Cellulaze: Does this new treatment signal the end to cellulite?

By: Katharine Griffiths
Created on 09th February 2012

Virtually all women suffer from some degree of cellulite and up till now there has been no real effective solution. We examine Cellulaze from Cynosure, the world’s first surgical treatment for cellulite

The facts speak for themselves. More than 85 per cent of women over the age of 20 live with the dreaded ‘orange peel’ on their legs and even arms. Diet and exercise won’t eradicate it – even the slimmest women can also have cellulite. Now a new machine has hit the market that promises to solve one of our most talked about body concerns.

So, what’s actually the problem?

Cellulite is caused by excess fat which gets trapped between fibrous bands that connect the surface of the skin to a lower level of tissue. This fat is squeezed and bulges out, which creates the lumpy appearance we all hate.

Mr Fazel Fatah of The Westbourne Centre in Birmingham has been trialling this new machine for Cynosure and so far has been encouraged with the results he and his colleagues have been seeing. “It is important that we offer a treatment that actually works. Any treatment we’ve looked at before – the most well-known utilise forceful massage or ultrasound energy – do not seem to have any reliable or lasting effect.

“The other treatments work by producing a lot of swelling that camouflages the irregularities in the short term but once that ‘reaction' disappears you're back to square one."

How does Cellulaze work?

Cellulite is tackled in three simple steps. Small incisions are made and for the first stage the probe is inserted just below the top layer and pointed down to melt the excess fat.

Then, the probe is pointed horizontally and it cuts through the stiffened fibrous bands which actually cause the orange peel effect. Finally, the laser is placed in the up position and is aimed at the top layer of skin, smoothing out the surface for tight and toned skin.

Mr Fateh has been working with this new machine for over three months and has this to say: "Without any doubt, you'll see a massive improvement in the cellulite although it is not possible to promise complete eradication of the problem. Obviously the more severe the cellulite, the more dramatic the results.

"We either offer it as a standalone treatment or it can be done with laser lipolysis."

In conclusion

Cellulaze is billed as the ‘death of cellulite' and although it may not do exactly that, it does represent the biggest advance in the fight against the dreaded orange peel.

Cellulite treatments on trial

Options range from ‘miracle’ creams through clever underwear and spa treatments. But do they work?

Magic leggings Looking like a normal, albeit rather shiny, pair of black leggings, Proskins promise a whole range of benefits. The manufacturers make compression wear for muscle- recovery after sports and the fabric exerts a gentle squeeze to improve blood flow and enhance lymphatic drainage.

These leggings also contain anti-cellulite ingredients including caffiene, retinol and aloe vera which are packed into microscopic capsules and woven tightly into the yarn.

Although it seems doubtful that a pair of leggings could eradicate cellulite it might improve it’s appearance and trials have also shown that if you wear them for eight hours a day, for 28 days, you should lose 2cm from your waist and thighs which is no bad thing.

Available from: From £35 for cycle-shorts, to £50 for leggings, proskins.co.uk and tesco.com.

At-home model Using low frequency ultrasound technology to break up fat deposits, the new Cavislim by BH UK is the only ‘home cavitation’ product available in the UK.

It promises to banish unwanted cellulite in weeks by simply using the gadget for 30 minutes twice a week and can be used on the stomach, hips, love handles, buttocks, arms and thighs.

This is an expensive investment, through, and it is doubtful whether this provides any long-lasting results.

Available from: There are two models which cost £759 and £1,009, johnlewis.com.

The in-clinic alternative CelluTite is a new application to the BodyTite machine which is based on radiofrequency energy. BodyTite breaks down and removes fat and tightens the skin at the time.

CelluTite has a much finer handpiece which allows the practitioner to work at a superficial level to break down the fibrous bands that connect the top layer of the skin to deeper tissue and therefore release the trapped fat. The fat cells are also targeted and it’s claimed that it can improve the appearance of cellulite by 50 per cent.

Available from: To find your nearest practitioner, email customerservices@ wigmoremedical.com