Can cellulite be cured?
Cellulite, that wrinkly dimply skin, plagues many women. It tends to get worse as we age due to poorer skin tone. (lovely, eh? This aging thing isn’t so fun sometimes). A way to fix or improve cellulite has been a kind of holy grail in plastic surgery. We have seen some things in the past help, like ultrasonic and laser liposuction. The thought is the energy in these systems essentially helps form scar under the skin. Scar contracts and tightens. Tighter= not as loose= prettier skin.
Cellulaze is an attachment for smart lipo brand laser liposuction. It has two directions of laser, with one pointed up at the skin. It is said to have a sensor to prevent too much energy to the skin to avoid burns. They have been on a full out media blitz. They have been in print, on TV, on the internet.
Does it work? What do I think?
- The premise makes sense, but is not a big reach from what we are already doing. I use ultrasonic liposuction and can target some of the energy up to the skin to help tighten the skin. The same can be done with existing lasers as well. We have know for years energy to the skin can help cause scar under the skin, which helps to tighten it.
- Cellulite correction won’t work as well if you are doing volume reduction at the same time. (So if you do liposuction to get rid of your outer thigh fat at the same time as you try to reduce your cellulite, the two processes are at odds with each other. Anytime you reduce volume, you loosen your skin.)
- The longevity has not been well documented yet. The FDA approved it, with “the indication should be for short term improvement.” It was approved by the 510(k) route, not the PMA- which means it doesn’t have the same rigors of testing as you may think. I have prior blogs on the subject, and there was an article in the chicago tribune which summarized it well.
- The machine hasn’t been out in broad use for a long time. I think the fine tuning of how to use it, when, and where isn’t well developed. The New York Times published an article which I thought was good, discussing a happy patient and an unhappy one.
- $$$$ Cellulaze has been on an expensive media blitz, they are selling what they call the holy grail of plastic surgery, and the machine is costly. Expect to pay a lot for a small area. I’m not saying it isn’t worth it. I just don’t know yet.