In our experience the abdomen is the area people ask us about most: a soft stomach after children, after weight loss or with age, a layer of fat over muscles that have lost tone. EMsculpt NEO is FDA-cleared in the US for fat reduction of the abdomen and for strengthening and toning the abdominal muscles. A course is four 30-minute sessions, back to your day after each, from £100 per session, with the course price in writing at a free consultation.
What it does on the abdomen
The large applicator strapped over the stomach makes the abdominal muscles contract in strong, rapid pulses through the 30-minute session with HIFEM electromagnetic energy, while synchronised radiofrequency heats the fat layer over them to the temperature at which fat cells break down. The muscles thicken with repetition and the cleared fat leaves over the following weeks, so the stomach sits flatter and firmer. It changes shape, not weight.
What the studies measured
- Sham-controlled trial (one group had the real treatment, the other a dummy one), 72 patients, three weekly sessions: the fat layer 28% thinner and the muscle 24% thicker on ultrasound at three months, holding at six months.
- The manufacturer's study for the US clearance, 42 patients: the fat layer 30% thinner on ultrasound, the waist 3.2 cm smaller on average, 88% losing at least 1.5 cm, 93% reporting none to minimal discomfort, no adverse events.
- Deeper fat: a retrospective study of 40 patients measured the fat around the organs 18% lower.
After pregnancy and weight loss
A soft abdomen after children, where the muscles have stretched and a layer of fat has settled, is a common request, and the clinician checks the gap between the muscles at the free consultation. The clinician checks for a hernia and asks about a caesarean and the time since it before treating. Loose skin is a different problem: EMsculpt NEO does not tighten it, and the clinician says what fits at the free consultation.
Who it suits
In our experience it suits someone who trains, with a layer of fat over the abdominal muscles and a body mass index under about 30. A large bulge you can pinch is CoolSculpting's job, which we also offer, sometimes before EMsculpt NEO. The abdomen is cleared for all skin types (skin types run from I, the palest, to VI, the darkest). A hernia in the area, metal in or near it, a copper coil, pregnancy, recent abdominal surgery and the rest of the list the clinician checks rule it out.
Not sure you are suitable? Ask the clinician, it is free
The course and the result
Four sessions about a week apart, 30 minutes each, back to your day; the muscle sore for a day or two as after heavy exercise. In our experience the first change shows two to four weeks after the last session, the result measured at three months, and in our experience a single session every three to six months keeps the tone. The sessions page sets out the course.
Price
From £100 per session, the abdomen priced as an area and the course in writing at your free consultation, with a price match on any comparable written quote and finance through Humm, subject to status. The prices page shows how a quote is built.
Book a free consultation
Call Chelsea Clinic on 0207 043 1107 or use the form below. The clinician looks at your abdomen, tells you plainly whether EMsculpt NEO, CoolSculpting or both is the right plan, and gives you the price in writing. The full EMsculpt NEO guide covers the rest.
