The Science of EMSELLA: How HIFEM Therapy Works

At TEMPL’s body shaping and wellness medspa, we are proud to offer innovative, non-invasive treatments that improve both your health and quality of life. One of the most revolutionary therapies we offer is BTL EMSELLA, a cutting-edge solution for pelvic floor rehabilitation.

Using High-Intensity Focused Electromagnetic (HIFEM) technology, EMSELLA helps to strengthen pelvic floor muscles, improve bladder control, and enhance overall pelvic health. But how exactly does EMSELLA work at the physiological level? Let’s dive into the science behind this groundbreaking treatment and explore how it provides such effective results.

EMSELLA treatments at TEMPL medspa include: incontinence, prolapse, erectile dysfunction treatments, as well as general pelvic strengthening.

Interested?
Why not attend our complimentary consultation? Our trained therapists will tailor the perfect treatment plan suited to your symptoms and concerns!

What is BTL EMSELLA

Shaped like a chair, EMSELLA is a medical device designed to deliver targeted, high-intensity electromagnetic energy to the pelvic floor muscles. It is a non-invasive, FDA-cleared treatment that does not require surgery, injections, or anesthesia. Instead, patients sit on a machine that emits focused electromagnetic waves, which induce deep muscle contractions in the pelvic area. The goal of these contractions is to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, improve their tone and endurance, and address conditions like urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, and even sexual dysfunction. Because of this, most people dub it as the pelvic floor chair!

What is High-Intensity Focused Electromagnetic (HIFEM)?

At the heart of EMSELLA’s treatment is HIFEM technology, which uses high-frequency electromagnetic pulses to stimulate muscles in a way that is both targeted and highly effective. The HIFEM device emits electromagnetic fields that penetrate the body’s tissues and trigger deep muscle contractions, engaging the pelvic floor muscles in ways that go far beyond what can be achieved with voluntary muscle activation (like through Kegel exercises).

The key to HIFEM’s success lies in its ability to produce supramaximal muscle contractions—contractions that exceed the level of intensity you can achieve through voluntary effort. These powerful contractions help to strengthen and tone the pelvic floor muscles, improving their function and overall health!

How Does EMSELLA Work on the Pelvic Floor Muscles?

The pelvic floor is a group of muscles and ligaments that stretch like a hammock from the pubic bone to the tailbone, supporting the bladder, uterus, and rectum. Over time, factors like aging, pregnancy, childbirth, and hormonal changes can weaken these muscles, leading to common issues like urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, and a loss of sexual sensation.

Here’s how EMSELLA targets and stimulates these muscles using HIFEM technology:

• Electromagnetic Stimulation: When you sit on the EMSELLA chair, the device emits focused electromagnetic pulses that penetrate the pelvic area. These pulses stimulate the muscles in a manner that is completely non-invasive and safe. Unlike voluntary contractions (e.g., Kegel exercises), which are limited by your ability to contract the muscles, the electromagnetic pulses induce deep, supramaximal contractions of the pelvic floor muscles.
• Muscle Activation and Contraction: The high-frequency electromagnetic waves generated by the EMSELLA device stimulate both the slow-twitch and fast-twitch muscle fibres in the pelvic floor. Slow-twitch fibres are responsible for maintaining endurance and muscle tone, while fast-twitch fibres are more suited for rapid, forceful contractions like those needed to control bladder function.
  • Slow-Twitch Fiber Activation: These fibers help support the organs in the pelvis and maintain long-term control over bladder and bowel functions. By strengthening these fibers, EMSELLA improves muscle endurance, which is essential for maintaining continence over extended periods of time
  • Fast-Twitch Fiber Activation: Fast-twitch fibers are recruited for short, explosive contractions. Stimulating these fibers through HIFEM helps improve rapid reflexes, such as the ability to stop urine flow quickly, which is particularly important for individuals with stress urinary incontinence.
• Neuromuscular Re-education: In addition to muscle strengthening, HIFEM technology helps to retrain the neuromuscular pathways involved in pelvic floor control. This neuromuscular re-education is crucial for improving reflexive control of bladder and bowel functions, leading to a reduction in incontinence and enhanced overall pelvic health.
• Increased Blood Flow and Muscle Recovery: EMSELLA also increases blood circulation in the pelvic region. This boost in circulation helps nourish the tissues, support muscle recovery, and enhance overall tissue health in the pelvic floor area. Healthy muscles are better able to contract and maintain proper tone, which further improves the patient’s symptoms.

