Four. A course is four sessions, once or twice a week, over two to four weeks, about 20 minutes per area, which is the course BTL describes and the one the published studies used. The result builds over the three months after the fourth session, when we take the after photograph, and in our experience a single top-up session every three to six months keeps it. One session is not a course: BTL says some patients notice a change after the first, but the published results come from four, and that is our protocol.
Why four, close together
Each session warms the skin to 40 to 45°C and works it with pressure pulses, and in BTL's account the skin answers by building collagen and elastin. The studies gave four sessions close together: in the 2018 study of 30 women, four weekly sessions on the thighs and buttocks reduced cellulite in 93% at three months; in the 2023 study of 30 patients (28 completed), four sessions over two to four weeks lowered the severity score from 9.1 to 4.9 at six months.
The course, step by step
| Feature | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Sessions | 4 |
| Spacing | Once or twice a week, over 2 to 4 weeks |
| Session length | About 20 minutes per area; the studies ran 10 to 25 minutes |
| During a session | Heat like a hot stone massage with strong vibration; the clinician keeps the skin at 40 to 45°C |
| After a session | Pink and warm for a short while; no downtime |
| First change | In our experience, smoother skin after the second or third session |
| Main result | 3 months after the course, when we take the after photograph |
| Holds | Several months in our experience, fading gradually |
| Top-up | In our experience, a single session every 3 to 6 months |
Two areas, or both thighs
Each area takes about 20 minutes, and in our experience a full thigh treatment, front and back, takes 45 minutes to an hour, longer with the buttocks added; the course is still four visits. What counts as one area, and whether both thighs are one or two, is on your written quote from the free consultation.
More than four
Some people treat two areas, or add a further course after three months where the clinician and you agree the skin can improve further. We do not sell that in advance; it is decided at the three-month review. The how long results last page covers the review and the top-up, and the full EMtone guide the whole treatment.
Book a free consultation
Call EMtone Clinic on 0207 099 9641 or use the form below. The clinician confirms the course for your skin and sets out the dates and the price in writing.
