Some dimples are just NOT that cute.

Cellulite is a common bane for women today, affecting the large majority of females at some point during their lives. While cellulite is not a medical concern, it can be a significant cosmetic embarrassment that keeps you from wearing certain types of clothing or participating in some activities. If cellulite is keeping you from looking and feeling your best, a new non-surgical treatment known as Cellfina may be the treatment for you.

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Cellfina is the only FDA-approved procedure that has been clinically proven to reduce the appearance of cellulite for at least two years without surgery. This procedure can be performed on an outpatient basis, using a topical numbing agent to ensure patient comfort throughout treatment. Cellfina utilizes proprietary technology and a small motorized device to release the connective bands of fibrous tissue that lead to the skin dimpling and cottage cheese appearance that typically characterizes cellulite.

Because the device used to release the bands is so small, there are only pricks made in the skin’s surface. These puncture marks do not require any type of suturing and leave no visible scarring afterward. As the fibrous bands are released, the puckering disappears almost immediately, giving the skin a smoother appearance. Cellfina is performed without the need for anesthesia and most patient can return to their normal activities the day after the procedure.

“Cellfina is a minimally invasive procedure that is used to eliminate the circular dimples we see with cellulite. We don’t know exactly what causes cellulite but we know that it doesn’t matter how much you work out the cellulite is still there and sometimes even appears worse with weight loss. If you have had liposuction in the area being treated we do see reduced effectiveness due to scar tissue. This means the cellulite will be improved but not completely gone and you may require more than one treatment to achieve a result you are satisfied with. We use tumescent lidocaine to numb the area then a micro blade, about the size of an 18gauge needle (similar to the one they use when you donate blood) cuts the fibrous bands that cause cellulite. After the procedure we will have you wear compression garments for two weeks. We do not stitch the tiny holes created by the microblade so the fluid used to numb the area will leak out over the next 24-48 hours. You can shower and clean the area the night of your procedure. Bruising is common in the area. You may slowly resume working out a week after your procedure. Results are seen at three months and continue to improve up to a year. In my darker pigmented patients I recommend formula 13 to be applied to the puncture marks to reduce hyperpigmentation.” – Allie McAllister, FNP-C

The Cellfina Difference

There is good reason why Cellfina has been touted on nearly every network news station, as well as programs like The Doctors, Extra and Good Morning America. The revolutionary procedure has also been highlighted in publications like Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. Cellfina offers superb results in reducing the appearance of cellulite in just one treatment session, with less discomfort or trauma to the skin and surrounding tissue than any other cellulite treatment today.

The proof is in the numbers. One prospective study that involved multiple treatment centers in the U.S. looked at 55 patients that underwent the Cellfina procedure. Two years after their treatment, 98 percent of patients noted improvement in their appearance of cellulite, while 96 percent admitted satisfaction with the procedure at the two-year mark. When results were based on the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS), improvement occurred in 100 percent of patients two years after their procedure.

Explaining Cellulite

Cellulite is characterized by dimpling and a lumpy appearance to the skin. It frequently appears on the thighs, abdomen and buttocks. The condition is caused by a number of factors, including hormonal fluctuations, genetics and the aging process. While weight is not a culprit in the development of cellulite, extra pounds can make the problem more prominent. However, losing the weight will not diminish the dimpled appearance of the skin.

Cellulite forms when the fibrous bands underneath the skin’s surface constrict, allowing small pockets of fat cells in between the bands to push up against the skin. This process leads to the dimpling and bumpy surface that is cellulite. By releasing those bands at the dimpling, skin becomes smoother and the lumpy appearance disappears.

The Cellfina Procedure

The Cellfina procedure takes around 45 minutes to complete in our office, depending on the number of treatment areas to be addressed. Once the numbing cream takes effect, the needle-sized device is inserted directly into the cellulite. Suction pulls the area taut so the fibrous band can be effectively cut and released.

Patients do not feel any discomfort during the procedure. There may be some pinching or pulling at first, but the procedure can be adjusted to minimize these sensations. Typically, the entire buttock and thigh area can be addressed during the 45-minute treatment session, depending on the amount of dimpling in the area.

Cellfina Recovery

Patients are able to return home shortly after their procedure. Compression garments are generally recommended during the first few days after treatment to stimulate healing in the area and enhance the overall results of the procedure. Showers may be taken, although hot baths are discouraged for a number of days. The most common side effects patients might experience include soreness, tenderness and bruising, which will all subside on their own in the days following the procedure.

Results of Cellfina can be seen almost right away. The treated area will look smoother, with a visible reduction in dimpling and other cellulite symptoms. While the device has been approved for results that last two years, many patients may enjoy their results for much longer. Once the fibrous bands are cut, the dimpled appearance will not return to that area.

Cellfina is a revolutionary procedure that is taking Cellulite treatment to the next level and it is now available at Aesthetic Specialty Centre for our Atlanta-area patients. To learn more about this procedure, contact Aesthetic Specialty Centre Plastic Surgery & Dermatology in Roswell at (770) 393-9000 or in Greensboro at (706) 467-6500.