Emsculpt Neo in Naples, FL
Non-Surgical Fat Reduction, Muscle Building and Functional Core Strengthening
Emsculpt Neo for Body and Core
Dr. James Bergtold, DC has treated more than 5,000 patients across 25+ years of practice, and he added Emsculpt Neo to the wellness side of the clinic for a specific reason. Muscle, not appearance alone, decides how well a spine holds a correction and how quickly an injured body recovers.
Emsculpt Neo Function for a Deconditioned Core
Your deep stabilizers, the transverse abdominis wrapping the waist and the multifidus running alongside each vertebra, are the muscles that brace your spine before you lift, twist or stand. They switch off quickly. Weeks in a brace after surgery, a disc injury that made every movement guarded, a pregnancy that stretched the abdominal wall, or years at a desk in Naples traffic and at a screen all leave them thinner and slower to fire. Crunches and planks recruit the surface muscles long before they reach these ones, which is why patients often feel strong yet still unstable.
Emsculpt Neo Function targets those deep stabilizers directly. Electromagnetic energy passes through skin and fat and triggers supramaximal contractions, meaning contractions stronger than you can produce voluntarily, roughly 20,000 of them in a 30-minute session. There is no weight on the spine, no floor work and no compensation from stronger surface muscles. That makes it useful early in a recovery plan, when back pain or a sports injury still limits what you can do in a gym, and it supports the corrections made in your adjustments.
What Is Emsculpt Neo?
The Science of HIFEM Plus RF
Emsculpt Neo is a non-invasive BTL device that reduces fat and builds muscle at once. It is FDA cleared for strengthening and toning the abdomen, buttocks, thighs, calves and arms, and for temporary relief of muscle pain and spasm.
Both energies run through one applicator. Radiofrequency warms the muscle to a training temperature and raises fat cells to the point of apoptosis, while HIFEM+ drives about 20,000 supramaximal contractions. Published trials are small and short: average abdominal results at three months were roughly a quarter more muscle and about a third less fat, and individual results vary widely. See our article on whether Emsculpt Neo really works.
Emsculpt Neo Treatment Areas
Cosmetic and Functional Targets
Abdomen
Reduces fat over the belly while thickening the abdominal wall
Deep Core Weakness
Trains the transverse abdominis and multifidus that brace the spine
Buttocks
Builds and lifts the glutes without implants or heavy squatting
Post-Injury Deconditioning
Rebuilds muscle lost during bracing, surgery or months of guarding
Arms
Tones biceps and triceps for definition and carrying strength
Thighs and Calves
Strengthens and shapes the legs that absorb load when you walk
Benefits of Emsculpt Neo
Fat Down, Muscle Up
- 01
Fat and Muscle Together
One 30-minute session works on both, unlike fat-only devices
- 02
No Surgery or Downtime
Drive yourself home and return to work the same afternoon
- 03
Reaches Deep Stabilizers
Trains core muscles that crunches and planks rarely recruit
- 04
No Load on the Spine
Useful while a disc or joint injury still limits gym work
- 05
Supports Your Adjustments
Stronger muscle helps a spinal correction hold between visits
- 06
Measured Progress
Dr. Bergtold rechecks strength and tolerance as sessions build
Emsculpt Neo vs. Alternatives
Who Is a Good Candidate for Emsculpt Neo?
Cosmetic and Functional Goals
Ideal Candidates for Emsculpt Neo
- Adults close to their goal weight with stubborn fat over the abdomen or flanks
- Patients whose deep core has deconditioned after injury, surgery, pregnancy or prolonged sitting
- Anyone with lingering back pain whose exam shows weak spinal stabilizers
- Active adults returning from sports injuries who cannot yet load the spine in a gym
- Patients already receiving adjustments or spinal decompression who want the correction to hold
- People with realistic expectations who will keep training and eating well afterward
Who Should Wait or Avoid Emsculpt Neo
- Anyone with a cardiac pacemaker, implanted defibrillator, neurostimulator or drug pump
- Metal implants, plates, screws or a copper intrauterine device in or near the treatment area
- Pregnancy, and the postpartum window until your physician clears exercise
- An untreated hernia in the treatment area, active malignancy, fever or a bleeding disorder
- Epilepsy, significant heart rhythm disorders, or pulmonary insufficiency
What Happens During Emsculpt Neo Treatment
Step-by-Step Process
- 01
Assessment
Dr. Bergtold examines your core, reviews your history and confirms there are no implant or health contraindications.
