CoolSculpting vs. EmSculpt: Which is right for me?

Fat Freezing, Non-Surgical Body Contouring Treatments, Maidstone, Kent.

When contemplating how to achieve the body you’ve always dreamed of, you may consider body contouring treatments such as CoolSculpting and EMsculpt to give you a helping hand along the way. But no two bodies are the same, so when it comes to aesthetic procedures, the higher the level of personalisation, the better. Fat reduction is no exception to this rule, and stubborn pockets of fat can be particularly tricky to resolve, so finding the right treatment for you is key.

If you’re currently searching for a body contouring treatment but are unsure whether EMSculpt or CoolSculpting is best for your concerns, this is everything you need to know about removing unwanted fat bulges non-invasively.

What is CoolSculpting?

CoolSculpting is an FDA-approved device that is widely considered to be the gold standard when it comes to non-surgical fat reduction. It utilises extreme cold 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 the treatment, subcutaneous fat tissues crystalise before the body disposes of the broken-down cells over the following weeks.

CoolSculpting is ideal for intensive body fat removal as it targets stubborn fat across a diverse range of body areas, from the hips, arms, and stomach to the thighs and even the chin.

How does it work?

During treatment, the skin and fat are suctioned into a vacuum applicator, 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, your practitioner will remove the paddle and massage the frozen fat. This kick-starts your body’s natural process of excreting the fat cells, which will pass through the liver over the following weeks.

What is EmSculpt?

The EMsculpt treatment, in which a large paddle is strapped to your tummy or buttocks and before pushing high-intensity focused electromagnetic pulse (HIFEM+) into your muscles, to mimic the efforts of doing 20,000 crunches or squats in one session, has been growing in popularity for the last couple of years.

The treatment is unique as it’s the first that simultaneously builds muscle and burns fat, and it’s the only safe way to lift the buttocks without the need for implants or fat transfer.

While Emsculpt slightly reduces fat in the abdomen, its most significant effect is building, strengthening, and tightening the muscles.

How do the results compare?

After just one CoolSculpting session, you can expect up to a 27% reduction of subcutaneous fat stores in the treated area. Fat reduction can take several weeks to show while the body metabolises the crystalised fat cells. You’ll likely see a reduction in fat on areas like your stomach, flanks, and chin in as little as one session, but two sessions are often recommended for optimum results.

EMSculpt results in a 19% average reduction in fat stores after 2-4 weeks post-treatment, so slightly less than CoolSculpting. But it excels when building muscle – and patients achieve a 16% average increase in muscle mass at their targeted treatment zones. It’s crucial that the practitioner selects the right patient, as if you still have a stubborn layer of fat overlying the muscle, you may not be able to visibly appreciate the results of that intensive muscle building.

Which one is right for me?

CoolSculpting leads the way for the number of body areas you can target. If you’re concerned about stubborn fat bulges or hard-to-shift fat stores, then CoolSculpting is ideal. It also suits people who have higher BMIs, including those considered overweight or obese.

EMsculpt, on the other hand, is better suited to patients who are aiming to redefine and sculpt their bodies whilst improving muscle definition.

In other words if significant fat removal is your goal, then opt for CoolSculpting, which gives permanent results when a healthy lifestyle is maintained. But if you want to improve muscle definition, EMSculpt may be more suitable. EMSculpt will also require maintenance treatments to preserve results.

If you’d like to discuss your concerns with a practitioner to determine the right treatment for you, click here to book a complimentary consultation.