IT ALWAYS get a bit of a sinking feeling this time of year. The energy of the holidays is behind us and the months until summer seem to stretch ahead like an endless road. These short, dark, chilly days make me want to just curl up inside my apartment and hunker down like a hibernating bear until the sun finally decides to shine again. But it can also be an optimistic time. For instance, this is the perfect time to get cosmetic procedures.
Hear me out. Most minimally invasive cosmetic procedures come with a little bit of downtime, which is the last thing you want when your schedule is packed with sun drenched pool parties or barbecues. Why not while away the time while you’re cozying up in your own home where hardly anyone can see you unless you want them to? That instantly takes away any feelings of awkwardness that might come from trying to explain why your face is peeling or you have bruises around your jaw.
Furthermore, most non-invasive treatments, especially when we’re talking about body contouring treatments, take a while to show results, often around three months or more. Think of your calendar. We are now about four months away from the beginning of summer, which means there is more than enough time for fat to melt or muscle to tighten before swimsuit season.
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Personally, I’ve come to think of these first months of the year as Treatment Season for this very reason. I like to schedule as many treatments as I can right now so I can emerge from my winter cocoon feeling like the best possible version of myself just in time for summer. All it takes is a little planning. So if you’ve been considering a laser facial or non-invasive fat removal, I urge you to do it now—there is no time like the present. (Pro tip: prices for all these treatments vary based on provider, geographical area and other factors, so call around or price out a few providers before committing.) As for which ones to consider, these new treatments are the best and buzziest – and offer something for everyone.
EMSculpt Neo
What it Does: The first version of EMSculpt was revolutionary in its ability to use electromagnetic waves to build muscle. EMSculpt Neo, the newer version, combines this muscle-building technology with radiofrequency waves to simultaneously reduce fat in the same area (allowing better toning results).
How it Works: Electromagnetic (HIFEM+) energy forces muscles to contract the same way they would during a workout, just way deeper and with more frequency. At the same time, radiofrequency waves help to heat up fat, killing fat cells and allowing your body to flush them out.
What Areas It Can Treat: Abdomen, biceps, flanks, thighs, butt
How Long it Takes: Six sessions spaced about a week apart are recommended for best results. Session duration depends on what area you are treating, but most last around 20 to 30 minutes. Full results show about three months after the last session.
How Much Downtime: None
How to Find it: Find a provider near you here.
EMFace
What it Does: Like the EMSculpt Neo, EMFace uses electrical and radio frequency waves to tighten facial muscles and increase skin thickness, leading to a tighter, more lifted look to your mug.
How it Works: As we age, our skin and facial muscles lose strength which leads to sagging, wrinkles and other signs of aging. Much like the way EMSculpt stimulates muscle growth, EMFace uses similar waves to help strengthen and tighten facial muscles as well as stimulate collagen and elastin production in the skin.
What Areas it Can Treat: Face
How Long it Takes: Each session is around 20 minutes and about four sessions total are recommended, spaced about a week apart. Results take about three months to show.
How Much Downtime: None
How To Find It: Find a provider near you here.
Morpheus8
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What it Does: Combining microneedling and radiofrequency energy, this device uses tiny needles to deliver heat at different depths into your skin, stimulating collagen and elastin production to reduce wrinkles and fine lines, tighten skin, and help reduce hyperpigmentation and acne scars.
How it Works: The tiny needles plunge into your skin to create “micro-injuries,” tiny wounds that signal your skin’s regenerative properties and by extension stimulate exfoliation, cell turnover and collagen and elastin production. The radiofrequency energy helps heat your tissue to further this healing response and also aids in skin tightening. Unlike many other microneedling devices, Morpheus8 is able to customize the depth of the needles, which your provider will do based on the area you are treating and your skin concerns.
What Areas it Can Treat: Face and body
How Long it Takes: Each session takes 15 to 60 minutes depending on the area(s) being treated and around three treatments spaced four to six weeks apart are usually recommended.
How Much Downtime: You’ll be red for a couple of days, but it goes away quickly.
How to Find it: Find a provider near you here.
AviClear
What it Does: The first FDA-cleared energy device for acne, this new technology uses a laser to target sebaceous (oil-secreting) glands so they produce less oil and by extension reducing acne—without medication.
How it Works: A non-ablative laser specifically targets oil glands below your skin’s surface so they become less active, leading to less oil and causing future breakouts to be less frequent or severe. It’s best for people with mild or severe chronic acne.
What Areas it Can Treat: Face and Body
How Long it Takes: Three 30-minute sessions spaced about a month apart is enough for most candidates, though some may need additional treatments. While there is technically no downtime, your skin may “purge” immediately following treatment.
