I know we should embrace our imperfections, but my relationship with my stomach is tricky – try as I might, I can’t come to terms with the loose skin and stretch marks that are signs of my pregnancy many years ago. I don’t want to go under the knife, which is why I approach Dr Preema Vig, a former GP who is now an advanced aesthetic doctor with a beautiful clinic on Park Lane. She assures me that there are various non-invasive options open to me, and we agree on a treatment plan.
The second weapon in our arsenal is EMSculpt Neo, a treatment that applies heat simultaneously with highly focused magnetic energy, to promote both fat reduction and muscle growth. The process is straightforward – once every couple of weeks, for four sessions, I lie on a bed, with pads strapped to my midriff. The applicators stimulate extremely powerful supramaximal contractions (one treatment equates to 20,000 sit ups). It sounds intense, but even with the machine turned up full, the sensation is more than bearable.
Next up, Sofwave; also more commonly used on the face, this treatment uses ultrasound to stimulate collagen production. In a one-off treatment, a handheld device is systematically worked across my stomach. What begins as a feeling of gentle warmth, quickly intensifies. I’ve got to be honest, even with numbing cream this is the most painful treatment I’ve ever experienced. Normally one to suffer in silence, I turned the air blue on this occasion. Despite the pain, I’m assured that the procedure is completely safe, with the ultrasound energy penetrating to just 1.5mm to avoid damaging deeper tissues. There is a little redness immediately afterwards, but there is also a noticeable tightening of the skin, which is very pleasing, making the pain easily forgotten. Better yet, the area treated will continue to improve as the weeks go on. There’s no doubt that Dr Preema has helped me to come to terms with my tummy, and I’m certain I will head into this summer feeling much more body confident.
