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Cellulite

Non-invasive and minimally-invasive options for the treatment of cellulite in Nashville & Memphis

Treating Cellulite With Non-Surgical Skin Tightening

Cellulite is a term used to describe lumpy, dimpled skin. It mostly affects the thighs, hips, buttocks, and belly. It can have genetic causes or be brought on by pregnancy and weight gain. Many women experience a loss of skin elasticity caused by aging rather than true cellulite.

To treat cellulite, your surgeon applies targeted heat generated by radio frequency energy to the surface of the skin (non-invasive), or via a thin wand under the skin (minimally-invasive). Our cellulite treatments are available at our fully-equipped cosmetic surgery centers in Nashville and Memphis and are performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon with over 20 years of experience in cosmetic surgery.

Cellulite woman with sand covered legs at beach

What can I expect?

Using a range of non-invasive and minimally-invasive radio frequency assisted treatments, we can reduce the appearance of cellulite caused by age-related skin laxity. Such treatments can shrink tissues and effectively smooth out the uneven skin many women develop on thighs and buttocks.

BodyTite’s bipolar radio frequency technology as well as Renuvion’s helium plasma technology have been proven particularly effective in shrinking tissues without surgery. NuBody Concepts’ own Dr. Peters was recently awarded top honors by InMode for his achievements in treating cellulite with BodyTite. 

Non-invasive treatments (ThermiSmooth/Exilis) take about an hour with no downtime, but may require a repeat application. Minimally-invasive procedures (BodyTite/Renuvion) take up to 4 hours depending on area of coverage and require up to 5 days of recovery, but no repeat treatment.

Each patient is unique. What your treatment will look like is determined by you and the plastic surgeon who you will meet with in a personal consultation.

Cellulite many women with legs of different skin tones and shapes

Is a Cellulite treatment right for me?

Do you have bumpy, dimpled skin in the fleshier areas of your body, such as buttocks and thighs? It could be caused by true cellulite, but it could also be the result of age-related laxity of skin, like it is for many women. To find out which of our cellulite treatments is best suited for your individual circumstances, schedule a consultation at our Nashville or Memphis office.

Both of our plastic surgeons are board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and have over 20 years of experience performing a wide range of surgical and minimally-invasive cosmetic procedures. In addition, our Licensed Aesthetician in Nashville has achieved great skin tightening results with her non-invasive treatment over the past six years.

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Frequently Asked Questions

For most women, the biggest areas of complaint are the upper thighs and buttocks. This is typically where you can see the biggest improvement in a reduction of that dimpled skin associated with cellulite. However, skin tightening treatments are not limited to the thighs and buttocks. If you have lax skin anywhere on your body, we can treat and tighten it.

Results can be seen 3-5 days after the procedure once the swelling has gone down, should you experience any. If your cellulite is removed with BodyTite radio frequency treatment, your results will continue to improve over the course of 12 months, with excellent results noticeable after 6 weeks.

It depends on how your surgeon has customized the procedure, but in general you can estimate approximately 15 minutes per treated zone. If you add in liposuction to remove fat in addition to tightening the skin, your procedure can last 2- 2.5 hours.

When using a minimally-invasive cellulite treatment like BodyTite, your recovery will take 3-5 days. Patients can typically resume regular activities the next day as tolerated, but are advised to wait a week before resuming strenuous exercise. When using a non-invasive cellulite treatment like Exilis or ThermiSmooth, there will be no notable recovery period.

Cellulite is not an easy problem for plastic surgeons to tackle. The outcome depends on your skin elasticity and amount of subcutaneous fat. When we treat cellulite, we are really treating age-related skin laxity by using various means of skin tightening technologies. Such a treatment provides a reset point for your skin, meaning your skin looks younger and fresher after your procedure, but from then on the natural aging process continues. New weight gain could also speed up the emergence of new areas of dimpled skin. But generally speaking, you do not need any repeat treatments when treating cellulite. Your results will also continue to improve over the course of a year, as the tightened skin contracts further.

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Payment Options

Looking your best with a cellulite treatment is attainable! Our prices are all-inclusive – no hidden costs or other surcharges. We offer interest-free payment plans through several medical financing providers. Pricing starts at $1,800 for non-invasive treatments and $4,900 for minimally-invasive treatments.

Don’t know if you qualify for a payment plan? Click the button below to check your credit score and submit an application for medical financing to get pre-approved.

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Cellulite Testimonials

Additional Information about Cellulite

Nearly 85% to 90% of all women – and a small number of men – will develop cellulite in their lifetime. Although cellulite typically appears on the upper thighs, it may also appear on the buttocks and upper arms. Cellulite is a normal and natural pattering of fat that can affect people of all shapes and sizes.

What is Cellulite?

