Cellulite…Ugh! I dread the question, “Doc, can you fix my cellulite?”

I hated not being able to effectively treat something. It vexed me.

So, my response all these years has been, “Not yet, but I’m on the lookout. When I find something that really does help, I’ll let you know.” Well, I’m letting you know now….

We have the VelaShape III and I’m very excited about it!

What took so long?

Well, cellulite is not an easy condition to improve because it is the manifestation of a complicated combination of things, many of which we cannot change.

The natural structure of the skin includes its attachment to the deeper tissues by bands called fibrous septae. Between these bands and supporting the skin are layers of fat cells. The size and thickness of the fat cells is determined by hormones, genetic tendencies, age, circulation, lifestyle and health.

In men, the septae are cross-hatched and attached more densely, like a basket weave. The skin is more uniformly anchored and less likely to dimple.  Additionally, male hormones manage fat deposition differently. As a result, only about 10% of men have cellulite.

In women, however, the septae are arranged vertically and act like tethers, causing visible dimples in our skin as time passes and our genes, hormones and lifestyle cause our fat cells to plump up, our tissues to retain fluid, our skin to become laxer, and our circulation to become less efficient. Ta-dah, the evil cellulite fairy does her thing. As a result, more than 90% of women have cellulite, regardless of their weight, shape or size.

So back to my quest. As I said, I’ve been watching and waiting for something that would help with this problem. Years ago, I saw promise in one technology and actually had them bring the machine in to the office so we could try it.  Though the science made sense to me, the old original 20 Watt Velasmooth device was difficult to use. It was bulky and cumbersome.  It was difficult for the provider to do the treatment and it took a lot of time, a lot of treatments, and a lot of patience from patients. Results should have been better. I was not impressed and decided the technology hadn’t quite optimized the science yet. It was sort of like the first cell phones.  You know, the ones that came in their own suitcase.  You could feel they were onto something, but definitely were not there yet. So, I continued to wait …

for more than ten years, and then…

… in comes my beautiful sleek new VelaShape III.  Like my new smart phone. Same science. Better technology. More power (150 Watts). Easier to use. Faster treatments. Smaller more versatile treatment heads. Better results. Many more possibilities. Yay!

Our new VelaShape III does what I think it needs to do to improve cellulite. It uses combined infrared and radiofrequency energy to generate heat to shrink fat cells and tighten tissue, while suction and mechanical massage stimulate circulation and lymphatic drainage. I think they’ve finally gotten it right.

We’re going to start working on my legs this week.  Then my neck, then my arms, then my …

We might need a second machine.

About the Author – Kathleen W. Judge, MD

Dr. Judge has been a practicing dermatologist for over 15 years and loves to share her enthusiasm for the science of skin. She works with her team to create interesting and informative articles, videos, and posts for her growing patient base.