Body Treatments

What is Cellulite?

A lot of us know what cellulite looks like, but we don’t really know what it is and what causes it. Aging, pregnancy, genetics, fluctuating hormones, excess fatty tissue, are all extenuating factors that can contribute to cellulite. Mostly though, it’s genetics.

There are connective bands (sort of like elastic bands) that weave through the fat in our thighs and buttocks, and when these bands tense up and tighten they pull down on the surface of our skin and create that uneven puckered or dimpled look.

Cellulite is so common that it actually affects almost 90% of women, and it is primarily something that will be found on a woman’s body; it is very rarely seen on men. There are numerous reasons for this:

• skin density: women have thinner skin than men
• less collagen: collagen keeps the skin nice and firm, and men generally have more collagen than women
• women tend to store more fat than men, and this fat presses up against the connective bands which is when the dimpling occurs.
• hormone fluctuations: the types of hormone fluctuations that women experience, for example estrogen released during pregnancy, work to loosen our skin

These are all contributing factors of cellulite. Furthermore, tissue under women’s skin crosses in an X formation as opposed to being perpendicular to the skin as it is in men. The X formation of subcutaneous tissue pulls on the surface layer of our skin and leads to the puckering and dimpling effect known as cellulite.

The Procedure

During the procedure, an expert plastic surgeon will first mark then make incisions on the parts of your body where cellulite is found. With a handheld device your surgeon will cut through the bands that are creating that puckering of the skin and release the unwanted tension.

A local anaesthetic will be administered to the marked areas where the Cellfina treatment will be delivered in order to ensure that you are fully comfortable during the entire procedure. The procedure takes approximately one hour and most patients feel comfortable returning to their normal daily activities immediately following the treatment.

It is important to note that Cellfina should always be administered by an expert plastic surgeon, or by a trained registered nurse under the supervision of a plastic surgeon.

Is Cellfina for you?

Please book a complimentary in-person consultation in order to assess whether you might be a good candidate for Cellfina. Generally, anyone between the ages of 20 and 65 who has cellulite is a good candidate for Cellfina, however if you have excess skin laxity or have experienced extreme weight gain or weight loss, this could have an effect on your final results.

What are the most effective areas best treated with Cellfina?

Cellulite is generally found in the areas of the thigh and buttocks, so this would be the most effective area to be targeted by Cellfina.

When can I expect to see results?

Some patients see results in as little as 3 days, and these results last for close to 3 years. The studies that have been conducted ended at 3 years, we suspect the results are probably permanent.

Are there any side effects?

You may feel tender or sore after the treatment so you may not want to engage in strenuous exercise immediately following the procedure. Some patients can also experience bruising in the area, which can last for up to 4 weeks post treatment.

What are the risks?

Cellfina is a minimally invasive, non-surgical procedure, meaning that it carries no long-term risks.