Cellulite is a term used to describe the small dimples or lumps that can form on the thighs, hips, buttocks, and/or abdomen. The dimpling of cellulite, also known as gynoid lipodystrophy, is often caused by alterations in subcutaneous fat layers – fat that rests beneath the skin. The condition is more prevalent in women, but has also been seen in a number of men.

Cellulite Symptoms

There are no physical or uncomfortable symptoms of cellulite. Often, the only symptom is dimpled or bumpy flesh. Some people tend to describe the condition as having cottage cheese skin or skin akin to an orange peel texture.

Many people may not notice cellulite until they pinch or manipulate the skin where their cellulite is located. However, cellulite that is more severe may cause areas where your body peaks or valleys to look rumpled or bumpy.

Cellulite is most common on the thighs and buttocks, but can also be found on the breasts, lower abdomen, and upper arms.

Grades of Cellulite

Cellulite may be placed in three different categories depending on severity. These are called grades.

  • Grade 1: Slight, superficial depressions (orange peel) in the skin, often accompanied by a sagging appearance.
  • Grade 2: Characterized by more than 5 medium-depth depressions (cottage cheese) and a slightly more “draped” or sagging appearance.
  • Grade 3: More severe drooping or sagging of the skin with 10 or more deep depressions.

What Causes Cellulite?

It is believed that Cellulite forms when fibrous bands (called septae), connective tissue which connects the skin to the underlying muscle, begin tightening irregularly. This can pull down the surface of the skin and potentially cause the skin to break down, allowing the natural fatty tissues beneath the skin to be pushed upward – resulting in the appearance of cellulite. Although it may be more noticeable in people who may be overweight, it can also occur in very lean women. Weight loss alone typically does not help you get rid of cellulite altogether.

Genetics may also contribute to the dimpled appearance of cellulite, as can the hormonal changes brought on by pregnancy.

Is Cellulite Permanent?

Unfortunately, skin dimpled with cellulite is often a permanent condition. However, there are many treatments that may reduce the appearance of cellulite.  Treatments for cellulite vary from at home remedies to slightly invasive surgeries to reduce cellulite. Some of the most common treatments for cellulite include:

  • Deep massage therapy
  • Cellulite creams
  • Weight loss
  • Hydration
  • Exercise to thicken the skin
  • Acoustic wave therapy
  • Laser assisted treatments
  • Body contouring
  • Ultrasonic liposculpting
  • Radio frequency assisted lipolysis
  • Subcision (vacuum assisted precise tissue release)

How to Treat Cellulite

Non-Surgical Skin Tightening

Cellulite or the appearance of cellulite caused by age-related skin laxity can effectively be treated with one-time, radio frequency assisted skin tightening treatments such as BodyTite or Renuvion. Non-invasive (i.e. purely external) treatments like Exilis or ThermiSmooth can also be used in cases of mild cellulite or sagging skin.

BodyTite and Renuvion are minimally-invasive procedures that “coagulate” or shrink tissues via a small cannula inserted under the skin. They are very similar in their use and it may come down to surgeon preference which one is recommended for you. Dr. Mark Peters of NuBody Memphis recently won 1st place in InMode’s Expert Clinician Award Program for his achievements in using BodyTite for cellulite removal, and NuBody Concepts Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Rosdeutscher has been one of the first plastic surgeons to introduce Renuvion in the Nashville area.

Cellulite removal is an outpatient procedure that can last 1-4 hours depending on how many areas you are having treated. It can take 1-5 days of recovery depending on the specific treatment you receive.

Laser Treatments

There are many laser treatments approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for cellulite. These often show good results for reducing the appearance of cellulite. These treatments often mix massage therapy, liposuction, or light therapies that may help increase the effectiveness of the laser treatment. It can liquefy fat cells, cut connective tissue to loosen puckering, boost collagen growth and skin tightening, increase blood flow, and lessen fluid retention. Expect results to last at least 6 months.

BodyTite

BodyTite is a non-surgical body contouring procedure delivering skin tightening results previously only achieved through invasive surgical procedures. BodyTite is powered by directional radiofrequency, and is also referred to as radio frequency assisted lipolysis (RFAL). BodyTite has shown promising results in cellulite reduction

Renuvion

Renuvion is a non-surgical procedure that tightens the skin by up to 60%. It can be applied to abdomen, buttocks, flanks, thighs, arms & more to help reduce cellulite. Using radio frequency energy powered by helium plasma, Renuvion applies bursts of highly controlled heat to the underlying tissues to tighten the skin. It is an ideal alternative to more invasive surgery for patients with moderately saggy skin. It is also an excellent alternative to CoolSculpting.

Side Effects of Cellulite Treatments

Depending on the treatment option you pursue, you may experience slight bruising, irritation, and swelling at the site of the treatment. You may see results as early as the first week after treatment, yet most people experience the best results around the 2 – 3 week mark. Although the treatments help reduce the appearance of cellulite for a period of time, it is difficult to get rid of cellulite all together. Additional treatments may be required to see the best long-term results.