Cellulite Treatment Forum

Using “untextured” images obtained with a VECTRA three-dimensional camera, a study has found that the SmoothShapes device is effective in reducing the appearance of cellulite.

This finding is important because most past evaluations of various cellulite treatments have relied on traditional flash photography, which can “flatten” the surface texture of the area being treated.

For the study, researchers treated 20 women with mild to moderate cellulite on their lateral thighs. Participants received two SmoothShapes treatments (15 minutes per thigh) each week for 4 weeks. SmoothShapes uses a combination of light and laser energy to liquefy engorged fat cells.

Pre- and post-treatment assessments included the participants’ weight, body mass index, and body fat percentage, as well as the VECTRA images, standard digital photographs, and a patient questionnaire.

For the treatment to have shown improvement, both thighs needed clear improvement in contour as determined by the VECTRA images. Analysis of the VECTRA images found that 82 percent of the participants showed improvement at 1 month, 76 percent at 3 months, and 76 percent at 6 months. Improvement was more difficult to determine using standard digital photographs. The patient questionnaire revealed that 94 percent of the patients believed their cellulite had improved.

The SmoothShapes device provided improvement in surface contour (cellulite) 6 months after the last treatment in the majority of the patients based on patient survey and VECTRA analysis,” the study’s author concluded.

Source: Kulick MI. Evaluation of a noninvasive, dual-wavelength laser-suction and massage device for the regional treatment of cellulite. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2010:125(6):1788-1796.

The information found on this website is not designed to replace the patient/physician relationship.

A new approach to treating cellulite with a bipolar radiofrequency (RF) device can lead to significant improvements in minimizing the dimpled appearance of the treated area, a recent study has found.

The multi-center study, published in Dermatologic Therapy, treated the buttocks of 50 patients with a new bipolar RF technology. The device is set at 6 J/cm3, which changes its frequency between 0.6 and 2.4 MHz according to the impedance of the tissue being treated. Participants underwent 12 weekly sessions (12 minutes on each buttock), with a treatment end point of 42° C external skin temperature.

The skin was evaluated for cellulite changes and tissue condition before and after the first and last treatment session and again at a 2-month follow-up.

The results:  Patient satisfaction was high.

“Almost all patients noted improvement of cellulite and body silhouette at the final session, which slightly decreased at the 2-month assessment,” the study’s authors wrote. “Improved skin appearance was objectively detected.”

The authors suggested that maintenance sessions might result in even better and longer-lasting results.
Source: Van der Lugt C, Romero C, Ancona D, Al-Zarouni M, Perera J, Trelles MA. A multicenter study of cellulite treatment with a variable emission radio frequency system. Dermatol Ther. 2009:22:74-84.

Velashape uses radio-frequency in combination with vacuum to improve cellulite.

The information found on this website is not designed to replace the patient/physician relationship.

Infra-red lasers may be a safe and effective method of treating cellulite, and ultrasound imaging offers an objective and quantitative way of measuring the effectiveness of such treatments, suggests a new study. (note, not ultrasound in collaboration of treatment. See more about ultrasound guided treatments)

Published in the Journal of Cosmetic Laser Therapy, the study used a 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser. Twelve people were treated on either the left or right rear side of their thighs with the following parameters: a fluence of 30 J/cm, an18-millimeter spot size, and a dynamic cooling device pulse duration of 30 milliseconds. Treatments occurred at 3- to 4-week intervals, with follow-up 1 and 3 months after the last treatment.

The results: The laser tightened the skin and improved the appearance of cellulite on the treated thighs. Participants reported no side effects. Furthermore, with high-resolution ultrasound imaging, the study found that the dermis had become significantly denser and less thick.
Source: Bousquet-Rouaud R, Bazan M, Chaintreuil J, Echague AV. High-frequency ultrasound evaluation of cellulite treated with the 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser. J Cosmet Laser Ther. 2009:11:1-11.

The information found on this website is not designed to replace the patient/physician relationship.

