Body wraps are all the rage these days. You may have even seen TV commercial billboards touting the miraculous slimming benefits of these treatments. Women arrive at the spa in the morning and leave an hour later, suddenly three sizes smaller and completely cellulite free!

What is a body wrap?

A body wrap, also known as a “body cocoon” or “body mask,” is a non-surgical spa or home treatment designed to improve the health and appearance of skin and/or reduce body measurements. . A nourishing oil or mineral-rich formula is applied to the spa guest’s limbs and torso before they are wrapped in cotton, maylar bandages, or plastic wrap. This promotes the extraction of dirt, toxins and excess water from the skin.

While most wraps are done on the entire body (minus the face and genital area), some, like cellulite and bust wraps, are applied only to certain areas.

For a varied body wrap, you lie on a massage table and rub down with a scrub, in whatever variety you’ve chosen from the menu (most spas offer a few options). After you rinse off in the shower, the therapist applies the wrap ingredients (perhaps seaweed, mud, clay, or an herbal or fruit product) to your body, covering it with a layer of plastic wrap. When you’re fully bundled up, you may be further covered with sheets, towels, and thermal blankets. And then you will be left alone to relax and sweat for about 30 minutes to an hour.

So those are the facts, but the unfolding point is where the fantasy (and the ads) start to separate from reality. Spas want you to believe that you will emerge from your wrap like a cocoon: a fully relaxed butterfly, hydrated, detoxified, cellulite-free, and noticeably slimmer. But, if you’re familiar with the phrase ‘too good to be true’, and we think you are, you probably won’t be surprised to learn that the results probably won’t be all that dramatic. Experts especially warn against expecting medical results for conditions like arthritis.

As long as you don’t expect to permanently lose 10 pounds and 3 inches from your waist, body wraps have some benefits. No one will argue that it feels very comfortable to be wrapped up and relaxed in a dimly lit room for a half hour or so. Chances are your skin will feel soft and supple after being slathered with moisturizers. And you could lose some water weight and see an improvement in your cellulite, but be prepared for the results to subside after a couple of days.

So, without further ado, here are five benefits of body wraps. Just be sure to take any spa claims with a grain of (sea) salt.

What health and beauty benefits does a body wrap treatment provide?

The pampering experience of a body wrap can provide multiple benefits, depending on the type chosen:

• Detoxification: body wraps with detoxifying algae; algae, mud or clay can help remove toxins from the body through metabolic stimulation of skin cells. As your largest organ, epidermal detoxification can have a significant effect on your overall health and well-being.
• Temporary inch and/or weight loss – Wraps with detoxifying ingredients combined with tightly rolled bandages will help remove excess water and toxins, as well as tighten the skin. This can temporarily improve your body contours and cause you to lose a dress size or two.
• Dead Skin Removal – Wrap treatments that include an exfoliation stage will remove dead skin cells, giving you a smoother complexion from head to toe and a flattering glow. You may choose to enjoy a body polish prior to your wrap if exfoliation is not included as part of your treatment.
• Intensive Miniaturization: The vast majority of wraps are made up of moisturizing ingredients to hydrate, nourish and soften the skin to improve its condition.
• Relaxation – Once your esthetician wraps you completely, you can relax for up to 30 minutes. This will provide you with valuable and real mental physical downtime.
• Removes dead skin and moisturizes: Dead skin is something nobody wants to keep, it makes your skin look dull and prevents your body from absorbing moisture. As you sweat during most types of body wraps, not only are toxins removed from the body, but dead skin is also loosened.
• Improves skin elasticity and regeneration: Over time, your skin loses its ability to stretch and return to normal. This causes stretch marks and wrinkles, but depending on the type of body wrap, many anti-cellulite wraps contain antioxidants, essential fatty acids, and vitamin A, all of which can help rebuild skin’s elasticity. It also makes your skin more supple by increasing blood flow to the surface, regenerates damaged skin cells, produces collagen to firm and tone skin, and reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.
• Reduces cellulite and helps tone the skin – Body wraps can help shape the skin to make it softer and smoother by directly diffusing vitamins and minerals. Also, if cellulite is a problem, a seaweed wrap can help reduce unwanted marks left on the skin.
• Increased Metabolism – During the time of wrapping, increased perspiration (which can be energy intensive) and circulation, a sign that metabolism has increased, resulting in loss of inches, excess water from cells fats and the release of excess toxins.
• Anti-aging: smooth, hydrated and detoxified skin is the result of an anti-cellulite body wrap. Toxin-free skin reveals softer, smoother, more radiant and youthful looking skin.