Best fit
Best match for Emsella
Emsella is usually most effective here because it targets pelvic floor weakness directly — the mechanism most often driving leakage with coughing, sneezing, laughing, or exercise.
Wellbeing · Pelvic Floor · BTL Emsella
Pelvic Floor
Strengthening
Without Exercise
A non-invasive treatment that strengthens the pelvic floor using High-Intensity Focused Electromagnetic technology — supporting bladder control, pelvic health, and everyday confidence.
Doctor-led
Session Time
28 min
Downtime
None
Course
6 sessions
From
£720
Needles
None
Will Emsella help your type of leakage?
Emsella is most strongly suited to stress incontinence, can still help some mixed cases, and is usually only supportive for pure urge incontinence.
Can still help
Emsella may still make a meaningful difference when the stress component is strong. If urgency is the dominant problem, improvement may be more limited.
Usually supportive, not primary
For pure urge incontinence, Emsella is usually not the main treatment. It may play a supportive role after first-line approaches such as bladder training, and sometimes medication, have been considered.
One simple question is this: if the leaking with coughing and sneezing improved, but the urgency and frequency stayed the same, would your quality of life still improve? If yes, Emsella may still help meaningfully. If no, the main focus should usually be on treating the overactive bladder side properly — typically with bladder training first, and sometimes medication as well.
How this affects treatment planning
- For stress incontinence, Emsella can be a reasonable early treatment because it targets pelvic floor weakness directly.
- For mixed incontinence, whether it fits early depends on how dominant the stress component is versus urgency.
- When urgency is the dominant symptom rather than stress leakage, pelvic floor strengthening is usually not the main early focus — other approaches tend to come first.
- If symptoms are complex, unclear, or unusually severe, proper assessment should come before choosing treatment.
Emsella is a pelvic floor strengthening treatment. It is not a direct treatment for every bladder symptom, and not every symptom that feels pelvic-floor-related turns out to be driven mainly by pelvic floor weakness.
The Treatment
What Is the
Emsella Chair
The Emsella chair is a non-invasive treatment that strengthens the pelvic floor muscles using High-Intensity Focused Electromagnetic (HIFEM) technology.
During treatment, the device stimulates thousands of deep pelvic floor contractions in a single session — something that cannot be achieved through voluntary exercise alone. The contractions work the pelvic floor muscles far more intensively than Kegel exercises.
The result is a stronger, more responsive pelvic floor — the muscle group that underlies bladder control.
Who commonly considers Emsella
After childbirth
Pelvic floor weakness is a common lasting effect of childbirth. Many women find symptoms persist long after recovery, and do not realise strengthening treatment is an option.
Around or after menopause
Pelvic floor and bladder symptoms often increase around menopause. Leaking when coughing, sneezing, or exercising is common and worth addressing rather than managing around.
Men with pelvic floor symptoms
Emsella is not only for women. Men experiencing bladder control symptoms or pelvic floor weakness can also be suitable candidates, subject to proper assessment.
The Process
Your Emsella Experience
The sensation varies from person to person — some feel it strongly, others describe it as mild. Most patients settle into it within the first few minutes, and the time passes more quickly than expected.
01
Consultation first
Dr Shah reviews your symptoms and pelvic floor history to confirm Emsella is the right fit and explain what to expect from a course.
02
No preparation needed
You arrive fully clothed. No numbing, no special prep, nothing to apply beforehand.
03
Sit in the chair
The Emsella chair looks like a normal seat. You remain fully clothed throughout — nothing invasive, nothing exposing.
04
28 minutes
The device delivers thousands of pelvic floor contractions. One patient described it as sitting on a toy car motor — firm and rhythmic, but manageable. Most people settle into it quickly.
05
Back to your day
No downtime. You can return to work, exercise, or normal activity immediately after the session.
06
Course of 6
Results build across the course. Most patients notice some change around sessions three or four, with continued improvement in the weeks after the final session.
Clinical Evidence
What the research shows
Peer-reviewed studies of HIFEM therapy — the technology behind Emsella — across the outcomes patients ask about most.
