EMSella changes usually build gradually rather than after one visit. Many people notice a difference partway through a typical course of six 28-minute sessions, twice a week, and improvement may keep developing for several weeks afterwards. How long changes last varies by person, and maintenance sessions may be discussed at review.
What is the EMSella chair and how does it work?
The mechanism is straightforward. The chair sends focused electromagnetic pulses through clothing to the pelvic floor area — nothing touches the skin and nothing is inserted. Those pulses make the pelvic floor muscles contract thousands of times in one session, more strongly than most people can manage with voluntary Kegel exercises. Repeated stimulation is intended to support neuromuscular control and to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, and any change builds gradually over a course of sessions rather than after a single visit.
A typical plan is a series of 28-minute seated sessions, commonly 6 sessions twice a week for 3 weeks. There is no undressing, no gels and no probes, and no recovery time is needed afterwards. Because suitability depends on individual history — including factors such as implants or a copper IUD — a physician assessment is the starting point. More detail on the treatment itself is available on the EMSella page, and results vary from person to person.
Does the EMSella chair actually work, and what does it aim to change?
The aim is stronger pelvic floor muscles and better neuromuscular control, and response varies from person to person.
Emsella is a non-invasive chair that uses HIFEM® energy to stimulate the pelvic floor muscles. The energy passes through clothing and makes the muscles contract thousands of times in one session, more strongly than most people can manage with voluntary Kegel exercises. Nothing touches the skin and nothing is inserted.
What the treatment is intended to change:
- Muscle strength and control: repeated contractions are intended to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles and improve how well they can be engaged.
- Re-education: the repeated stimulation is intended to support neuromuscular control of the pelvic floor muscles.
- Gradual change: any change builds over a course of sessions rather than after one visit. A typical course is 6 sessions, twice a week for 3 weeks.
It is also worth being clear about what Emsella is not. It is not a single-visit fix, and it does not replace an assessment of your symptoms. At Skin Art MD, a physician-led skin clinic in Burnaby (Metrotown), a physician assessment decides whether Emsella suits you. Individual results vary, and a physician can discuss what is realistic for your situation.
When do EMSella results tend to appear?
Change generally builds over a course of sessions rather than after a single visit. EMSella uses HIFEM energy to make the pelvic floor muscles contract thousands of times in one session, more strongly than most people can manage with voluntary Kegel exercises, and the aim is stronger pelvic floor muscles and better control. Because that is a training effect rather than an immediate fix, the response is gradual.
A typical course is 6 sessions, twice a week for 3 weeks. Many people notice a change partway through the course, and improvement may keep building for several weeks afterwards. Individual results vary, and a physician assessment at Skin Art MD in Burnaby (Metrotown) decides whether EMSella suits you.
A few practical points shape the timeline:
- Each session lasts 28 minutes, and you stay fully clothed, with no probes or gels.
- There is no downtime, so sessions fit around a normal day.
- Progress is reviewed with the physician after the course, including whether maintenance sessions make sense.
Anyone expecting immediate results is usually not well suited to this approach, since the intended change is cumulative. Questions about how a plan would be scheduled can be raised at consultation, where pricing is personalized.
How long do EMSella results last?
Duration differs between people, so progress is reviewed with the physician after a course to decide whether maintenance sessions make sense.
There is no fixed expiry date on EMSella results. HIFEM energy passes through clothing and makes the pelvic floor muscles contract thousands of times in one session, more strongly than most people can manage with voluntary Kegel exercises. The aim is stronger pelvic floor muscles and better control, and any change builds over a course of sessions rather than after one visit. A typical course is 6 sessions, twice a week for 3 weeks, and improvement may keep building for several weeks afterwards. Because response varies from person to person, how long that change holds also varies.
After your course, your progress is reviewed with the physician, including whether maintenance sessions make sense for you. Follow-up sessions are planned as your physician recommends, and a typical protocol is 6 sessions, twice weekly. Some people return for periodic maintenance; others do not need it. A physician assessment at Skin Art MD in Burnaby (Metrotown) decides suitability and the plan that fits your situation.
What happens during an EMSella visit, step by step?
A typical course is six sessions of 28 minutes, twice a week for three weeks, with little preparation and no recovery time.
Preparation is minimal. Comfortable clothing — light workout pants or loose trousers — is practical, and clothing with metal near the pelvis, such as jeans with rivets or large belt buckles, is best left at home. Before the first session, the clinic needs to know about any implants, a pacemaker, a copper IUD, pregnancy or a current infection, so the physician can confirm whether EMSella is appropriate. Sessions can usually go ahead during a period, though cramps may feel stronger.
During a session, the process is simple:
- Sit on the BTL Emsella chair fully clothed, with no probes or gels.
- HIFEM energy passes through clothing and causes strong, rhythmic pelvic floor contractions, felt as tingling and tightening; intensity can be adjusted.
- The session lasts 28 minutes, and reading, relaxing or using a phone is fine.
Afterwards, there is no downtime. Mild pelvic muscle soreness or tiredness, similar to after a workout, may occur and usually settles within 24 to 48 hours. A physician assessment at Skin Art MD in Burnaby (Metrotown) decides suitability, and progress is reviewed with the physician after the course.
