Spa Cellulite Treatment

Spas around the world offer a variety of treatments for cellulite, including body wraps, herbal massage, body scrubs and connective tissue massage. In addition, medical spas offer additional treatments such as Endermologie, Mesotherapy, Tri-Active LaserDermology and intense pulsed light treatments with a retinyl topical cream.

Background

Cellulite is identified by the orange-peel or cottage cheese appearance of the skin on your thighs, abdomen and the back of your upper arms. Traditionally, treatments have been aimed at reducing fat cells, including diet and exercise, and increasing circulation. However, cellulite is actually a disorganization of the fibers that hold the fat cells in place under the skin. Connective tissue fibers pull down on the skin in an irregular way, while fat cells bulge toward the skin between the connective tissue fibers.

Traditional Spa Cellulite Treatments

Treatments have included targeted connective tissue and circulatory massage, herbal massage and bodywraps, exercises to work areas with cellulite, improved diet and skin brushing. Bodywraps, herbal or otherwise, cause sweating and create an artificial fever. Water loss from body wraps is temporary and is replaced when you begin to drink fluids normally after the wrap. The artificial fever stimulates the circulation of white blood cells, just as a natural fever does, but cellulite is not a problem of the immune system. Connective tissue massage creates micro-tears in connective tissue, and the tears heal with a better arrangement of connective fibers, so that the skin is flexible and smoother.

Endermologie and Pulsed Light Therapies

Endermologie uses rollers and suction to stretch superficial tissue away from the underlying tissue, making it smoother and reducing the dimpling. The effect is similar to connective tissue massage, because both techniques rely on creating microtears in the superficial fascia to make the skin lie smoothly over the layer of fat cells.

Dr. Fink and others, in the September, 2006 Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, report that intense pulsed light, along with the use of retinyl topical cream, is well tolerated, has minimal side effects, and is accompanied by a high degree of patient satisfaction.

Tri-Active LaserDermology and Velasmooth

Tri-active LaserDermology uses a low-energy diode laser, contact cooling and vacuum massage to melt fat and increase circulation in the area with cellulite. Velasmooth uses infrared light and radio frequency, as well as mechanical massage of the skin. According to Dr. Nootheti and others, reporting on a study of these two modes of cellulite treatment in Lasers in Surgery and Medicine in December, 2006, there is no difference in effect, with both treatments achieving similar results. However, Velasmooth resulted in more bruising.

Mesotherapy

Mesotherapy is multiple injections of a variable mixture of plant extracts, homeopathic remedies, pharmaceuticals, vitamins and other substances into the mesoderm, the middle layer of skin. A discussion of mesotherapy by Dr. Rotunda in the December, 2009, issue of "Lasers in Surgery and Medicine" states that "None of these therapies have been cleared for use in fat reduction by any regulatory authority worldwide." Mesotherapy is not regulated in the United States.