Cellulite Treatment
Cellulite Treatment
For many women, cellulite is an issue that persists. The lumpy look can define your hips, legs, and buttocks, making it difficult to confidently wear certain clothing or flaunt your body. What’s worse is that no matter how much exercise or healthy dieting you do, cellulite will remain. A common misconception is that this ‘cottage cheese’ appearance is the result of fat. Rather, it occurs because of irregular connective tissues beneath thin skin, which can result in unwanted dimpling that isn’t favorable to the eyes.
Many creams and topical products claim to address cellulite, but these tend to focus on temporarily treating the appearance of cellulite, instead of the root cause. If you’ve used similar treatments for cellulite in the past but experienced temporary, subpar results, now you can target unwanted cellulite at the source with Aveli. A revolutionary treatment that focuses on the underlying cause of cellulite, Aveli produces results that last so you can enjoy smooth, dimple-free skin and strut your stuff with confidence.
If you suffer from cellulite and are tired of other treatments not creating lasting results, we encourage you to try Aveli at Ridenour Plastic Surgery. To schedule a consultation, contact us at (314) 501-7946 or visit our contact page.
How Does Cellulite Form?
Cellulite is a common issue. It’s estimated that 90 percent of American women will experience cellulite at some point in their life. Despite how prevalent it is, it’s a condition that can have a negative impact on your self-esteem. It’s also a complex condition with many factors that contribute to it. Cellulite forms when fibrous connective tissues narrow and stiffen, and fat cells around them become enlarged, pushing up against the skin. This causes the well-known dimpling effect. Fat cells can also expand further and press on these rigid connective tissues, worsening the condition. And as you age, the skin becomes looser and thinner as it produces less collagen, exacerbating the appearance of cellulite.
Cellulite formation isn’t restricted to a specific body type or fitness level and affects most women at some point in their lives. Aging and genetics play a key role, however, because this determines an individual’s body type and skin structure. Hormonal changes are also a factor, which cause the body to change later in life and during pregnancy. As is evident, the appearance of cellulite is an issue that is out of your control, but what you do about it isn’t.
How Is Cellulite Treated? What Is Aveli?
Aveli is a FDA-approved injectable treatment for moderate to severe cellulite. Aveli contains collagenase, an enzyme that targets and dissolves the fibrous bands that cause dimples to form in the skin. Aveli is also thought to redistribute fat cells and stimulate collagen production, further improving the appearance of skin in treated areas. By releasing the fibrous bands beneath the skin that lead to dimpling, Aveli works from the inside to target the underlying structural cause of cellulite, resulting in smoother skin and more noticeable results that last.
Typically, one to three treatments are needed for an optimal outcome, but this may vary depending on the degree of cellulite present and each patient’s cosmetic goals. Aveli is a non-surgical treatment that delivers outstanding results with little to no downtime, but some patients may experience bruising or soreness at the injection site.
Who is a Good Candidate for Aveli?
Aveli is recommended for patients with moderate to severe cellulite, but won’t improve the appearance of skin laxity or sagging. Aveli is safe for all skin tones and types, but shouldn’t be used on patients who are allergic to any of its ingredients, including collagenase. Aveli also shouldn’t be used if you have an infection in the desired treatment area.
If you want to eliminate the appearance of dimpled skin with Aveli, Dr. Ridenour can help determine if this treatment is right for you during an initial consultation.
Benefits of Aveli
Compared to surgical or topical treatments, which can be either invasive or provide only temporary results, treating your cellulite with Aveli has a number of benefits. This revolutionary new treatment can eliminate moderate to severe cellulite without surgery or downtime, and patients notice dramatic results after just one to three treatments.
Other benefits of Aveli include:
- Non-surgical treatment with no anesthesia or downtime
- Targets the root cause of cellulite for dramatic improvements
- Quick, simple treatments performed in-office
- Safe and effective for all skin tones and types
- Results appear just a few weeks after treatment
Other treatments for Cellulite
After treating the most obvious dimples with Aveli, further improvements can be made to correct the uneven and irregular appearance of cellulite with Cellulaze or Profound RF treatments.
Cellulaze
Cellulaze is a minimally invasive treatment that uses a laser fiber to deliver energy beneath the skin, treating cellulite at its source. The Cellulaze procedure involves making a small incision in the treatment area where a tube the size of a small liposuction cannula is inserted beneath the skin’s surface. The Cellulaze laser fiber is then inserted through this small tube to liquify pockets of fat and sever unwanted connective tissues that cause dimpling. As a result, Cellulaze makes your skin smooth and free of unwanted bulges. Also, the laser fiber’s heating effects stimulate your body’s collagen production, which helps improve skin thickness and firmness.
Profound SQ
Similar to Cellulaze, Profound SQ also uses thermal energy to treat cellulite at its source. Instead of using laser light energy, Profound SQ uses heat derived from radiofrequency (RF) energy. The Profound SQ procedure involves pairs of microneedles that are inserted below the skin into superficial fat and its fibrous network. Heat is applied at a controlled temperature that shrinks fat and denatures collagen. The heat produced during treatment also benefits the skin by stimulating the production of both collagen and elastin. The result is a more organized and smoother fat compartment with more elastic overlying skin, reducing the appearance of dimples.