A combined treatment of low-level laser therapy and massage is more effective at reducing fat and improving the appearance of cellulite than massage alone, a new study reports.

The study, which appeared in the Journal of Cosmetic Laser Therapy, randomized the thighs of 102 women to either laser treatment (dual wavelength of 65+/-20 nm and 915+/-10 nm) and massage or to massage alone. The 74 women who completed the study received a mean of 14.3 treatments over 4 to 6 weeks. Fat was measured with magnetic resonance imaging scans before and after the final treatment.

The results: The thickness of the fat in the leg treated with laser-massage decreased by a mean of 1.19 square centimeters while the thickness of the fat in the massage-only leg increased by 3.82 square centimeters.  This was a statistically significant difference.

“Among those who completed the study, 82.26% responded to treatment. Individuals reported looser-fitting clothing and satisfaction with the procedures and results,” the authors concluded.

Source: Lach E. Reduction of subcutaneous fat and improvement in cellulite appearance by dual-wavelength, low-level laser energy combined with vacuum and massage. J Cosmet Laser Ther. 2008;10:202-209.

The information found on this website is not designed to replace the patient/physician relationship.

A treatment that uses both laser energy and fat transplantation may be able to significantly improve cellulite, a pilot study has found.

Researchers recruited 52 women, aged 18 to 47, with severe cellulite. None of the women had previously undergone lipoplasty or any other surgical treatment for their cellulite.

For this study, the women were first treated with a 1064-nm Nd:YAG laser, followed immediately with injections of their own fat to fill in depressions in their skin. They also received a massage to distribute the fat evenly. Tissue samples were collected after the treatment from some participants to determine the histologic effects of the laser treatment. Follow-up ranged from 1 to almost 3 years.

The results: The combined treatment resulted in significant clinical improvement in cellulite. Adverse effects were mild and temporary, and patient satisfaction was high. Almost 85% of the participants rated the treatment results as “good” or “excellent.”

“This represents a new treatment option for the ubiquitous cellulite disorder,” concluded the study’s authors. “Although this treatment has shown promising results in this pilot study, further studies are necessary in order to draw final conclusions.”

Source: Goldman A, Gotkin RH, Sarnoff DS, Prati C, Rossato F. Cellulite: a new treatment approach combining subdermal Nd:YAG laser lipolysis and autologous fat transplantation. Aesthet Surg J. 2008;28:656-662.

The information found on this website is not designed to replace the patient/physician relationship.

The journal Clinics in Dermatology offers a thorough review of current research on the safety and effectiveness of Thermage, the nonablative device that employs radiofrequency energy to heat and tighten underlying skin while protecting the epidermis. Thermage is used primarily to treat wrinkles and sagging skin on the face, and more recently for other off-face applications.

The article points out that although no studies have yet been published on the use of Thermage for the treatment of cellulite, several studies on other radiofrequency devices have been published, with promising results.

“Radiofrequency technology provides a viable, noninvasive treatment alternative for mild tissue laxity of the periorbital region, nasolabial folds, jowls, and marionette lines, as well as the possibility of tightening on the abdomen, buttocks and thighs,” the authors conclude.

Source: Sukal SA, Geronemus RG. Thermage: the nonablative radiofrequency for rejuvenation. Clin Dermatol. 2008;26:602-607.

The information found on this website is not designed to replace the patient/physician relationship.

A new study published in the European Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy evaluated the efficacy of a system that combines bipolar radio frequency (RF) and intense infrared light (IR) together with mechanical massage and suction. The study had a small sample (only 10 patients), but all the patients were satisfied with the results.

Here is the method of the study:

Ten patients were enrolled for 12 sessions of 30 minutes each performed over one buttock, the other buttock serving as an untreated control. Sessions were conducted twice a week for a period of 12 weeks. Clinical photography and profilometry were carried out to assess textural changes before (baseline) and 2 months after the final treatment. Histopathology was performed at baseline, 2 hours after the first session, and just before the 12th session and 2 months thereafter.

