You’ve tried lotions, potions and lasers, yet nothing seems to smooth out the dimply appearance caused by cellulite. There’s a new treatment option called the Cellfina™ System that’s receiving media attention for long-term improvement in the appearance of cellulite in the buttocks and thigh areas.
By Grant Stevens, MD and Robert Whitfield, MD
and The Plastic Surgery Channel
Cellulite is caused by connective bands woven throughout the underlying fat that pull the skin down and create dimpling.
“If you have estrogen in your body you’re at risk for cellulite,” says Grant Stevens, MD. Dr. Stevens works in Marina del Rey, California where women love to wear swimsuits, but are often afraid to show off their bodies because of cellulite.
How Does Cellfina Improve the Appearance of Cellulite?
Dr. Stevens meticulously marks the divots on a woman’s buttocks or thighs and then places a suction stabilizer on the area being treated. Cellfina works by pulling the skin into the suction device and then treating the connective bands that pull down on the skin. These connective bands are what creates the dimpling effect on the skin’s surface. Similar to a rubber band under tension, once released, the treated skin bounces back to and smooths itself out.
“This is a non-surgical, FDA approved treatment for cellulite. We watch the cellulite come to the surface and see the fibrous septa released. In fact, we notice the buttocks is smooth right there on the table,” says Stevens.
“This is the first treatment I’ve felt comfortable offering and saying I can treat someone with cellulite and have confidence, because it makes sense,” says Robert Whitfield, MD, a plastic surgeon from Austin, Texas.
Recovery from Cellfina
There is some noticeable bruising and swelling from the treatment, however most women report being able to return to many of their normal activities including work and the gym the following day.
Cellfina reports that more than 90% of patients had no bruising at four weeks following the cellulite procedure. Some patients take over the counter pain medication for about a day to feel more comfortable.
How Long Does the Treatment Last?
“At a year, those people who adopted a healthy lifestyle of watching what they eat and working out, will do better than those folks who are sedentary and don’t follow a reasonable diet,” says Whitfield.
Dr. Stevens points out that “at two years, 96% of patients ranked it as an excellent treatment, making this a long lasting solution to cellulite.” Cellfina reports that at 3 months, 85% of patients were satisfied, and after one year, 94% percent of patients were satisfied.
Both Drs. Whitfield and Stevens say there are lots of treatments that can’t come close to the results they’re noticing from Cellfina treatments. Until now, there has not been a long term solution.