Symptom severity reduced
In a multi-centre study of 75 women with stress, urge, or mixed urinary incontinence, a course of six HIFEM sessions reduced ICIQ-SF incontinence severity scores by around 50% after treatment, with further improvement to around 64% at three-month follow-up.
Samuels et al., Lasers in Surgery and Medicine (2019). View study →
Pad use decreased
In the same cohort, the number of absorbent pads used per day fell by around 44% after six sessions and by around 54% at three months. Around 70% of patients using pads at baseline reported using fewer.
Samuels et al., Lasers in Surgery and Medicine (2019). View study →
Systematic review findings
A 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis of seven studies concluded that HIFEM reduced incontinence episodes and ICIQ-UI SF scores significantly versus control, and improved quality-of-life measures — while noting that future higher-quality trials with blinding are still needed.
Leonardo et al., Neurourology and Urodynamics (2025). View review →
Pelvic floor changes
A comparative study using 3D transperineal ultrasound found measurable changes in pelvic floor integrity after a course of HIFEM — including reduced hiatal area — alongside a 52% improvement in Pelvic Floor Disability Index scores.
Silantyeva et al., Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery (2021). View study →
Individual responses to HIFEM therapy vary. The studies cited above involve specific patient groups — typically women with pelvic floor weakness — and outcomes in any individual patient depend on symptom type, baseline pelvic floor function, and other clinical factors. A consultation with Dr Shah can help clarify whether Emsella is likely to be a good fit for your situation.
Clinical Assessment
Why doctor-led
matters here
Pelvic floor symptoms are not all the same condition. Stress leakage, urgency, mixed symptoms, and overactive bladder behave differently and respond to different treatments. Not every bladder symptom is primarily a pelvic floor problem.
A patient with mainly urgency symptoms can easily end up having six chair sessions and still feel disappointed — not because the technology does not work, but because the main issue was never properly identified in the first place.
At Victoria Park Clinic, the consultation comes first. If Emsella is not the right fit for your symptom pattern, we will tell you and explain what is more likely to help.
If you are not sure whether pelvic floor weakness is really the main issue, that is exactly what the consultation is for.
Investment
Treatment Pricing
Emsella is most effective as a course.
Emsella is not a cure-all. For some patients it makes a major difference; for others it reduces symptoms rather than removing them completely. Response depends on symptom type and whether pelvic floor weakness is the main issue.
Initial course
6 Sessions
The standard initial course — 6 sessions over 3 weeks. The recommended starting point for most patients.
£720
6 sessions · £120 per session
- 6 sessions over approximately 3 weeks
- Suitable for most pelvic floor concerns
- Maintenance sessions available thereafter
Extended course
10 Sessions
Initial course of 6 sessions plus 4 maintenance sessions. For patients wanting a longer structured treatment plan.
£950
10 sessions · £95 per session
- 6 core sessions + 4 maintenance sessions
- Better value for longer treatment programmes
- Suitable for patients wanting sustained support
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View Full Pricing
Based in wider London? Read our Emsella London guide
Medically reviewed by Dr Gohar Shah — GMC 6127983
Common Questions
Emsella questions
Answers to the questions patients most commonly ask before starting treatment.
Is Emsella painful?
Emsella is not painful. Most patients describe the sensation as firm and rhythmic rather than uncomfortable — one patient compared it to sitting on a toy car motor. The intensity can be adjusted during the session, and most people settle into it within the first few minutes.
When will I see results?
Most patients who respond start noticing some change around the middle of the course, often by sessions three or four. Improvement usually builds across the full course of six sessions and can continue in the weeks afterwards. Response varies depending on symptom type and baseline pelvic floor function.
Will Emsella work for my type of incontinence?
Emsella is most effective for stress incontinence — leakage with coughing, sneezing, laughing, or exercise. It can still help some mixed incontinence cases when the stress component is significant. For pure urge incontinence, it is usually supportive rather than a primary treatment, as it does not treat the overactive bladder directly.
Is Emsella suitable for men?
Yes. Emsella is not only for women. Men experiencing pelvic floor weakness or bladder control symptoms, including after prostate surgery, can be suitable candidates. Suitability is always confirmed at consultation.
Can I have Emsella while pregnant?