The results saw improvement in all patients:

All patients noted improvement in the treated buttock before the final session, which was maintained at the 2-month assessment. Improved skin appearance was noticed after the first session and was maintained throughout the study. All patients were satisfied with the results and requested further treatment in order to balance the results in both buttocks. Random histological analyses suggested dermal firmness, fibre compaction and tightening of skin layers, including the subcutis, as possible reasons for the effects achieved. The authors recognize that the small number of participants limits the statistical power of the study.

The authors called for a larger study to be performed to better gauge the efficacy of this treatment, however as time passes we seem to be getting closer to some real treatment options for cellulite.

The information found on this website is not designed to replace the patient/physician relationship.

A new study published in the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology studied whether the presence of cellulite interfered with skin aging. The researchers from the Department of Dermatology at Archet Hospital in Nice, France, looked at 94 healthy females divided into three age groups (21-30yrs; 31-40yrs; 51-60yrs) and two grade groups of cellulite (grade 2; grade 0 or control group).

They inspected the skin non-invasively for its “orange peel appearance” under low-angle light. They then measured the biomechanical properties of the skin (extensibility-retractability-elasticity). The thicknesses of the skin structures were also evaluated using ultrasound.

Their results:

“In grade 2, the shadowed surfaces are significantly different according to age; i.e. smaller and more numerous after age of 30; the total skin thickness including hypodermis is increased of about 30% irrespective to age, compared to control group. The biomechanical properties of the skin are significantly modified as age increases without any grade effect. In grade 2, retractability and elasticity parameters are altered from age 30 whilst only from age 50 in the control group. Echogenicities of the superficial and deep dermis also decrease from age 30 and become significantly lower than the ones of grade 0.”

They went on to conclude that the population with cellulite presents earlier skin ageing characteristics than the control population. This is a significant discovery if it is verified in further studies.

It would be interesting to hear from other researchers and see if anyone else can corroborate these findings.

The information found on this website is not designed to replace the patient/physician relationship.

A new study has been published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology by Drs. Foster, Kouba, Hayes, Freeman and Moy reporting the efficacy of the MedSculpt device for body contouring and cellulite. The study analyzed five patients with 12 treatments per patient. 2 abdomens and 3 pairs of thighs were treated over the course of weeks. No side effects were reported.

At the conclusion of treatment, the reported results were a 4% reduction in thigh circumference and 7.3% supraimbilical circumference reduction. They also reported a mild improvement in skin tone texture and the appearance of cellulite.

The information found on this website is not designed to replace the patient/physician relationship.

Results from a new study by prominent New York Dermatologist Dr. David Goldberg have been published reporting the efficacy of unipolar radiofrequency devices on cellulite. The vast majority of post puberty women have cellulite, and most wish to do something about. Until now very little has proven reliable at treating the problem, though new devices are coming out which show promise.

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Dr. Goldberg, et al, studied a unipolar device on thirty women with upper thigh cellulite and showed some promising results:

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�Thirty subjects, with Nurnberger-Muller Scale III-IV upper thigh cellulite, were entered into the study. All were treated, every other week, with a unipolar radiofrequency device for a total of six treatments. Subjects were evaluated before and 6 months after treatment with clinical photographs, clinical measurements, biopsies, MRIs, and blood lipid evaluations. RESULTS: Twenty-seven subjects showed evidence of clinical improvement. The mean decrease in leg circumference was 2.45 cm. Histologic changes showed dermal fibrosis of the upper dermis. No MRI or lipid abnormalities were noted. CONCLUSION: Upper thigh skin cellulite can be improved with a new unipolar radiofrequency device. Histologic changes suggest skin tightening as the method of improvement. No undesired complications of the skin or lipid metabolism were noted.�

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While further research and larger samples will be needed before we can declare victory over cellulite, it is exciting to see some progress is being made by these prominent scientists.

The information found on this website is not designed to replace the patient/physician relationship.