MRI Assessment of Arm and Calf Muscle Toning With High-Intensity Focused Electromagnetic Technology: Case Study

Arms and calves have long been a subject of interest in aesthetic medicine. Current surgical and non-invasive procedures focus on sagging skin and fat deposits without targeting the muscles. The aim of this study is to investigate the feasibility of high-intensity focused electromagnetic (HIFEM) technology for arm and calf toning through simultaneous fat reduction and muscle strengthening. In this case study, two subjects received four 20-minute HIFEM treatments of biceps, triceps, and calves, with the outcomes assessed by MRI. The analysis of MRI images showed an average increase in all three muscle groups, biceps muscle mass 17.1%, triceps muscle mass 10.2%, and gastrocnemius muscle mass increased by 14.6%. In addition, the arm fat thickness was decreased by 12.8% on average and the calf fat thickness decreased by 9.9%. The results suggest that HIFEM technology is a feasible modality for both arm and calf toning. However, it will be necessary to continue to validate this outcome in a larger sample size study. J Drugs Dermatol. 2020;19(5): doi:10.36849/JDD.2020.4546.