- 02
Baseline
Measurements and photos are taken so change is tracked against numbers, not impressions.
- 03
Setup
Daniela positions the applicator over the target area and secures it with a belt while you lie fully clothed.
- 04
Session
Intensity climbs gradually across 30 minutes as warmth builds and the muscle contracts and releases.
- 05
Aftercare
You leave without downtime, and soreness like a hard workout settles within a day or two.
- 06
Recheck
Dr. Bergtold reviews tolerance and strength between visits and adjusts the intensity or the area treated.
Risks and Side Effects
What to Know
Common Emsculpt Neo Side Effects
The usual reports are muscle soreness in the treated area for one to two days, similar to the day after an intense workout, along with temporary redness or warmth of the skin. Some patients feel mild muscle twitching or spasm during the session, and intensity is lowered when that happens. These effects typically resolve without treatment.
Rare Complications
Skin burns are rare and are associated with metal on or in the treatment area, which is why jewelry and piercings are removed and implants are screened before the first session. Temporary joint or tendon pain can follow if intensity is raised too quickly, and a small number of patients report short-lived nausea or lightheadedness. Report any pain that outlasts a few days.
Safety and FDA Status
Emsculpt Neo is regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a cleared medical device for muscle strengthening, toning and firming and for temporary relief of muscle pain and spasm. Screening for implants, pregnancy and cardiac conditions is the step that keeps it safe, and Dr. Bergtold performs it in person.
Real Results
Most patients finish four sessions over two to four weeks and notice firmer muscle tone in the treated area first, usually two to four weeks after the final visit. Fat change and the fuller strength gain typically show around the three-month mark. Results vary with starting body composition, activity and diet, and no specific outcome is guaranteed.
Emsculpt Neo Cost in Naples
Pricing and Payment Options
How Much Does Emsculpt Neo Cost in Naples?
Cost depends on how many areas you want treated, how many sessions your goal calls for, and whether Emsculpt Neo is used on its own or built into a wider care plan with adjustments and other therapies. A standard course is four sessions per area, so we quote a plan rather than a per-visit fee. Call (239) 593-6788 and our team will give you a clear number before anything is scheduled.
Insurance and Coverage
Body contouring is a cosmetic service, and health plans do not cover it. We accept Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Medicare, Medicare Advantage, UnitedHealthcare and Cigna for the chiropractic care many patients receive alongside it, and Marnie at the front desk will separate what your plan covers from what is out of pocket before you commit.
Flexible Payment Options
- CareCredit - healthcare financing with monthly payment plans, applied for online or at the front desk
- Written treatment plans - sessions quoted as one plan so the total is known before your first visit
If your goal is functional rather than cosmetic, ask about combining sessions with the care you already receive at our wellness practice, since a shorter Emsculpt Neo course is often enough when strength is the target.
Why Choose Bergtold Chiropractic for Emsculpt Neo in Naples
Naples Trusted Provider
Clinical Setting
Delivered in a chiropractic office with on-site X-ray diagnostics
More Than Two Decades of Care
More than 5,000 patients treated across 25+ years of practice
Function First
Protocols built around your core strength, not a stock package
Care Under One Roof
Adjustments, decompression, laser and Emsculpt Neo in one clinic
Rated 5.0 by Patients
A 5.0 Google rating from more than 200 Naples patient reviews
Bilingual Team
English and Spanish spoken, with unhurried visits from start to finish
Related Treatments
Treatments that pair well with Emsculpt Neo in Naples.
Frequently Asked Questions About Emsculpt Neo
Your Questions Answered
How much does Emsculpt Neo cost in Naples?
Cost is quoted as a plan, because a standard course runs four sessions per treated area. The number of areas, your goal and whether the sessions sit inside a wider care plan all change the total. Call (239) 593-6788 and our team will give you a clear figure and explain CareCredit financing before anything is booked.
Does Emsculpt Neo hurt?
No, though the sensation is strong. You feel deep warmth as the radiofrequency builds, then intense muscle contractions that pull and release, closer to a demanding workout than to pain. Intensity is raised gradually and you can ask for it to be lowered at any point. Most patients talk with us through the session.
How long does an Emsculpt Neo session take?
