree how many sessions may be involved, and the full cost, before you decide.

What happens during a session?

  1. You lie down, and the applicator is placed on the treatment area and held in place with a strap.
  2. Your practitioner sets the intensity and adjusts it with you as the session goes on.
  3. The applicator works while you rest. Your practitioner stays with you throughout.
  4. The applicator is removed, and your practitioner talks you through aftercare before you leave.

In the published studies, sessions lasted 30 minutes, as described in reports of the thigh studies and a 2022 randomised trial. Your practitioner confirms timings for your own plan.

What does it feel like?

You will feel the muscle contract strongly and rhythmically, and warmth from the radiofrequency. The intensity is adjusted with you during the session.

In the 2022 randomised trial, the side effects reported were mild, temporary skin redness and abdominal muscle soreness, with no significant complications. Your practitioner explains what you may feel afterwards and what to do.

How many sessions will I need?

Most studies used a course of about four sessions over two to four weeks, with some using between three and eight. In the 2022 randomised trial, people had three 30-minute sessions, one week apart. The number that suits you is agreed at your consultation.

What does the research show?

One of the more rigorous studies is a randomised, sham-controlled trial of 72 people, published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in 2022. Three months after a course of three sessions, ultrasound showed an average 28.3% reduction in abdominal fat thickness and a 24.2% increase in abdominal muscle thickness in the treated group, with no change in the sham group. By six months there was a small decline in the effect, and the authors noted they could not rule out the influence of increased exercise.

The 2024 systematic review, published in Aesthetic Plastic Surgery with no industry funding, looked at 15 studies of electromagnetic body contouring, two of them on Emsculpt NEO. Across the studies of the abdomen, fat thickness fell by an average of 5.5 mm. All studies that asked patients reported high satisfaction overall, though two reported marginal or no benefit, and the authors called for better reporting.

These are averages from research settings, not a promise. Results vary from person to person.

Questions we’re asked

Is Emsculpt NEO a weight-loss treatment?

No. It works on fat and muscle thickness in the area being treated. It doesn’t replace a healthy diet and regular exercise.

How long is an Emsculpt NEO session?

In the published studies, sessions lasted 30 minutes. Your practitioner confirms timings for your plan at your consultation.

What does Emsculpt NEO feel like?

You feel strong muscle contractions and warmth, and the intensity can be adjusted with you during the session. Mild, temporary muscle soreness afterwards was reported in a 2022 trial.

How much does Emsculpt NEO cost at AESKN?

A single session costs from £200 with the small applicator, and a course of four from £700. Every course starts with a consultation, which costs £50. See all Emsculpt NEO prices.

Sources

Results vary from person to person.