The Benefits of EMSELLA Treatment

The benefits of EMSELLA extend beyond just bladder control – its ability to solve a variety of our clients’ concerns is why we at TEMPL’s body shaping and wellness medspa value it so highly! Here are several key advantages that make EMSELLA a versatile treatment for pelvic floor health:

• Non-invasive and Painless: EMSELLA is a completely non-surgical procedure. There are no needles, no downtime, and no recovery period. During the treatment, patients simply sit comfortably on the chair, fully clothed, while the electromagnetic pulses do the work.
• Improved Bladder Control: One of the most common uses for EMSELLA is to treat urinary incontinence, particularly stress urinary incontinenceand urge incontinence. Studies have shown that the intense muscle contractions induced by HIFEM technology can help reduce leakage, strengthen bladder control, and improve overall pelvic floor function.
• Stronger Pelvic Floor Muscles: Regular sessions of EMSELLA can help restore strength and tone to weakened pelvic muscles, improving overall pelvic health. Strong pelvic muscles are essential for controlling bladder and bowel functions, as well as supporting the organs in the pelvic region.
• Improved Sexual Health: Strengthening the pelvic floor muscles can also improve sexual health by enhancing blood flow and increasing muscle tone in the vaginal area. For many women, stronger pelvic muscles mean improved sensation, better sexual function, and a reduction in pelvic discomfort.
• Postpartum Recovery: For women recovering from childbirth, EMSELLA offers a non-invasive way to rebuild pelvic floor strength. Pregnancy and delivery often lead to stretching and weakening of the pelvic floor muscles, but EMSELLA can help tone and restore these muscles, making recovery faster and more comfortable.
• Enhanced Quality of Life: Many individuals who experience incontinence or pelvic weakness also experience a reduced quality of life due to embarrassment, frustration, and limitations on daily activities. By addressing these issues, EMSELLA can help patients regain confidence and improve their overall well-being. It also helps that EMSELLA treatments are quick and discreet!

Clinical Evidence Supporting EMSELLA’s Efficacy

Several clinical studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of EMSELLA’s HIFEM technology for treating conditions related to pelvic floor health:

• A 2019 study published in Journal of Lasers in Surgery and Medicine evaluates the clinical effectiveness and safety of EMSELLA for pelvic floor strengthening and treatment of urinary incontinence (UI). Participants reported a 50-70% reduction in the frequency of UI episodes after a series of treatments (consistent across patients with both stress urinary incontinence and mixed incontinence), a 20-30% increase in pelvic floor muscle strength, and the procedure was well-tolerated by all patients, with no adverse side effects other than mild muscle fatigue or a sensation of pelvic heaviness
• A 2021 study in Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery compares the efficacy of HIFEM therapy and Pelvic Floor Muscle Training. Results demonstrated that HIFEM was significantly more effective at improving pelvic floor muscle strength, reducing urinary incontinence symptoms, and enhancing quality of life for patients with pelvic floor dysfunction. The non-invasive nature and ease of treatment with HIFEM were also noted as advantages over traditional pelvic workouts, leading to higher patient satisfaction.
• Men also benefit highly from EMSELLA! A recent 2024 study in Reproductive System & Sexual Disorders demonstrates that EMSELLA can lead to a 30-50% improvement in erectile function. Patients experienced enhanced erectile firmness and improved erectile response after a series of treatments.

What to Expect During EMSELLA Treatments

Each EMSELLA session typically lasts about 28 minutes, and the recommended treatment plan consists of about 6 sessions spread across weeks. During the procedure, clients remain fully clothed and sit on the Emsella chair. You may feel a sensation of intense pelvic muscle contractions, but the procedure is generally comfortable and non-invasive.

Afterwards, there is no downtime, and our clients can return to their normal activities immediately. As for results, they often start to show within a few weeks of completing the full treatment course, with continued improvements over time.

Conclusion

EMSELLA represents a groundbreaking approach to pelvic floor rehabilitation, offering a non-invasive and highly effective way to address issues like urinary incontinence, organ prolapse, pelvic weakness, and sexual dysfunction. By using HIFEM technology to induce powerful muscle contractions, EMSELLA helps strengthen the pelvic floor, improve bladder control, and enhance overall pelvic health.

With a solid foundation of clinical evidence supporting its effectiveness and a growing number of patients reporting positive outcomes, our EMSELLA machine is rapidly becoming a go-to treatment for those seeking to improve their pelvic health without resorting to surgery or medication.

Whether you’re looking to restore muscle strength after childbirth, manage urinary incontinence, or improve sexual health, EMSELLA offers a safe, efficient, and lasting solution for pelvic floor recovery.

At TEMPL body shaping and wellness medspa, located in the Bayside area of Brighton, we’re here to help you feel your best—book your complimentary consultation today and take the first step toward revitalizing your pelvic health!