EMSCULPT In Combination Therapies

BTL Aesthetics recently introduced its new EMSCULPT device, utilizing a breakthrough electromagnetic technology for non-invasive body shaping. In several studies, EMSCULPT was found to simultaneously reduce subcutaneous fat and increase muscle thickness after only four 30-minute treatments. While all body types can benefit from EMSCULPT, very high BMI patients are not ideal candidates. Despite significant strengthening of their muscles due to treatment, this improvement may stay hidden beneath the patient's excessive fat deposits. For such patients still hoping for killer abs, BTL Aesthetics' specialists examined a new powerful protocol combining the EMSCULPT with BTL Vanquish ME.

The patient above was treated with Vanquish ME and EMSCULPT.

Courtesy of Dr. Halaas

BTL Vanquish ME is a contactless body shaping device based on selective heating of abdominal fat. With the largest spot size in the industry, it is the perfect tool for large volume fat debulking across the entire abdomen. Using the expedited 30-minute protocol of BTL Vanquish ME as an entreé, the whole of a patient's belly fat is heated to temperatures that initiate natural fat cell death while other tissues remain unaffected. After this, the 30-minute EMSCULPT treatment takes over, inducing powerful muscle contractions and simultaneously increasing the metabolic activity of the disrupted fat cells. BTL Cellutone can play a role, as well.

According to Yael Halaas, MD, combining modalities is a new trend in boosting patient results. “Combination therapies are becoming prominent in the aesthetic industry as we want to offer the best results possible and combination therapies allow us to use the best of two or even more modalities,” she states.

“In fact, we have seen that if a patient is not an ideal candidate for a single modality treatment, a combination therapy may be the right solution,” says Dr. Halaas, a facial plastic surgeon in private practice in New York City. “As the primary focus of EMSCULPT treatments are the muscle and the fat, it is easy to combine it with BTL Vanquish ME. Both devices use different mechanisms of action for fat disruption and thus complement each other.

“To me the positioning of the devices is clear. I use EMSCULPT for almost all patient types with the exception of high-BMI patients. In such patients, the EMSCULPT's muscle effect would not be as obvious over the thick fat layer. For higher BMI patients, the combination of EMSCULPT and BTL Vanquish ME fit together,” adds Dr. Halaas. “Combining the two different fat disruption mechanisms enhances the reduction in fat deposits making the muscle toning effect of EMSCULPT more obvious.”

Dr. Halaas notes that combination of BTL devices is also economically very attractive. “Unlike other devices, neither EMSCULPT nor BTL Vanquish ME have any virtual consumable credits, which considerably reduces the treatment costs,” she says. “Without these additional costs we can offer the potential for high-satisfaction results at reasonable prices to the patients.”

The patient above was treated with Vanquish ME, EMSCUPLT, and Cellutone.

Courtesy of Ovation Medspa.

In her experience, Dr. Halaas says the best results were seen when running the EMSCULPT and BTL Vanquish ME therapies simultaneously. “The best results for patients who also need larger fat debulking were seen when they underwent a 45-minute long treatment with BTL Vanquish ME followed by a 30-minute long treatment by EMSCULPT. The patients were scheduled for four sessions, one per week,” she states. “What happens is that the BTL Vanquish ME heats up the fat cells, EMSCULPT helps to distribute the heat and induces metabolic load on fat cells on its own. Combined with the effect on muscle, the results are outstanding.”

Taking a different tack, David Kent, MD of Macon, GA, will do four BTL Vanquish ME treatments, distributed across four weeks, followed by four EMSCULPT treatments, each spaced two to three days apart. “First we focus on large volume elimination of fat from all around the patient's waistline. A few weeks post treatments we start with the EMSCULPT procedures, which not only help patients get rid of the residual fat pockets, but also give them the final tuning represented by strengthening of the core, growing of their muscles, and giving them a true athletic look,” he says.

A study on EMSCULPT conducted by Carolyn Jacob, MD showed average waist reduction of 4.37cm and a BTL Vanquish ME study performed by Amir Moradi, MD found an average waist reduction of 4.22cm. “The results we have seen in on our patients indicate that the combination of the devices truly produce outstanding results,” Dr. Kent says. “The waist change in the patients we treated by combination therapy ranged between 5.1cm to 8.3cm. The volume loss in the belly area ranged from 27 cubic inches up to even 76 cubic inches.”

“With the BTL devices being relatively inexpensive, due to lack of consumables, it is easy to individually adjust the treatment protocol depending on patient needs.” states Dr. Halaas. “In fact, we can be very flexible and together with the patients we can tailor the treatment plan to fulfill the patient's goals and expectations without overly inflating the costs for them.”

“In our experience, both EMSCULPT and BTL Vanquish ME treatments are highly comfortable,” says Dr. Halaas. “Combination of pleasant treatments and quickly visible results motivates our patients to change their lifestyle and maintain it, even after the completion of the therapy, which leads to maintenance and further improvement of the outcomes. And that is exactly what we hope for in the beginning of the treatments.”