How Much Downtime: Technically none, but some patients may notice skin purging (irritation and breakouts) after the treatment.
How to Find it: Find a provider near you here.
Juvederm Volux
What it Does: Just recently approved by the FDA, Volux is the first dermal filler specifically approved to define the jawline.
How it Works: Like the other Juvederm fillers, Volux is made up of hyaluronic acid. What makes it different—and specifically good for the jawline—is that it has more structure and density, which leads to a stronger lift capacity. Since it’s firmer, it achieves a more chiseled and structured look to the jaw.
What Areas it Can Treat: Jaw and chin
How Long it Takes: One session, usually around 15 minutes depending on the provider and area being treated.
How Much Downtime: None, but there may be some slight bruising or swelling for a few days.
How to Find it: Find a provider near you here.
EON
What It Does: This device uses laser energy to heat and kill fat cells in the abdomen, allowing your body to flush them out naturally through its own detoxing process. But what stands out about this device versus other similar technologies is that it never touches your skin.
How it Works: The robotic device first assesses the area of your body it’s going to treat, then customizes the laser energy to optimize the treatment. Without ever touching your skin, the laser energy causes apoptosis (cell death) in the fat cells while an automatic jet cooling system helps keep your skin from overheating.
What Areas it Can Treat: Currently it is FDA-cleared for the abdomen and flanks.
How Long it Takes: 20 minutes per area, meaning about 60 minutes for the full abdomen. A series of two to three sessions is recommended and results show in about three months.
How Much Downtime: None
How to Find it: Find a provider near you here.
GlacialRX
What it Does: Cooling technology called cryomodulation helps reduce inflammation, calm and brighten skin and treat benign lesions like age spots.
How it Works: If you’ve ever gotten cryotherapy then you get the idea. This device uses a customizable chilled tip to cool down skin (an optional microdermabrasion tip also exfoliates in the process). The cold treatment not only feels good, but it helps reduce inflammation in the skin, reduce puffiness, brighten dull skin and, if you have age spots or hyperpigmentation, can help lighten those without a laser.
What Areas it Can Treat: Face
How Long it Takes: One session lasts about 45 minutes and results are immediate as well as compounded over time, with full results showing in about three months (especially if you are treating dark spots).
How Much Downtime: None
How to Find it: Find a provider near you here.
Ultherapy
What it Does: Using energy similar to ultrasound technology, this device uses sound waves to deeply penetrate our skin and tighten the muscle underneath leading to a lifting and tightening effect.
How it Works: Each treatment will deliver the ultrasonic sound waves to different depths underneath your skin to target the subcutaneous muscles. The waves cause the muscle to contract and tighten, which on the surface leads to tighter, smoother, and lifted skin and more defined facial contours.
What Areas it Can Treat: Face
How Long it Takes: Each treatment lasts about 45 to 60 minutes. Most patients only need one treatment. Full results show after about three months and last a year.
How Much Downtime: None
How to Find it: Find a provider near you here.
Ellacor
What it Does: Think of it as microneedling on steroids. This device works in a similar way (causing microinjuries to stimulate the skin’s healing process) but instead of needles, uses hollow needles to remove tiny chunks of skin.
How it Works: Those tiny chunks force the skin to go into overdrive producing more collagen and elastin to heal them (don’t worry, they’re microscopic so they don’t cause scars). The result is a more lifted and tighter face with fewer wrinkles. Think of it as sitting somewhere between microneedling and a face lift.
What Areas it Can Treat: Currently it’s FDA-cleared for the mid- to lower-face (like cheeks, around the mouth and the chin).
How Long it Takes: Each treatment takes around 30 minutes. Two to three treatments are recommended and full results take three to six months to show.
How Much Downtime: Usually about three days.
How to Find it: Find a provider near you here.
AirSculpt
What it Does: This minimally-invasive fat removal procedure is similar to liposuction, but melts fat before it is removed, so the incision is the size of a freckle and there is no need for general anesthesia.
How it Works: A thin laser probe is inserted into the treatment area, which melts the fat and a tiny cannula sucks it out through another incision. The method is also gentler on the surrounding area reducing downtime and eliminating the need for general anesthesia.
What Areas it Can Treat: Stubborn pockets of fat in the abdomen, chin, chest, butt and others.
How Long it Takes: Depending on the size of the treatment area, anywhere from 45 minutes to four hours.
How Much Downtime: About three days, with a couple weeks of care afterward (no strenuous workouts, for instance). Full results take about six months to show once swelling has completely gone away.
How to Find It: Find a provider near you here.
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Garrett Munce writes about men’s style and grooming. He’s written for Esquire, New York Magazine, Spotlyte, and Very Good Light and held staff positions at GQ and W. Follow his skincare obsession on Instagram at @garrettmunce.
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