Does EMSella work for incontinence and other pelvic floor concerns?
EMSella is generally discussed for adults with pelvic floor weakness, including leakage symptoms, and a physician assessment decides suitability. The chair uses HIFEM® energy to make the pelvic floor muscles contract strongly while you sit fully clothed, with no probes or gels. The aim is to strengthen the pelvic floor and support better neuromuscular control, and response varies from person to person.
It is often discussed in a few broad situations:
- Women with stress urinary incontinence symptoms
- Post-partum pelvic floor weakness after pregnancy and childbirth
- Urinary leakage linked to ageing and hormonal change, including around menopause
- Men recovering from prostate surgery, once their surgeon or physician agrees
- General pelvic floor weakness, or preventative pelvic health care before symptoms progress
Emsella is not positioned as a treatment for every pelvic concern. A pacemaker or other electronic implant, metal implants in the pelvic or hip area, or a copper IUD all need to be raised first so the physician can check whether the chair is appropriate. Anyone expecting immediate change is also a poor fit, since change builds over a course of sessions rather than after one visit.
At Skin Art MD, a physician-led clinic in Burnaby (Metrotown), a physician assessment decides suitability, and the medical director is Dr. Charles Jiang, a licensed physician in British Columbia.
Who may not be suitable for EMSella?
Some implants and circumstances need to be checked before treatment, and anyone expecting immediate results should reconsider. EMSella is generally discussed for adults with pelvic floor weakness, but a physician assessment at Skin Art MD in Burnaby decides suitability — the clinic is physician-led, and medical director Dr. Charles Jiang is a licensed physician in British Columbia.
The pre-treatment check matters most for people with:
- A pacemaker, defibrillator or other electronic implant
- Metal implants in the pelvic or hip area
- A copper IUD — mention it first so the physician can check
- Pregnancy or a current infection
- Clothing with metal near the pelvis, such as jeans with rivets or large belt buckles
The last point on the list is about expectations rather than safety. HIFEM energy makes the pelvic floor muscles contract during a 28-minute seated session, and any change builds over a course of sessions rather than after one visit. A typical course is 6 sessions, twice a week for 3 weeks, and response varies from person to person.
If any of the above applies, it is worth raising it before your first session so the physician can advise whether EMSella is appropriate for you.
What affects how much change someone notices?
Individual response varies with baseline pelvic floor strength, symptoms and consistency with the planned course. Because Emsella works by stimulating the pelvic floor muscles through HIFEM energy, the starting point matters: someone with more marked weakness may have further to travel before a change becomes noticeable, while someone with milder symptoms may register a difference sooner. The nature of the concern plays a role too, since pelvic floor weakness can show up as leakage, reduced control or a general sense of weakness, and each may respond on its own timeline.
Consistency is the other major factor. A typical course is 6 sessions, twice a week for 3 weeks, and follow-up sessions are planned as the physician recommends. HIFEM energy makes the pelvic floor muscles contract thousands of times in one session, more strongly than most people can manage with voluntary Kegel exercises, and the aim is stronger pelvic floor muscles with better control. That change builds over a course of sessions rather than after one visit, and improvement may keep developing for several weeks afterwards.
A physician assessment at Skin Art MD in Burnaby, BC, decides suitability and helps set realistic expectations based on individual symptoms and history.
Frequently asked questions
How does the Emsella chair work?
Emsella uses HIFEM energy to make the pelvic floor muscles contract during a 28-minute seated session. You stay fully clothed, with no probes or gels, and the repeated contractions are intended to strengthen the pelvic floor and support control.
Does the Emsella chair work?
Emsella is designed to stimulate strong pelvic floor contractions that most people cannot achieve with voluntary Kegels. Response varies by person, and a physician assessment at Skin Art MD in Burnaby decides whether it suits you.
How long does Emsella last?
A typical course is 6 sessions, twice a week for 3 weeks, and many people notice a change partway through the course while improvement may keep building for several weeks afterwards. How long any change lasts varies by person, and your physician reviews whether maintenance sessions make sense for you.
Does Emsella work for incontinence?
Emsella is generally discussed for adults with pelvic floor weakness, including stress urinary incontinence symptoms. A physician assessment decides suitability, and individual results vary.
How many Emsella sessions will I need?
A typical course is 6 sessions of 28 minutes, twice a week for 3 weeks. After your course, your progress is reviewed with the physician, who may recommend follow-up sessions.
What happens during an Emsella visit and is there any downtime?
You simply sit on the chair fully clothed while it emits HIFEM energy, causing strong rhythmic contractions, and the intensity can be adjusted. Most people return to normal activities right away, though some feel mild pelvic muscle soreness or tiredness that usually settles within 24 to 48 hours.
How much does Emsella cost?
Pricing is personalized at consultation, so the team can review your assessment and plan with you. No figure is quoted here because cost depends on the plan your physician recommends.
Next steps
If you are weighing EMSella, a physician-led assessment at Skin Art MD in Burnaby can clarify whether it suits you. Book a consultation — available in English and Chinese. You can also read more on the EMSella treatment page.
This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult with a qualified healthcare professional before undergoing any treatment.
