Cellulite Heat Response Therapy – Thermage CL

Cellulite Enzyme Therapy – Collagenase

Cellulite afflicts about 90% of women over 30 and many men. Easily mistaken for fat, the problem actually lies in the skin. Even thin women can have lumpy, unsightly cellulite. The dimpling effect is primarily caused by fibrous bands that are not as elastic as the rest of the skin. Methods of smoothing the skin surface include heat application (Thermage) which tightens the skin surface and increases tissue health with improved circulation and/or enzyme therapy (Collagenase) which acts to dissolve the fibrous bands.

Thermage CL for Cellulite

Photos Courtesy of Silvia Cuevas, MD
Single Treatment Before and at 6 Months

The Cellulite procedure by Thermage helps improve the appearance of cellulite in a single treatment without surgery, injections or downtime. With a special heat delivery tip, collagen-contracting heat is delivered deeply into the sub-dermal and fatty layers of the skin. This will cause the skin to tighten and firm while the new collagen creates a more evenly elastic foundation. Blood flow in the tissues is increased, further helping to reduce the lumpy bumpy appearance of cellulite.

Photos Courtesy of Julio Barba, MD
Single Treatment Before and at 6 Months

Learn more about the new Cellulite procedure

Thermage Cellulite Treatment Overview

• No topical or injected local anesthetic, sedative or pain killers are necessary in most cases.
• An ink grid will be placed on your skin so that treatment energies are applied evenly.
• A clear fluid is applied to the treatment areas ensure good electrical and thermal contact with the skin and the treatment tip.
• With each energy pulse to the skin, a combination of cooling spray and RF energy is delivered. The spray continuously cools the outer layers of the skin to prevent overheating of the surface skin.
• Depending on your pain threshold, you may feel mild warmth, intense warmth (heat), or possibly very brief pain with each application of energy.
• Throughout the procedure, Dr. Mani or the Physician’s Assistant performing the procedure will ask for feedback from you about your perception of heat and the level of discomfort you are experiencing. RF levels will be adjusted up or down accordingly so that therapeutic levels of heat are achieved without excessive discomfort.
• Treatment time varies according to area(s) treated and the number of times the tip is passed over the skin. A Thermage procedure can take between 1 to 2 hours depending on the area treated.

Thermage CL treatment can be combined with Collagenase Enzyme Therapy for more profound results.

Enzyme Therapy for Cellulite

Cellulite is actually caused by lack of skin elasticity and bands of fibrous tissue within the skin.

Collagenase, an enzyme involved in wound healing, breaks down this fibrous tissue that causes the bulging of skin tissues that comprise cellulite.

Collagenase Enzyme Therapy begins a process that degrades, or digests, these fibrous tissues so they “release”, allowing the skin to resume a smoother appearance. Injections of the enzyme are placed in the areas of dimpling and uneven skin surface.

Photos from Dagum/Badalamente study below

Collagenase Enzyme Therapy is spread out over several sessions. Some post injection swelling and bruising is expected and is completely normal. Cellulite Enzyme Therapy may be combined with Thermage, though not at the same treatment visit.

Response is not immediate as the process takes time to break down the little fiber “anchors” that pull the skin inward making the cellulite dimples. (See Diagram) Touch-up treatments may be required or desired.

Results of a 10 patient study:

“There was a significant reduction in cellulite appearance of the injected area. Cellulite area was reduced by 77% day 1, 74% at 1 week,89% at 1 month,86% at 3 mos.,76% at 6 months. Patient satisfaction was 1.75 at 6 months(1= completely satisfied, 4= not satisfied).BMI and thigh circumference showed no significant differences from baseline values. Side effects included injection area soreness, ecchymosis (bruising) and mild edema (swelling) which resolved in a mean of 10, 18 and 6 days, respectively. Conclusions: This study has shown that collagenase injection for cellulite is safe and has merit.” Source -Alexander B. Dagum, MD and Marie A. Badalamente, PhD

Related Treatments

Thermage Tummy – a deep heating treatment to improve loose abdominal skin.
Thermage for Face and Eyes – facial firming and eye lid tightening
Vein Laser for removing and reducing visible veins in the legs, behind the knees and around the ankles
Laser hair Reduction for permanent reduction in unwanted hair growth anywhere on the face and body
Medical Grade Skin Care Products to keep legs and body smooth and hydrated