New procedure cuts cellulite up to 2 years
TAMPA (FOX 13) - Shane Wilson and Jackie Vargo-Perrone differ in age and body type, but their bodies have something in common: cellulite. They're not alone.
Wilson and Vargo-Perrone both works out regularly and watch their diets.
"I do weight training. I have a personal trainer as well as orange theory, but there are just a little bit of areas I can't get rid of even though I eat healthy," Wilson explained.
"Well I think as you get older, it’s just harder for you to maintain some of the aspects of your body and the way you look," Vargo-Perrone added. "It is a little frustrating when you work so hard and yet, when you put a bathing suit on, you're still kind of like... 'Ugh!'"
Now their bodies have something else in common: both decided to try a procedure plastic surgeon Dr. Joseph Brown says is literally cutting edge. It's called Cellfina.
Cellfina's website shows how the procedure uses a blade to cut through bands of connective tissue that cause cellulite by pulling the skin down, creating that visible puckering we all think of as cellulite. Cutting the bands allows the skin to smooth itself out.
Dr. Browns says to better understand it, think of a quilt.
"If you picture a quilt, a quilt that has sewn dimples in it. It's like going in and cutting those threads so that the dimples come out," he described.
While some surgeons use a scalpel to swipe those "threads" by hand, Dr. Brown says Cellfina precisely measures the depth to keep the cuts consistent.
"The nice thing about this is that you are treating areas of problems by using an oscillating blade," he said. "Instead of the quilt looking ribbed, it's smooth."
Dr. Brown admits the smoother surface can take six months to achieve, but can last up to two years. The procedure takes up to four hours, depending on the number of dimples treated, and costs between $3,000-$6,000. According to the company, the most common side effects reported were soreness, tenderness, and bruising.