Cellulaze: 10 Crucial Things to Know About New FDA-Approved Cellulite Treatment

SEATTLE, WA--(Marketwire -04/12/12)- Is cellulite about to be zapped into submission? A minimally invasive laser-based treatment known as Cellulaze, created by Cynosure, Inc., was recently approved by the FDA and is piquing public interest as a new procedure against stubborn fat-dimple deposits. On RealSelf.com alone, the largest website for plastic surgery reviews and information, more than 40,000 people searched for Cellulaze on the site in March 2012, compared to just over 1,000 people one month before.

To help shed light on this new treatment as interest spikes, RealSelf gives the inside scoop on the top 10 Cellulaze questions asked on its site. RealSelf.com is not affiliated with Cellulaze or Cynosure, but is an unbiased website that tells the "real story" behind hundreds of plastic surgery and cosmetic procedures, as reported by patients who have them done, and the board certified doctors who perform them.

1. Does it really work? According to Cellulaze reviews on RealSelf.com, yes. The procedure scores a 100% "Worth It Rating" by reviewers who have undergone the treatment, meaning they would all do it again. One user wrote, "So far I am shocked at how different my thighs look. I really look like a new person!" Dr. Grant Stevens of Los Angeles at Marina Plastic Surgery, who is a respected plastic surgeon active on RealSelf.com and early Cellulaze practitioner claimed, "I've seen it, I've touched it, I've examined it. It works. It's phenomenal."

2. What does the procedure involve? After numbing the area, a small laser tube is inserted under a patient's skin. The laser heats up to melt lumpy pockets of fat, then cuts through the fiber bands that pull the skin and cause dimples. The laser then heats the skin to trigger new collagen growth, leading to better elasticity and thickness. The procedure must be performed by a trained practitioner, as Dr. Stevens notes, "It's technically demanding."

3. What makes it different from other cellulite "cures"? As posted on the RealSelf.com Cellulaze Q&A board by Sacramento plastic surgeon Dr. Andrew Kaczynski, M.D., "Alternative non-invasive cellulite treatments only address the external effects of the skin but don't address the core biology causing problem areas. Creams and massage are quick fixes with sub-par results. Cellulaze is the first technology that goes directly after the actual biological structures causing cellulite."

4. What are the expected results? Reviewers on RealSelf.com reported saying goodbye to some cellulite spots almost immediately, and the manufacturer claims results further improve over the following 6-12 months. Dr. Stevens speculates, "I think what's going to happen over the next year is we'll hear more and more about doctors doing the treatment combined with liposuction, which actually sucks out some of the fat, for maximum results."

5. How many treatments do you need? Is it permanent? Scoring points as a "one and done" procedure, Clinical studies have shown one Cellulaze treatment can keep cellulite spots at bay for a year or more.

6. Can I see Cellulaze before and after photos? Un-retouched before and after photos submitted by physicians are found at www.realself.com/cellulaze in the Photos section.

7. Will it hurt, and what is the recovery time? The procedure is performed under local anesthesia, and according to RealSelf.com reviewer NYTennis, she "felt some needles initially and some pinching with the numbing procedure... there was some nippy feeling here and there with the laser." Another reviewer scored it as a low "1" on a 1-10 pain scale. In terms of recovery, patients are said to be able to return to normal activities in one or two days, but may experience immediate light bruising and swelling to the treated area, as evidenced by NYTennis' Cellulaze results picture, which reportedly clears within a week or so.

8. How much does Cellulaze cost? RealSelf.com reviewers reported spending an average of $5,700 per cellulite busting treatment.

9. Who is a good candidate? Cellulaze is said to deliver the best results for people who are not significantly overweight, but who have moderate cellulite on their thighs, buttocks and hips.

10. Where can I find a qualified doctor near me who performs the Cellulaze procedure? Visit www.realself.com/find as a starting place to locate and read reviews of nearby board certified doctors who specialize in cellulite treatments and may offer Cellulaze.

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