Body Shortcuts: Four Treatments To Skip The Gym

While exercise and diet play a vital role in keeping our physiques healthy and fit, innovative body treatments claim to do the heavy lifting, so we can achieve our own personal body goals with minimal effort. From bone therapy for slim legs and ab-contouring treatments purporting to be the equivalent of “20,000 squats”, Beauticate investigate a slew of beauty trends (with some on the extreme end!) taking the aesthetic world by storm.

Golki therapy: Changing your bone structure with massage?

Golki therapy works by applying significant force to bones and the surrounding muscle/tissue to manually reposition your bone structure. The technician uses highly specialised pressure, angles and patterns of movement – a proprietary process unique to Yakson House. The treatment claims to have the capacity to straighten crooked legs, sculpt and tighten muscles & skin, and even alter your face shape. According to Dr Lee Byung Chul, the scientist behind Yakson House, the bone-shifting massage supposedly boosts blood circulation, which improves the flow of nutrients to the skin and reduces bloating. Like all aesthetic treatments, the outcome varies depending on the individual; some patients have seen significantly transformative results, whilst others have only noticed a subtle difference over a prolonged period.

BodyTite: lunchtime liposution

BodyTite is considered the “lunchtime” alternative to liposuction. Thermal energy is applied below and above the skin to dissolve fat and tighten the skin simultaneously. Local anaesthetic is required, as an electrode (attached to a cannula) is inserted beneath the skin to suction the fat, while an external radio-frequency source is placed on top of the skin to supposedly stimulate collagen production and tighten skin. The company claims that the procedure can immediately suction out fat, but also encourages some fat to naturally dissolve over a gradual period (with best results seen at 6 – 12 weeks).

Emsculpt

Emsculpt is a minimally invasive treatment utilising high frequency electromagnetic energy to burn fat and build muscle mass and tone the body. A single session is purported to induce muscle contractions equivalent to 20,000 crunches or 20,000 squats in 30 minutes (the jury’s still out on this stat though – we will come back to you if there’s a peer reviewed study). Whilst this treatment claims to help tone muscles and create a more sculpted body, it is not a weight loss treatment. Dr Paul Jarrod Frank, a board certified dermatologist, says, “It’s best for individuals who are in good shape already and serves as an ‘icing on the cake’ treatment.” Currently it is only FDA approved on five body parts: buttocks, arms, abs, calves and abdomen.

BE CAUTIOUS

Although these body treatments are considered “minimally invasive” (i.e. not actual cosmetic surgery), side effects and unsatisfactory results can occur even if you’re not “going under the knife” – so do your research carefully and understand the risks, if you personally wish to undergo any treatment. Individual results will vary on a case-by-case basis, as we all react differently!