Outsource Your Exercise with EmSculpt, FuturaFit, EMSell

By Chelsea Campbell

There’s no doubt that technology has made our lives easier than ever, and we have plenty of machines that take care of a lot of inconvenient work for us. When it comes to exercise, however, just how lazy are we willing to get? If there were a machine that was able to work out for you, would you use it?

Since Victorian times, people have used machines to help them get toned, and many of the modern equipment in gyms today were born from the inventions of the turn of the 20th century, when the industrial age began to replace manpower with assembly lines of machines ready to do the hard work. Through the last century, various exercise gizmos rose and fell in popularity with one united quest: to make exercise as easy as possible. This included the Relax-a-cizor, a vibrating belt that promised to shake away belly fat, the Slim n’ Trim rotating board that was meant to be used to mimic the Twist dance craze, the Ab Circle Pro, which is a rotating disc that also promised a slim waist, and the silly Shake Weight used to tone up arms without any heavy lifting required. 

Although these inventions seem more like the stuff of late night infomercials, the idea of having a machine do the dirty work for you hasn’t quite been abandoned. A wave of new machines that promise to passively tone, increase muscle mass, and reduce fat are on the rise, and this has piqued the interest of many eager patients. One of the main excuses people give for not exercising as much as they should is that it is too time consuming. These machines promise to deliver electromagnetic impulses and radio frequency to contract muscles at a rate that is thousands of times more effective than traditional exercise, so time spent “exercising” is maximized without even breaking a sweat.

EmSculpt is one such machine that uses high-intensity focused electromagnetic waves in order to stimulate deep layers of muscle tissue, issuing contractions that help tone abdominals and  lift and sculpt the buttocks. Patients lie down while the small machine is held on the targeted area, issuing 20,000 muscle contractions in one 30 minute session. Ideal for all patients, this treatment recommends 4 sessions spaced out 2-3 days apart, costing a cool $3000-$5000 for the series. And while you won’t necessarily leave the office immediately sporting a six-pack, you will notice a tighter tummy and more lifted derriere. 

Another device is Futura Fit, which uses ultrasound and electric currents to “re-educate” muscles. This procedure targets excess layers of fat in order to reduce subcutaneous fat and tone muscle. A series of 4-6 sessions (costing $250 each) is recommended, but some patients report seeing results after just one session. Park Avenue dermatologist Dr. Marina Peredo says that one 40 minute session is equal to a whopping four hours at the gym. After the series is completed, most patients can expect to see a 1.5-3 inch reduction of fat in the waist area. This treatment also targets arms, flanks, and buttocks as well. 

Having a hard time getting your Kegels in each day? Not to worry, there’s a machine for that, too! The BTL EMSell is designed to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles responsible for bladder control and increased sensation during intercourse. Patients sit on a vibrating chair that performs up to 11,000 Kegels in one 30 minute session. Six sessions are recommended for optimal results and they cost around $300 a pop. Electromagnetic waves pulse around the Kegel muscles, forcing tightness to occur while strengthening the muscles that can help women regain tone in their pelvic floor, reduce incontinence, and increase their confidence.

While all of these machines sound well and good, and none of them come with any negative side effects or downtime, it should be noted that they cannot deliver all of the benefits that good old fashioned traditional exercise provides. Although these machines can deliver results ranging from subtle to noticeable and can jumpstart a plateaued workout regimen, they are not able to substitute the benefits of mood elevation, increased stamina, or the system-wide advantages of increased heart rate and blood flow to the whole body that conventional exercise does. However, combining these innovative treatments with classic exercise routines and a healthy diet could be just the kick start you need for a happier new you this new year!