Body wraps are not a permanent solution for weight loss, but they can provide water weight loss almost instantly. This can result in the loss of as much as five to ten pounds. The end result is that clothes fit looser and skin is tighter and firmer. How long the results last depends on the type of body wrap used.
Benefits
Body wraps help skin feel more resilient and firm, thereby resulting in a smoother and more youthful appearance. Additionally, mud and clay wraps to draw out toxins from the body and improve circulation. This detoxification effect can be helpful in kick-starting a weight loss program. Besides body wraps effectively working to remove water weight, they can also help reduce the appearance of cellulite. Wraps that contain the enzyme lipase are often combined with massage treatments to define and sculpt trouble spots.
Technique
Body wrap treatments are often considered a day spa service. At home, do-it-yourself kits are also available, but according to the American Council on Exercise, these treatments fall short on their weight loss promises.
Many spas begin the treatment with an exfoliation process. This may consist of a salt scrub, which prepares the skin for a detoxification. The body mask mixture is then applied and smoothed on or massaged in.
You can use plastic, foil, elastic bandages and other items can be used in the wrapping process. For added effects, an additional covering or warming lights can be used. Depending on the type of body wrap used, the treatment should be left on for 20 to 60 minutes. After that time, you rinse off the body mask and dry the skin. The treatments usually end with an application of oils or lotions to help add moisture to the skin.
Considerations
Being wrapped up for up to an hour can result in some anxiety, especially for anyone that suffers from claustrophobia. Many spa services leave clients alone during periods of the body wrap treatment in order to allow for relaxation. But for a claustrophobic client, this can lead to added feelings of stress.
It's always best to discuss what the treatment will entail before scheduling an appointment. Not all spas include a pretreatment body scrub and massages with body wraps. Some consider each service as a separate treatment.
Types
There are three major types of body wraps: diuretic wraps, thermogenic wraps and anticellulite wraps. Under each of those types, you will find a variety of body masks. Algae/seaweed masks are used to boost metabolism while enhancing the health of skin. Herbal body masks are designed to detoxify the skin. Slimming masks promote the release of excess fluids. Mud masks are designed to increase circulation and help to remove toxins from the skin.
Significance
Body wraps are designed to draw out interstitial fluids that build up in and between cells. These fluids add inches and weight to the body. Diuretic wraps provide impressive results but their effects will only last a day or two. Herbal wraps can result in a reduction of inches on certain parts of the body, and these effects can last up to one month. After that period, the toxins and fluids begin building up again.
Member Comments