No. Emsella is not suitable during pregnancy. There are also other contraindications — including electronic implants — which are reviewed at consultation to confirm it is safe for you.
Do I need maintenance sessions after the initial course?
Not always. After the initial course of six sessions, some patients stay comfortable for a good period without needing anything further. Others choose occasional maintenance sessions if symptoms begin to return. There is no fixed maintenance schedule that suits everyone — it depends on individual response.
Is there any downtime after Emsella?
No. There is no downtime after Emsella. You can return to work, exercise, or normal activity immediately after each session.
Can I have Emsella during my period?
Emsella is not contraindicated during menstruation, but we recommend avoiding treatment on the first one or two days of your cycle when flow is heaviest. If you are mid-cycle or towards the end of your period, treatment is fine. One important point: nothing internal should be worn during treatment. Tampons and menstrual cups must be removed beforehand — a sanitary pad is fine. It is also worth knowing that Emsella can occasionally cause a period to arrive a little earlier than expected, or trigger light spotting if you are at the tail end of your cycle. This is normal and nothing to be concerned about. If you wear incontinence pads, these can be kept on throughout your session.
Can Emsella help with pelvic organ prolapse?
Yes, and there is growing evidence to support it. For women with a stage one or stage two prolapse, Emsella can be an effective treatment — the high-intensity electromagnetic stimulation helps to strengthen and lift the pelvic floor muscles, which plays a key role in managing prolapse symptoms. For stage three or stage four prolapse, where the muscles are significantly weakened, Emsella may still be beneficial but results are less predictable. Treatment is not contraindicated, but we would have a thorough conversation at consultation to ensure expectations are realistic and that Emsella is the right option for you. If you have been diagnosed with a prolapse and are looking for a non-surgical option, we recommend booking a consultation with Dr Shah to discuss whether Emsella is appropriate for your individual situation.
Can Emsella help with erectile dysfunction?
Emsella was originally developed for female pelvic floor conditions, but a more recent clinical study has demonstrated benefit in male patients, including improvements in erectile function and orgasmic function. This is an emerging indication and we would discuss your suitability in detail at consultation before recommending treatment.
Can I have Emsella if I have a pacemaker or defibrillator?
No. A pacemaker or implanted defibrillator is an absolute contraindication for Emsella — there are no exceptions. This applies not only to the person being treated but to anyone in the room while the device is active. If you are accompanying someone to their appointment and have a pacemaker or defibrillator, please let us know in advance so we can make appropriate arrangements. Unlike an MRI, which uses a slower magnetic pulse, Emsella delivers a very rapid electromagnetic pulse frequency. This is what makes it so effective at contracting muscle — but it also means electronic implants in the field can be affected, which is why the contraindication is absolute.
How soon after giving birth can I have Emsella?
We recommend waiting until after your first period following delivery, which is typically around six weeks postpartum, though this varies between women. This applies regardless of whether you had a vaginal or caesarean delivery. If you are breastfeeding, this is not a contraindication — Emsella does not use heat or any technology that would affect milk production or sensitivity, so treatment is safe to continue alongside breastfeeding.
Can I have Emsella if I have metal implants or surgical hardware?
Whether metal is a contraindication depends primarily on its location relative to the pelvic region rather than its presence alone. Metal in the upper body — such as plates, pins, or surgical hardware in the shoulder, collarbone, arm, or hand — is generally not a concern as it is sufficiently distant from the treatment area. Metal in or close to the pelvic region is contraindicated. This includes hip replacements, which sit too close to the area of electromagnetic focus, and copper contraceptive coils (IUDs), which are located within the uterus itself. If you have a copper coil, please mention this at consultation — it is easy to overlook when thinking about metal implants. Knee replacements are assessed individually, as the relevant distance varies depending on a patient's height and build. This will be evaluated at your consultation with Dr Shah. If you have any metal implants and are unsure whether they affect your suitability, please contact us before booking.
We'll tell you at consultation if Emsella isn't the best fit for your symptoms — and recommend what is.
Book your Emsella consultation
Your treatment starts with a doctor-led consultation to confirm suitability and create a personalised plan.
Questions? Contact us