High-Intensity Focused Electromagnetic (HIFEM) Energy With and Without Radiofrequency for Noninvasive Body...

Area of Science:

• Medical Aesthetics
• Body Contouring
• Noninvasive Treatments

Background:

• Emsculpt and Emsculpt NEO are FDA-cleared devices for noninvasive body contouring.
• Emsculpt utilizes high-intensity electromagnetic energy for muscle building.
• Emsculpt NEO combines electromagnetic energy with radiofrequency for muscle building and fat reduction.

Approach:

• A systematic review of PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science databases was conducted.
• Searched for studies on High-intensity focused electromagnetic therapy (HIFEM) and related devices through January 2023.
• Included clinical studies reporting outcomes for noninvasive body contouring, excluding reviews and animal studies.

Key Points:

• Fifteen clinical studies (11 Emsculpt, 2 Emsculpt NEO) were reviewed, with typical protocols involving four treatments over 2-4 weeks.
• Abdominal contouring showed mean reductions in fat thickness (5.5 mm) and muscle thickness (2 mm), with rectus diastasis improvement (3.0 mm).
• All studies reported high patient satisfaction, with no complications; however, some studies had data limitations regarding comorbidities and subgroup analysis.

Conclusions:

• Emsculpt and Emsculpt NEO demonstrate efficacy and safety for noninvasive body contouring based on current evidence.
• High-quality data, particularly patient-reported outcomes, is crucial for informed decision-making.
• Further research addressing data limitations will enhance understanding of treatment benefits across diverse patient subgroups.