Cellulite reduction has never been a hotter topic – new treatments bring improved results

Summer is winding down, but since Arizona enjoys shorts weather all year long, cellulite is always a hot topic. It is also a great frustration to virtually all women. Eighty percent of women, regardless of their weight or fitness level, will be bothered by rippling or “cottage cheese” contours to their thighs and buttocks at some point.

While traditional treatments like diet, exercise, creams and massage have some benefit, most of us want more results! Liposuction is where many have turned for that ultimate salvation, but, although it thins the cellulite, its unfortunate negative side is leaving the ripples behind or, worse yet, increasing them.

Technology has come to the rescue, thank goodness. While keeping the best of what has been proven to deliver results, like topicals and massage, the newest advances offer some impressive improvements.

Ideally, we would like to see a one-time treatment to cure cellulite. We have not found that magic solution yet, but deep heating treatments are getting us much closer. In collagen heating, when the temperature of the dermis (the deeper layer of skin) reaches a certain level, the collagen contracts – shrinking and tightening like a wool sweater in the dryer. This triggers new collagen production. Firmer and more plentiful collagen translates into less dimpling on the skin surface and less cellulite in the sub dermal layers.

Thermage^® offers the first U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved heating device to treat cellulite. Click here to see a before and after image demonstrating its results. The ThermaCool^® NXT system offers significant improvement in a single treatment via a non-invasive radiofrequency technology. Other similar devices are also now available.

Various low-level laser, massage and/or suction systems have proven useful, although it can take many treatments to produce the desired outcome. For example, the newer system Triactive^TM by Cynosure combines multiple technologies to visibly firm and tighten the skin. Multiple treatments over several months can give a nice improvement in cellulite appearance, sometimes even improving the rippling.

Out of the vast selection of topical cellulite remedies, Glytone by Pierre Fabre Dermo-Cosmétique has developed an effective two-step system called Lipo-lift. The first step includes a massage gel and body massager, which are to be used daily in the shower. Step 2 is to apply a dual-phase gel to the area in the morning to optimize the body’s natural elimination of fat over the next 24 hours. This firming system has shown to successfully reduce the appearance of dimpling and “orange peel” skin.

There is a solution for virtually all budgets and approaches. Topicals (such as Glytone)  give slow, subtle results. Laser/massage/suction systems (such as Triactive) give more obvious results but require a consistent dedication to in-office treatments over several months. Deep-heating methods (such as Thermage) give the best results – and in only one treatment – but have a higher per-treatment cost.

Combination treatment plans are the ultimate way to reduce the appearance of cellulite while extending the benefits as long as possible. As one of the first dermatologists in the world to be dedicated 100 percent to cosmetic dermatology and successfully extending the life of all treatments through revolutionary combination therapies, I recommend that my patients begin with a Thermage treatment, followed by monthly Cynosure Triactive treatments and daily Glytone Lipo-lift topical therapy. You will have smoother, more toned-appearing hips and thighs in no time, with lasting results!

Susan Van Dyke, M.D. has performed more than 10,000 procedures with liquid face lift products, including BOTOX^® and advanced dermal fillers such as Restylane^®, Juvederm^tm, Sculptra^® and ArteFill^®. Founder of Van Dyke Laser & Skin (http://www.vandykelaser.com/), one of the first dermatology practices in the world to focus exclusively on cosmetic dermatology and a recognized pioneer in the industry, Dr. Van Dyke is a sought-after guest expert for television, radio, print and e-magazine features on a wide assortment of anti-aging, skin care and beauty topics. For 23 consecutive years, she has received the “Physician’s Recognition Award” from the American Medical Association. She can be reached at drvandyke@vandykelaser.com or 480.948.5045.