Non-surgical body contouring/sculpting is one of the fastest growing treatments in the world.1 The ‘little-to-no’ downtime with few associated risks is appealing to many. Muscle stimulation devices promise to build muscle, increase strength and improve tone, therefore appealing to those who strive for aesthetic perfection, as well as those who are serious about reaching peak fitness levels. The earliest known use of electric muscle stimulation dates back to around 500 BC. The Egyptians discovered that certain fish emit electrical impulses; these fish were used to treat pain.2 There is plenty of emerging science into the benefits of muscle stimulation, whether this be through direct electric stimulation or indirect electromagnetic stimulation. In this article, I look at the science of both of these modalities and discuss their potential uses in aesthetic medicine, the fitness industry…
