What are some things that you do for yourself that you consider “self-care”? Are you setting aside time during the week for ‘me time’? Do you head to the gym a few times a week? Treat yourself to monthly facials? Finding a good balance over the last couple of years hasn’t been the easiest but I feel like I’ve finally nailed it down and want to share a few things I now include in my daily and monthly self-care routine. After just a little research, I found that remaining consistent with a healthier diet and at least 30 minutes of daily exercise or physical activity is proven to lower stress, combat depression and increase our mental health. Incorporating new workouts such as hot yoga, pilates and weightlifting into my fitness regimen has truly made a  difference in my overall health and physical wellness. As I continued to develop my routine and build up my strength, I also changed my relationship with food.

I knew that I needed to incorporate more quality foods that would fuel my body and not just snacks to help me get through the day. So I traded in my morning coffee for matcha green tea, exchanged my Ruffles chips mid-day snack for a fruit medley and salad, and incorporated more anti-inflammatory dishes into my dinners, such as sweet potatoes, salmon, avocados and leafy greens. Adding healthier foods into my diet and giving my body the nutrients it needs to be strong and efficient took my workouts to the next level, mentally and physically. 

Now, no one is perfect and although I continue to push myself with eating healthier and working out, I always feel like I have those stubborn areas where the weight just wants to “hang around” no matter what I do and feels impossible to get that visibly tight midsection. The saying goes, when we look our best, we feel our best. And although I maintain an active lifestyle, I still continue to struggle with my lower abdomen. Who can relate?! So this is where I let my newest and favorite self-care activity come into play, EmSculpt.Now, let’s talk about it!Simply stated, EmSculpt is a non-invasive treatment that targets specific areas of the body you’re wanting to contour, tone, build strength, muscle and melt away fat. Offering two different types of EmSculpt body contouring services at Opulence Chicago are the EmSculpt NEO and the EmSculpt Original. When comparing the two services side-by-side there are a few similarities but there are also a few key differences that will help navigate you towards the right device. Let’s dive into these comparisons in further detail:With so many body-focused treatments and procedures out there right now, it’s important to mention that EmSculpt has patented technology incorporated within both devices, is backed by science and is FDA approved to treat multiple areas on the body.

These areas include the abdomen, glutes/buttocks, inner and outer thighs, front and back of the thighs, biceps, triceps and calves. The magic from each session comes from their HIFEMⓇ (high intensity focused electro-magnetic) technology which induces intense muscle contractions to the treatment area. Within each 30 minute treatment, these contractions are allowing you to receive a workout that’s equivalent to doing 20,000 push-ups, sit-ups, squats or deadlifts at home or in the gym. I’m not sure about you but I can barely get through 10 push-ups before collapsing on the floor so just imagine!The NEO Rundown:EmSculpt NEO is the newest of the two available treatments. After being launched in 2019 it’s completely changed the way we view non-invasive fat loss and overall building of muscle mass. Trust me - keep the diet fads at bay - this treatment is a must when looking to enhance your overall appearance, confidence and current workout routine. The NEO has held onto and improved the HIFEMⓇ  technology but now also incorporates a heating component, Radiofrequency,  to specifically target fat reduction and increase more muscle growth.

Over the course of four treatments, these two powerhouses are equivalent to 12 HIIT workouts (high intensity interval training sessions) - all while you’re laying down and relaxing.So what does the Radiofrequency (RF) do? Essentially, this technology is heating up the areas of fat to a melting point so that you can naturally excrete and flush those toxins out of your body within a 5-10 day timeframe. Simultaneously, the RF technology is also warming up the area which in turn causes the treated muscles to group together and work harder leading to more muscle mass. The HIFEMⓇ  technology are the contractions patients feel within the service. With the NEO, these contractions are also able to increase in intensity compared to the traditional EmSculpt - this component in combination with the Radiofrequency now allows for up to 25% more muscle and 30% less fat. Let’s talk about the OG, shall we?Compared to the NEO, the traditional EmSculpt treatment holds all the requirements to create, build, define and sculpt the body. The HIFEM technology consists of three different phases throughout the treatment; a short pulse, a long pulse and a lactic acid breakdown. The short and long pulse are the contractions in the targeted area which can go pretty deep depending on the intensity of the HIFEM settings.

During the short and long pulse cycles you will feel all of the muscles in the area working as if you were doing an intense workout at the gym. Once you make it through the long pulse - the more intense one of the two - the tapping sensation of the lactic acid breakdown begins. The contraction intensity ranges from 0 to 100% and most patients tend to start between 35% to 45% and work their way up to 100% during the first treatment; the higher the intensity the deeper the muscle contraction. So which one is best for you?In truth, everyone can benefit from the EmSculpt NEO. Especially if you are someone who is looking to decrease fat in addition to building, toning and defining muscle. The NEO incorporates all the benefits of the original but has the capability of providing a more customized treatment with different levels of heat, contractions and overall intensity. I’ve seen many patients start with six sessions of NEO and then continue their monthly maintenance sessions on the original EmSculpt once the results they’ve been striving for have been achieved. 

The P.S.A. PortionIt’s important to understand when considering EmSculpt treatments that it is a service designed to enhance your current lifestyle and noticeable results take a little time. Will you experience weight loss and inches off your waist if you only receive EmSculpt NEO treatments without consistently working out and maintaining a healthy lifestyle? It’s possible but it’s not going to be as promising or gratifying unless you allow EmSculpt to be an additional tool to your active lifestyle, healthy diet and self-care routine. When you’re ready to start your series of treatments, Opulence Chicago offers packages of 4, 6, and 8 sessions for both the EmSculpt NEO and Original. It’s suggested that everyone starts off with six treatments with each appointment spread out between 3-10 days. Results are in motion after each treatment and continue to improve up to 60-90 days after your last session. For many patients, they continue maintenance sessions every 6-8 weeks until desired results are achieved. So what are we waiting for?! Come in and get snatched with me! Looking forward to seeing you in the spa soon.