Do Body Wraps Really Work?

Body wraps are a very popular spa treatment that helps people to lose unwanted fat, particularly in their midsection. However, it's best to learn about the effectiveness of body wraps before having the procedure done.

Before the body wrap, the client has a body scrub using moisturizing fruit extracts like pear or green apple. The client then takes a shower to rinse off the exfoliating ingredients. To perform a body wrap, a spa technician will use a thermal blanket or plastic sheets to wrap the client in a variety of diuretic and skin-conditioning ingredients like honey, chocolate, clay, eucalyptus or rosemary. The individual is then covered in a blanket while the wrap's ingredients saturates into the pores. The procedure lasts for about 30 minutes, during which time the clients will sweat out impurities. The room where the body wrap takes place is often decorated with scented candles and soothing music to make the experience especially relaxing.

There are four main types of body wraps, including moisturizing wraps which help with skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema, cellulite wraps that include herbal ingredients that smooth the skin, detox wraps, which pull impurities from the body, or slimming wraps, in which smaller sections of the body are wrapped to aid in weight loss.

According to Dr. Elizabeth Tanzi, a dermatologist in Washington, D.C., body wraps aren't effective for detoxing the body. However, the wraps can intensely moisturize the skin, and the clay in the body wraps can help to clear the skin. And, Dr. Sandra Fryhofer states that body wraps can help you lose inches off your waistline. However, the effects are only temporary, so it may be best for clients to have several body wraps done a few times a month for three months or so to see significant results.

If you're thinking of getting a body wrap, talk to your spa attendant about the benefits of the type of wrap you're considering. Taking a look at some before and after pictures at the spa will help you determine if the body wrap is best for you.