Cellulite Treatment Basics
The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery says cellulite is the appearance of dimpling and textural irregularities, which occurs on the buttocks, thighs and occasionally abdomen of women. The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery adds that skin affected by cellulite also has thick, collagen bands oriented vertical to the skin called septae, and that these bands pull down on the skin surface to produce the dimpled appearance. The society keeps a reference page on cellulite that covers the condition.
The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery estimates that over 85% of women over the age of 21 are afflicted with cellulite, and says its predisposing factors, which include increased fatty tissue, increased age, female gender, heredity, and race, are not possible to change, so there is no prevention of the formation of cellulite.
The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery also states that the majority of treatments offer only temporary improvement of cellulite, typically lasting months, that full resolution of cellulite is rare, and that repeat sessions are necessary to continue to maintain the results with these non-invasive devices. That statement is the benchmark for any price list: a quote should say how long the benefit is expected to last and what the repeat sessions cost.
The companion topic
- Cellulite and Fat Removal Options: how cellulite treatments relate to fat removal, and which questions separate the two when a provider quotes a price.
A guide to cellulite and fat removal is a neutral companion to it.
Terms that show up on cellulite offers
Vacuum-assisted release. The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery describes one device that uses a vacuum-assisted device to allow for precise surgical release of the cellulite septae with results lasting up to 2 years.
Tissue stabilized-guided subscision. The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery describes tissue stabilized-guided subscision (TS-GS) as a minimally invasive device used for improving the appearance of cellulite dimples on the buttocks and thighs. The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery says TS-GS is performed in a single treatment session. The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery says patients will experience swelling after their procedure, with the most noticeable swelling lasting from 5-14 days, small areas of swelling that may persist for 4-6 weeks, and bruising that is common and may take 2-3 weeks to fully resolve. The society's reference page on tissue stabilized-guided subscision gives more detail.
What to ask before paying
Ask whether the quote covers one session or a series, how long the benefit is expected to last, and whether repeat sessions are priced in. A single-session price is only a fair comparison with a series if the repeat sessions appear on the same quote.