Cellulite Treatments

Nearly every man and woman, at some point in his or her life, is going to encounter cellulite, those lumpy deposits of fatty tissue located just beneath the surface of the skin that are often referred to as "cottage cheese" deposits. Unlike other fatty deposits which repond well to diet and exercise, cellulite can be difficult to effectively eliminate, or even reduce, with traditional exercise and diet. Fortunately, cosmetic specialists can employ a variety of cellulite treatment techniques to successfully remove these deposits, resulting in a smoother, firmer appearance, as well as better overall contours.

Some cellulite treatments, including many liposuction-based techniques, are considered invasive or minimally invasive, requiring incisions and sutures. But advances in cellulite treatment have resulted in the development of newer techniques which use a combination of suction, heat, and radiofrequency energy to break down fatty deposits beneath the skin, allowing them to be removed by the body?s natural "draining" system.

Two of these techniques, VelaSmooth and VelaShape, use suction to draw fatty deposits closer to the skin's surface before applying energy waves to break apart the cells. Both techniques take about 45 minutes to perform, and have been likened to deep massage with heat. There is no downtime with these techniques, so men and women can return to normal routines right after their procedure.

Most individuals need a series of cellulite treatments ? between 6 and 16, in severe cases ? to see desirable results. Your specialist will devise a regimen that is suited to your specific needs. Costs can vary widely, based on the size of the area being treated, with an average thigh procedure ranging from a few hundred to over a thousand dollars in most cases.