Updated 10/20/2016 with new FDA information.
Originally published 6/22/2015
After years of being told there’s no way to get rid of cellulite, doctors are seeing great results with Cellfina.
How does it work? First, your doctor will mark your cellulite dimples. Then, a small suction-stabilizer is used to pull the skin taut and stretch the cellulite-causing bands into an optimal position for treatment. A local numbing agent is administered before your doctor uses a specialized handpiece to target the bands and release them.
After the treatment, patients experience minimal discomfort. Doctors say they’re able to go about their day, but should try and take it easy for up to 24 hours. The most common side effects reported by the FDA study were soreness and bruising, but 90 percent of patients had no bruising four weeks after the procedure.
Grand Rapids, MI, plastic surgeon Ryan Mitchell, MD, whose practice offers the treatment, explains why this treatment is so effective. “Unlike a laser, which generates heat and can inadvertently damage the adjacent adipost tissue, Cellfina directly targets the fibrous bands while leaving the fat undisturbed,” he says. “This allows the volume of the area to remain intact as the fibrous bands are released.”
According to a new statement issued in October 2016 by Merz Aesthetics, the FDA has cleared Cellfina to deliver results that last up to three years. In 98 percent of treated patients, Cellfina improved the look of cellulite at three years, and 93 percent of patients reported to be still satisfied with the treatment at the three-year period with noticeable improvement. “The three-year indication shows not only the scientific rigor with which the Cellfina System was created, but also the commitment of Merz North America toward innovation and expansion of the aesthetic market through follow-on research and clinical study,” says Jim Hartman, vice president and U.S. Head, Merz Aesthetics and OTC, in a media release.
For more information on Cellfina and to find a licensed doctor in your area, visit cellfina.com.
