This is me, Catherine. I’m the owner-operator of Body Works Med Spa & Wellness.
Once a product or treatment becomes popular in the medical aesthetics industry, it’s common for a lot of knock-off products and treatments to hit the market. That’s why I recently discovered that a clinic in Halifax is offering knock-off “Emsculpt” treatments. In this article, I’ll give more context to this situation, explain why you should avoid knock-offs in most cases, and explain how to know the difference between knock-offs and the real thing.
Discovering A New Med Spa
On a recent Saturday morning, I was scrolling through social media when I came across content for a new med spa in Halifax. It was of particular interest to me because it appeared that the med spa was offering Emsculpt Classic treatments. As a provider of the most up-to-date Emsculpt technology, Emsculpt Neo, I was surprised that I was only finding out about the new provider at this time. No matter. In my mind, it’s generally a good thing when other providers of Emsculpt technology pop up because it means the brand is gaining momentum and more people will learn about it and want it.
The Difference Between Emsculpt & Emsculpt Neo
As a side note, you may be wondering about the difference between Emsculpt and Emsculpt Neo. Both are manufactured by BTL Aesthetics. Emsculpt was the device that originally launched muscle-building capability within the body contouring industry, while Emsculpt Neo is the newest version of the device that simultaneously builds muscle and reduces fat. I thought it was a bit strange that a new med spa would invest in the older technology, Emsculpt Classic, rather than the newest one, Emsculpt Neo, but that’s not unheard of.
It Turns Out To Be A Knock-Off Emsculpt
Pretty quickly, I realized there was something weird about the apparent Emsculpt device that I saw in the new med spa’s social media video. First of all, it sounded different. Emsculpt technology makes a distinct noise and the device in the video didn’t sound right. Second, it looked different. It looked quite similar to a regular Emsculpt device, but the design of the applicator was slightly different. When I zoomed in to look at the brand name on the applicator, it didn’t say Emsculpt at all. It said Emszero.
This is the real Emsculpt Classic device. You can see the touch screen and clear Emsculpt branding on the device. You can also see that the applicators are light grey with light blue on the handles.
At this point I knew it was a knock-off device. As long as people know that they’re buying a knock-off treatment, it’s not the worst thing. But it took another minute or so for me to realize the full extent of what this new med spa was doing…
They Were Selling Emszero As Emsculpt!
After looking at more of the new med spa’s marketing, it hit me… They’re not just offering knock-off treatments. They’re offering knock-off treatments and pretending that they’re real Emsculpt treatments.
I even reached out to BTL Aesthetics just to make sure that I wasn’t going crazy. They confirmed that they had not sold an Emsculpt device to this med spa and that the med spa appeared to be using Emszero, which is a cheap made-in-China knock-off of Emsculpt.
Three Reasons Why This Is Wrong
What’s going on here is wrong for several reasons. First, the new med spa was engaging in illegal activity by using the Emsculpt trademark for their Emszero device. They were using the word Emsculpt all over their Instagram and website. In fact, they were also using an image from BTL Aesthetics that showed the real Emsculpt device, branding, and other assets. They would have stollen the image from somewhere on the Internet.
This is the real Emsculpt Neo device. It’s much bigger than Emsculpt Classic and it still has a touch screen on the top and clear branding on the side of the machine. The applicators are darker grey with light blue on the handles.
Second, this situation is wrong because the med spa was being dishonest to consumers by selling Emsculpt but giving Emszero. I noticed that even the woman in their marketing video called the treatment “Emsculpt”. Until I reached out to her, she had no idea that the treatment was actually the cheap knock-off Emszero.
It’s important to note that well-made, medical grade technology goes through vigorous safety testing. In the case of true Emsculpt technology, it is also backed by a substantial amount of research. So when consumers buy Emsculpt or Emsculpt Neo treatments, they know they are also buying consistency with regards to safety and results. This is not the case with knock-offs. Real Emsculpt technology also comes with a lot of training. Knock-offs often don’t come with any training at all!
A third reason why this situation is wrong is that this new med spa is indirectly harming the providers of real Emsculpt technology. The med spa would have bought Emszero for a tiny, tiny fraction of the cost of the real technology. Therefore, they can afford to sell treatments at a comparatively tiny price to undercut the real providers. Meanwhile, consumers who do the knock-off treatment without realizing it and become injured or simply don’t get results will spread the word that Emsculpt technology isn’t worth doing. In turn, this lessens the demand for the real treatments.
If this med spa is willing to engage in illegal activity and lie to consumers about Emsculpt, what else are they being dishonest about?
Change So Far
This is a picture of an Emszero device. There may be other versions/designs out there. You can see that the manufacturer has used the same brand colours and a similar logo to trick people into thinking it’s Emsculpt technology when in reality it’s a cheap knock-off.
After discovering what this med spa was doing, I thought seriously about what to do about it. Afterall, this new med spa is also a small business that is trying to make a go if it. But once I weighed everything in the balance, they way they are doing business is bad for everyone. That’s why I decided to call them out by writing this article.
Now, about one week after discovering the med spa’s scheme, I see that they’ve already changed some of their marketing. They’ve removed the word Emsculpt from their service webpage and updated the image on that page to a generic body contouring image. They are still using the word Emsculpt in other places including all over their Instagram. Hopefully through social pressure or legal action from the trademark owner, they will eliminate the word Emsculpt from their marketing completely.
How To Spot A Knock-Off Emsculpt
The truth is, most people would never know the difference between the real Emsculpt device and a knock-off. The reason I figured it out is because I’m an industry insider. So, how can regular consumers know the difference when they’re considering their treatment options?
I always recommend that people do some research on their treatment of interest before meeting with a provider. Do a free consultation and ask the provider lots of questions. You’ll probably get a sense of whether they know what they’re talking about, or not. And if the price seems too good to be true, it probably is. You can also ask to see the device. When you see it, make sure the brand name on the device is spelled correctly and looks right.
It’s also worth visiting a provider that is known for its experience and results. For example, Body Works Med Spa & Wellness is the most experienced provider of Emsculpt Neo in Atlantic Canada. In other words, we’ve done the greatest number of Emsculpt Neo treatments in our region. We also offer an Emsculpt Neo Results Promise. Basically, if you complete our recommended treatment plan and don’t get visible results, we’ll retreat you for free. That’s how confident we are that we can deliver results.
Book A Free Consultation
If you’re interested in result-generating body contouring treatments that are backed by research, book a free consultation at Body Works today. You can book online, by calling 902-405-0858, or emailing info@bodyworksmedspa.ca. We’ll determine if you’re a good candidate for treatments, show you examples of results that our other clients enjoyed, review pricing, and more.
Thanks for reading, and we look forward to seeing you!
