Do you have dimpled skin that resembles cottage cheese in the buttocks or thigh area? If so, you’re not alone. Millions of Americans of all weights have to deal with this condition (known as cellulite) and wonder what they can do to reduce its appearance. It is possible to reduce the appearance of cellulite by losing weight. However, this cannot address many cases of cellulite and is usually never successful in getting rid of it altogether. If you have cellulite, here is what you need to know about why losing weight cannot eliminate your cellulite and the one FDA cleared treatment that can make a real difference.
What is Cellulite?
Fibrous bands deep within your tissue cause cellulite. These bands create the dimple as they tether / pull the skin down. The fat on either side of the band will get larger or smaller with weight gain and loss, causing the changes in the puckered appearance on the surface of the skin. Cellulite is not caused by weight gain and is mostly determined by genetics. However, many people find that when they gain weight, the appearance of cellulite is more pronounced for the above reasons. In addition to weight loss, many individuals have also tried creams, gels, and ointments to treat their cellulite. Since the issue of cellulite is deep connective tissues, these topical treatments usually have little to no effect.
Why Can’t Weight Loss Treat it?
When weight is gained or lost, it may make a slight difference in how cellulite appears. However, it does not affect the true root cause of cellulite: the connective tissue between your skin and deeper structures. While maintaining a healthy weight and active lifestyle will certainly not make your cellulite look worse and may even improve its appearance, it simply cannot get rid of it. Many athletic men and women who are in excellent shape still deal with the appearance of cellulite.
What Effectively Treats Cellulite?
Cellfina is the only FDA cleared treatment for cellulite. It treats the connective bands that are the structural cause of cellulite. The system works to release the tension of these connective bands by cutting the band, allowing the skin to bounce back to the surface with a smoother, less puckered appearance. During a Cellfina procedure, the affected area will be prepped with betadine and then a lidocaine and saline mixture will be administered to minimize discomfort. The Cellfina device will then draw the tissue to be treated in with suction so the calibrated handpiece can precisely cut the fibrous band and release the dimpled tissue.
Most patients report that the process causes minimal discomfort and will return to their normal schedules within one to two days after treatment. A compression garment should be worn for the first 4 (optimally) weeks after treatment to enhance results. Other than this and some bruising and swelling, the recovery is minimal. Discomfort may be experienced when sitting for the first one to two weeks, but over-the-counter medication is generally enough to keep this manageable.
Results from Cellfina can be seen as quickly as three days, though greater results were achieved the course of the first year. Patients experienced the greatest results two years after treatment with 96 percent expressing their satisfaction with the procedure.
Scheduling Your Cellfina Consultation
Are you interested in the Cellfina procedure and wondering if you’re a good candidate? If you live in the Raleigh, North Carolina area, you need to schedule a consultation with Dr. Diehl. During your consultation, you can ask any questions you have about the procedure and Dr. Diehl will perform a physical examination to determine the extent of your cellulite and if it will respond well to Cellfina. She can also look into your health history to determine if you have any factors that could impact your healing from Cellfina. In some cases, Dr. Diehl may also suggest a complementary procedure, such as liposuction or CoolSculpting. We frequently use Pro-Nox with this procedure to make it more comfortable.
Are you interested in a procedure that is clinically proven to reduce the appearance of cellulite? Contact Dr. Diehl today to learn about Cellfina and to see if it’s right for you!
