Beauty Spot
Deputy editor Nicholas Fonseca In a previous life (OK, when I was 25), I had abs that were, in flattering light, essentially a six-pack. Youth was on my side, working in tandem with my naturally slender build. But as I push my mid-40s, they’re gone – I work out regularly, but I also love my food and wine. Keen to find out if I might somehow bring them back, I book four sessions of Emsculpt Neo, a non-surgical, non-invasive treatment that involves lying still for 30 minutes as two pads placed upon my abdomen heat up my muscles and proceed to emit synchronised RF (radiofrequency) and HIFEM+ (high-intensity focused electromagnetic) energy waves into them. (It can also be used on biceps, triceps, buttocks, thighs, saddlebags or calves.) In essence, my abs feel as if they’re being lightly “beaten” with pulsations – it doesn’t hurt, although it is uncomfortable – and as if I’m experiencing stomach cramps. (The technician tells me, to little surprise, that female patients who’ve given birth barely register this sensation.) The stress on my muscles – said to be the equivalent of 20,000 crunches over half an hour – forces them to adapt, ideally accelerating the demise of fat cells while also increasing my core strength. Three months after my final treatment, I’m shown the results via before-and-after photos. I haven’t miraculously resurrected that six-pack, but I’m happy with the change that I can see: there’s a notable decrease in bulbousness around my waist, and my tummy looks tighter and leaner. $1100 per treatment (three or four are recommended); Platinum Dermatology, level 2, 173-179 Broadway, Ultimo, Sydney; to book, call (02) 8014 6500 or visit platinumdermatology.com.au.