Thirty minutes per treated area. You stay clothed, lie down while the applicator is belted in place, and there is nothing to prepare beforehand and no recovery afterward. Most patients are in and out inside 45 minutes, and many book sessions around work because they can drive themselves home.
When will I see results from Emsculpt Neo?
Firmer muscle tone is usually noticed two to four weeks after the final session, with fuller change around three months as the body clears treated fat cells and the muscle adapts. Studies of high-intensity electromagnetic treatment with radiofrequency measure peak change at about the three-month point.
How many Emsculpt Neo sessions do I need?
Four sessions per area, spaced about a week apart, is the standard course. Patients treating a deconditioned core sometimes need fewer, since the goal is restoring function rather than reshaping. Many people return for a single maintenance session every three to six months to hold what they built.
What is the difference between Emsculpt Neo and CoolSculpting?
CoolSculpting cools fat cells and reduces fat only. Emsculpt Neo heats the area with radiofrequency while contracting the muscle underneath, so it addresses fat and muscle in the same session. If your goal is purely a pinchable fat pocket, either can help. If you want strength or a firmer shape, Emsculpt Neo is the closer fit.
Can men get Emsculpt Neo?
Yes, and roughly half of Emsculpt Neo patients nationally are men. The abdomen, flanks and arms are the areas men request most, often alongside a functional goal such as rebuilding core strength after a back injury. The protocol is the same, with intensity set by tolerance rather than by gender.
Can Emsculpt Neo help my back pain?
It can support the muscles that stabilize the spine, which is the reason we offer it. Research links weakness in the deep spinal stabilizers to persistent low back pain, and core strengthening is a recognized part of non-surgical care. Emsculpt Neo is not a treatment for a disc or joint problem itself, so Dr. Bergtold examines you first.
Is Emsculpt Neo a replacement for exercise?
No. It builds muscle that voluntary training struggles to reach, particularly the deep stabilizers, but it does not replace movement, cardiovascular fitness or a sensible diet. Patients who keep training and eating well hold their results far longer. We treat it as a way into exercise for people whose pain has kept them out of the gym.
How does Emsculpt Neo compare with Emsella pelvic floor therapy?
Both use focused electromagnetic energy to contract muscle, in different places. Emsculpt Neo treats the abdomen, buttocks, arms and legs through an applicator. Emsella pelvic floor therapy treats the pelvic floor through a seat, for incontinence and pelvic support. Some patients do both, since the core and the pelvic floor work together.
Who cannot have Emsculpt Neo?
Anyone with a pacemaker, implanted defibrillator, neurostimulator, drug pump or metal implant in the treatment area cannot be treated, and neither can patients who are pregnant. Active cancer, an untreated hernia in the area, bleeding disorders, epilepsy and significant heart conditions also rule it out. We screen every patient before the first session.
Where can I find body contouring near me in Southwest Florida?
Our clinic is at 5385 Park Central Court, Suite 1 in Naples, convenient for patients across Bonita Springs, Estero, Marco Island, Golden Gate and North Naples. Dr. Bergtold assesses whether Emsculpt Neo fits your goal before any package is discussed. Contact our Naples clinic to arrange an assessment.
Schedule Your Consultation
References
- Kohan et al., Aesthetic Plast Surg. (2024). High-Intensity Focused Electromagnetic (HIFEM) Energy With and Without Radiofrequency for Noninvasive Body Contouring: A Systematic Review. PMID: 37957393.
- Kent et al., J Cosmet Dermatol. (2023). Retrospective analysis of high-intensity focused electromagnetic procedure synchronized with radiofrequency energy for visceral fat reduction. PMID: 37154787.
- DiBernardo et al., Aesthet Surg J Open Forum. (2023). High-Intensity Focused Electromagnetic Field With Synchronized Radiofrequency Achieves Superior Gluteal Muscle Contouring Than High-Intensity Focused Electromagnetic Field Procedure Alone. PMID: 36654971.
- Abd-Elsayed et al., Pain Pract. (2025). Lumbar Multifidus Dysfunction and Chronic Low Back Pain: Overview, Therapies, and an Update on the Evidence. PMID: 40361257.
- Kim et al., Tohoku J Exp Med. (2020). Core Stability and Hip Exercises Improve Physical Function and Activity in Patients with Non-Specific Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial. PMID: 32669487.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2024). Devices of this class are cleared as medical devices for muscle strengthening, toning and firming and for temporary relief of muscle pain and spasm.