What Are the Benefits of Cellulaze?
Having your cellulite treated with Cellulaze comes with a number of benefits. Namely, you can trust that your results will be long-lasting, and usually only one Cellulaze treatment is needed for a significant outcome. Cellulaze is also similar to liposuction but less traumatic, making it ideal for patients who want to improve the look of cellulite without committing to a more invasive surgical procedure.
Other benefits of Cellulaze include:
- Stronger and firmer skin
- Increased collagen production
- Breaks up fatty tissues and connective tissues
- Smoother skin
- Improved confidence
Who Makes a Good Candidate for the Cellulaze or Profound SQ Treatment?
Cellulaze and Profound SQ are best performed on patients with mild to moderate cellulite. These treatments aren’t particularly beneficial for patients with barely noticeable cellulite or severe cellulite. Cellulaze and Profound SQ are also not meant as weight-loss treatments. A patient should be in generally good health and close to their weight loss goals before undergoing treatment. Too much skin laxity or excess fat can potentially lead to poor results or complications.
It’s best to schedule a consultation with Dr. Ridenour so he can determine if you’re a good candidate. Some things he’ll consider to ensure candidacy include your desired goals and the extent of your cellulite.
Do Cellulaze or Profound SQ Pose Any Risks?
Cellulaze and Profound SQ are safe treatments that have some side effects. Swelling, numbness and soreness are common but resolve themselves within several weeks after treatment. The procedure can cause minimal pain, but this can be mitigated with over-the-counter pain medications. Less common complications include bruising, infection and skin injury, but these are rare. Dr. Ridenour will review these risks and complications with you during an initial consultation.
Your Aveli, Cellulaze or Profound SQ Treatment
To ensure a comfortable procedure, Dr. Ridenour will administer a local anesthetic. Oral and IV sedation are also available to patients who would like to ensure a pain-free experience. Which procedure is performed will depend on your treatment goals. While all are minimally invasive, Cellulaze is preferred when patients require a bit more fat removal.
During a Aveli treatment, Dr. Ridenour will use a small needle to inject the product into your desired treatment area. The number of injections needed will vary depending on your needs and aesthetic goals. Treatments can be completed in as little as 10 minutes, but you may need more than one to see optimal results. Many women undergo a series of three treatments to achieve smooth, dimple-free skin in treated areas.
During a Cellulaze treatment, a small incision is made in the area of concern. A narrow cannula (small tube) is then inserted through the incision, and the Cellulaze laser fiber soon follows. While inserted, the Cellulaze system is activated, and the thermal energy gently liquefies the excess fat and releases the connective tissues that cause dimpling. To finish, the laser is applied to the upper layers of the dermis to stimulate collagen production. Treatment may last 90 minutes to two hours, depending on the severity of your cellulite and the scope of the treated area.
During a Profound SQ treatment, a temperature-controlled device uses microneedles to deliver RF energy beneath the skin. The device is specially configured to treat the deeper layers where subcutaneous fat resides, allowing it to shrink fat cells and break up collagen fibers that cause dimpling. Profound SQ also stimulates the production of new collagen and elastin, resulting in smoother, tighter skin. Treatments take about an hour to complete and are performed in-office.
Following a Cellulaze treatment, Dr. Ridenour may recommend patients wear a compression garment for several weeks to ensure a good recovery and optimal results. All of our cellulite treatments create an overall smoother, healthier skin appearance. A combined treatment of Aveli plus Cellulaze or Profound SQ creates dimple-free skin that lasts for many years.
Your Results and Recovery
Several days after your cellulite treatment, you’ll notice your skin is smoother and tauter, looking more attractive. The cellulite treatments performed at Ridenour Plastic Surgery require little to no downtime, and you’ll be able to return to normal activities after one to two days. For more strenuous activities, such as exercising, you may need to wait up to two weeks. Bruising, swelling and tenderness are also common side effects. Because it can take some time for swelling to subside and for your body to manufacture new collagen and elastin, your full results may not appear for several months.
If a compression garment is recommended, it should be worn for at least two weeks, but patients are encouraged to keep it on for optimal recovery for six to eight weeks. In some cases, a lymphatic drainage massage may be recommended to reduce swelling and prevent excessive fluid retention.
Cellulaze and Profound SQ are successful treatments that create wonderful results after only one treatment session. Aveli may require up to three treatments. Results can last for many years, especially with a healthy diet and lifestyle. However, because hormonal changes are believed to lead to increased cellulite, you should be aware that the condition could return quicker if you were to become pregnant.
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Cellulite is an issue that affects many women at some point in their lifetime. The ‘cottage cheese’ look certainly isn’t desirable and can negatively affect your self-esteem. If cellulite is an issue, wearing a bikini to the beach or wearing your favorite pair of short-shorts can become instances of distress.
There’s no reason for cellulite to have such an effect on your life since there are now treatments that can create long-lasting, beautiful results and rid the skin of dimpling. At Ridenour Plastic Surgery, we encourage women with mild to moderate cellulite to get this cosmetic concern under control and improve many aspects of their life. From your physical appearance to your self-esteem, we can help.
If you’re a resident of St. Louis, MO, or surrounding communities and you’ve been inflicted with cellulite, please schedule a consultation with us at (314) 501-7946 or visit our contact page.
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