Patients often ask us why we use Cellulaze and not Cellfina for the long-lasting treatment of cellulite. Hopefully this blog will help clarify why we choose Cellulaze over Cellfina.
What Causes Cellulite?
To treat cellulite, first we must understand what causes the appearance of cellulite. Cellulite is due to a combination of genetic factors, hormonal changes and lifestyle choices such as poor diet and lack of exercise.
The three main components of cellulite are fat deposits, fibrous bands and thinning of the skin.
Fat deposits cause bulging of the skin, for this reason, general weight loss can help with the appearance of cellulite. Fibrous bands made of connective tissue tether the skin above to deeper tissues, causing the appearance of dimples, this is why weight loss may not have any effect on your cellulite (it’s not just a fat issue, but rather a structural issue). Finally, thinning skin (which is commonly seen as part of the aging process) contributes to the “cottage cheese” look associated with cellulite, which is why for some patients, weight loss may actually make your cellulite look worse…you just can’t win with cellulite!
Because the causes of cellulite are all in the skin structure, creams and other topical treatments will only provide temporary (or sometimes no) improvement.
Cellulaze Treatment for Cellulite Reduction
Cellulaze is an FDA cleared, state of the art, multidirectional laser treatment that targets all three components of cellulite. The minimally invasive treatment is performed in our office with tumescent local anesthesia. Cellulaze 3D Sidelaze laser technology melts the pockets of fat cells in the treated areas, leading to an improvement in the bulges. It also releases the connective bands, improving the dimples and reducing puckering. Finally, it stimulates collagen formation under the skin helping to thicken the skin, resulting in a smoother appearance. Check out the before and after photos here. Realistic expectations are important, but most of our cases have very good patient satisfaction.
How much does Cellulaze cost?
At Imagen Body Sculpting, our Cellulaze procedure starts at $4410. Because the final price is based on the size of the treatment area (it’s based on a grid system), it’s difficult to give an exact price without seeing you. The base price will typically get you coverage of the upper back of both thighs (the area that bothers most women.)
Cellfina Treatment
Cellfina is a needle-based system that cuts through the septae (fibrous bands) that cause the dimples. This can lead to an improvement in cellulite dimples. Unfortunately, because it doesn’t do anything for the fat or skin, you may only see mild improvement in the cellulite. It works very well to treat dimples but fails to treat the other components of cellulite. Because it is only treating the dimples and doesn’t rely on collagen production for skin tightening, you will typically see results from Cellfina Treatment faster than with Cellulaze.
How many treatments do you need for Cellfina?
For most patients, a single treatment will provide improvement in their cellulite dimples.
If not all dimples are treated in the session, you may want another treatment to improve other areas.
How long does Cellfina take?
A typical Cellfina treatment will take 1-2 hours, depending on how many dimples you are treating (about 25 dimples per hour of treatment).
How much does Cellfina procedure cost?
According to RealSelf (https://www.realself.com/nonsurgical/cellfina/cost), Cellfina typically has a cost between $2500-5500.
So What is the Best Cellulite Procedure, Cellulaze or Cellfina?
Is Cellulaze better than Cellfina? Both treatments have similarities. Both are minimally invasive procedures performed under local numbing. Both provide improvement with a single treatment. The side effect of extensive bruising is common with both procedures (though the bruising seen with Qwo is often worse than either of the other two). Wearing a compression garment can help with that and most providers will recommend compression for either of these procedures. You can also expect to have swelling and some discomfort with both procedures, but the downtime is minimal for each procedure and most patients are back to normal activities in just a couple of days.
Most patients have a combination of issues causing their cellulite. Very few patients have just the bands (they may be good candidates for Cellfina) or just thinning skin (which can be treated with Profound, a radiofrequency treatment). For this reason, most of our patients benefit from the combination treatment offered through Cellulaze. All patients should have a discussion with their cosmetic surgeon about their expectations and treatment options. Other possible treatments may include Renuvion, subcision or Qwo. We find that the highest satisfaction rates often come with combination treatments. It is common for patients to request liposuction for their inner or outer thighs or inner knees to combine the fat removal with the cellulite treatment. All cellulite treatments should also be combined with good skin care. We love the Perfect Body Lotion (a topical cream to help keep legs looking smooth) and oral collagen supplements (like Besha).
Frank Soto León, MD is a cosmetic surgeon who is board certified through the American Board of Aesthetic Medicine. For more advice from Dr. Soto on cellulite treatments, body contouring and other aesthetic procedures please visit www.omahaliposuction.com where you can read his blog and see Before & After Photos of actual patients. Please call us at 402-347-4433 to schedule a complimentary consultation. At your consultation, our team will discuss your goals and the expectations for your treatment as well as cost and financing. If you are not in Omaha, Lincoln, Council Bluffs or the surrounding metro, we do offer virtual consultations as well!
*It is important to recognize that for all medical procedures, including those performed at Imagen Cosmetic Center, individual results and experiences may vary.
Frank Soto León, MD is a cosmetic surgeon who is board certified through the American Board of Aesthetic Medicine. For more advice from Dr. Soto on cellulite treatments and other aesthetic procedures please visit www.omahaliposuction.com where you can read his blog and see Before & After Photos of actual patients. If you have a question you would like to see answered as one of our blogs, let us know!
