Spa facilities provide many services to rejuvenate the mind and body, from massages to various forms of beauty enhancement. One popular spa treatment, the body wrap, promises to improve skin while shedding unwanted pounds and shaving inches from problem areas like the stomach, hips and thighs. Several companies even produce body wrap kits for home use, providing the same spa benefits at a fraction of the cost.
Features
When undergoing a spa body wrap, you typically have your legs, torso, arms and neck wrapped with elastic cloth. The wraps may be dry or wet. Many wraps are pre-soaked with a special mixture of natural herbs and minerals designed to detoxify the body. Common wrap ingredients include seaweed, sea clays, tea tree oil, peppermint oil, spearmint oil, olive oil and aloe. The wraps should be snug but not too tight. Once the wraps are in place, you simply lie back and relax for the next 60 to 90 minutes. The wraps are then removed, taking with them all absorbed toxins and moisture.
Function
Body wraps trigger weight loss through the reduction of excess water weight. Whether treated with an herbal mixture or not, the wraps promote sweating and stimulate the metabolism. The water lost is mostly unnecessary interstitial fluid, which is the fluid found between body tissue. As this fluid leaves the body, it takes with it toxins, chemicals and other unwanted waste.
Benefits
Body wraps sweat off excess water weight, resulting in immediate weight loss and the appearance of a more toned physique. Users often report their skin feels tighter and more toned after treatment, which could once again be attributed to excess moisture being removed from body tissue.
Considerations
Spa body wrap treatments tend to be expensive, with one 60-minute session usually costing between $100 and $300, as of 2011. While body wraps will produce immediate weight loss and a noticeable reduction in body measurements, the changes are due almost entirely to eliminating excess body fluid. Body wraps won't produce any long lasting weight loss. To sustain the beneficial results, you'll have to undergo regular body wrap treatments, which could prove extremely costly. Also, there's always the risk treated body wraps may contain ingredients that irritate your skin, leading to possible allergic reactions. It's wise to test the treatment mixture on a small patch of skin first.
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