Cellfina - Advantages and Limitations

Introduction:

Cellulite has a noticeable effect in the form of dimpling, which predominantly occurs in the hips, buttocks, stomach, and thighs as a result of cellulitis. This condition is predominantly seen in women as compared to men. According to a study, 80 percent of women are affected by cellulite. Although it is a harmless condition, it is not aesthetically pleasing. Many women may restrict themselves from wearing certain types of outfits like swimwear which can reveal their dimpling from cellulite.

In addition, the dimpling from cellulite does not get better with any kind of diet or exercise. To remove these dimpling, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new treatment procedure called Cellfina, which is very safe and effective and gives excellent results.

What Is Cellulite and How Does It Occur?

Cellulite is a very common skin condition that alters the skin texture and results in dimpling or pitting of the skin of certain areas like thighs, buttocks, hips, and abdomen. It is also called orange peel, cottage cheese, lumpy-bumpy, or mattress appearance. The skin texture becomes uneven and irregular and lacks smoothness. It is not related to weight gain as it can occur in lean women also. However, weight gain can make these dimpling appearances look more prominent. In addition, this skin condition can be seen in both young and elderly women.

Cellulite dimpling develops because of the fibrous connective tissues of the skin that are inserted into the fatty tissues. These fibrous tissues form tight bands which pull down the skin and result in an uneven and dimpling appearance. Therefore, these fibrous tissues or bands are responsible for causing the pitting appearance of skin in cellulite.

What Is Cellfina?

Cellfina is an FDA-approved minimally invasive procedure that treats cellulite effectively. It is a comparatively newer aesthetic procedure. This procedure is a one-time treatment and gives results in a single sitting. It is not a surgical procedure, and no general anesthesia is required. Cellfina is an in-office procedure that can be done as quickly as 30 minutes. In addition, the results of this procedure get better over time.

How Does Cellfina Work?

The root cause of cellulite is the fibrous bands of the skin. Cellfina works by releasing those fibrous bands which get inserted into the fatty tissue of the skin, causing dimpling. Once these fibrous bands get released, the skin lifts up and becomes even and flat.

This is the reason why this treatment works and gives long-lasting results. Other treatments work superficially and do not release the tight fibrous bands which are pulling down the skin. Therefore their results do not last long.

Who Cannot Undergo Cellfina Treatment?

Cellfina treatment is not suitable for individuals having the following conditions:

• Uncontrolled Diabetes.

• Excessive obesity.

• Having blood clotting disorders like hemophilia.

• Have undergone surgery six weeks before.

• Pregnant women.

• Those with skin infections.

• Individuals who are on blood thinning medicines.

• Having tumors.

• Having varicose vein in the target area.

• Conditions like phlebitis (inflammation of a vein) and vasculitis (inflammation of blood vessels)

• Uncontrolled hypertension.

Who Are the Good Candidates for Cellfina Treatment?

The individuals who are considered good candidates for this treatment should have the following characteristic:

• One should be an adult.

• Skin laxity should be minimum, or ideally, it should not be present.

• Weight should be stable.

• Individuals should have pitting or dimpling skin on the buttocks, hips, or thighs.

What Are the Limitations of Cellfina Treatment?

Cellfina has the following limitations:

• It is restricted to treating thighs, hips, and buttocks areas only.

• Only the dimpled cellulite of the buttocks and back of the thighs responds well to Cellfina. For widespread cellulite across the entire leg, Cellulase is preferable.

• It can not treat the skin laxity of the target area; for treating laxity, procedures like radiofrequency are preferred.

What Is the Procedure of Cellfina Treatment?

Cellfina is done under local anesthesia, and it is a painless treatment. Patients remain awake throughout the procedure. The following are the procedural steps of this treatment:

• The surgeon marks the dimples with the skin marker, and local anesthesia is administered to the skin.

• After marking the dimples, each dimple is treated with a Cellfina device and punctured with a microneedle.

• The dimples will be drawn up and into the device, allowing the skin to stabilize.

• The equipment will push the dimple to the desired depth on the skin.

• After that, the next cellulite dimple is treated.

How Long Do the Results of Cellfina last?

The results of the Cellfina are long-lasting and last up to three years. The initial results can be seen after three to four days of the treatment. The final results may not be visible because of the swelling and bruising; however, the results get better as the swelling fades away. Patients often see improvement in dimpling with the passing year.

What Are the Postoperative Instructions After Cellfina?

The swelling after Cellfina treatment usually subsides after one to three weeks. The patients are instructed not to do any strenuous activity for at least a week following Cellfina treatment. After a week, patients can resume milder activities like jogging but not heavy exercises. Patients are advised to avoid swimming for seven days and to restrict sun exposure during the healing period.

What Are the Side Effects of Cellfina Treatment?

Although Cellfina is a safe procedure, there are minor side effects associated with this procedure which are listed below:

• Bleeding.

• Bruising.

• Mild pain.

• Swelling.

• Hardness in the treated area.

Very rarely, some major side effects can occur, which are as follows:

• Allergic reactions.

• Infection.

• Hyperpigmentation.

• Redness of the skin.

• Hematoma formation.

• Scarring or keloid.

• Hypopigmentation.

• Seroma.

Conclusion:

Cellfina treatment offers several benefits, being a single sitting treatment with long-lasting results and less downtime, and is one that is a minimally invasive and quicker procedure. It significantly reduces the appearance of dimpling skin on thighs, hips, and buttocks. The biggest advantage of this procedure includes patient satisfaction and that it does not leave any scars.

Cellfina treatment has the highest rate of patient satisfaction, and it boosts the self-confidence of a woman with cellulite. In addition, it boosts the self-confidence of women who feel embarrassed because of their cellulite and become self-conscious about wearing a bodysuit or other short outfits.