Therapy

What is Shockwave Therapy for Cellulite?

Millions of dollars are spent on anti-cellulite treatments each year, and that number is expected to surpass $1.5 billion by 2026.

Women are tired of trying to hide their cellulite, so they search for treatment options that will give them the smooth, flawless skin they desire.

Have you tried some of these traditional cellulite treatment options, only to be disappointed with the results?

Stop wasting your money on pills, creams, and treatments that don’t work. At Novus, you can receive a non-invasive cellulite treatment that’s safe and effective – shockwave therapy, the best cellulite treatment in Los Angeles.

What Is Shockwave Therapy (SWT)?

The doctors at Novus use a type of SWT called extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT), meaning the therapy is performed outside of the body, as opposed to an invasive surgical procedure.

A shockwave therapy device produces an acoustic wave that carries high amplitude energy in the form of pressurized air to a certain body part, like your thighs. The device creates changes in pressure, which can stimulate tissues, promote healing and regeneration, and break up hard and soft tissues.

Shockwave therapy has been used in a variety of settings, including

• Breaking up kidney stones
• Plantar fasciitis
• Shoulder and hip pain
• Certain sports injuries
• Tendonitis

Back in 2005, the FDA approved the use of shockwave therapy in several orthopedic settings. Recently, researchers have been studying the effects of a shockwave on cellulite – and the results are exciting!

To understand why shockwave therapy is an effective cellulite treatment, you need to know how cellulite is formed.

What Is Cellulite? What Causes It?

Women experience this more often due to the way their connective tissue is arranged. Theirs develops a vertical pattern, while men have a crisscross structure.

Fibrosis, the thickening or hardening of the collagen cords under your skin, shortens the cords, pulling down on your skin. Fatty tissue in that area will look as if it’s protruding (herniating) around those cords, thereby resulting in bumpy skin.

Causes of cellulite include:

• Changes in subcutaneous tissues
• Water retention
• Changes in the elasticity of the skin (dermis and epidermis)
• Poor lymphatic circulation

What type of impact do these factors have?

• Hormones: Various hormones (including insulin, estrogen, and thyroid hormones, just to name a few) play a role in cellulite production. Estrogen is particularly important because when your hormone levels decrease during menopause, you experience a corresponding decrease in blood flow to subcutaneous connective tissues. Lower collagen production, fibrosis, and enlarged fat cells can all lead to cellulite.
• Age: As you age, your skin will become thinner and lose some of its elasticity, resulting in cellulite.
• Genetics: Family ties can determine where you develop fat, whether you have a fast or slow metabolism, and even your circulatory levels.
• Diet/Lifestyle: Though fit and naturally thin women can have cellulite, when you gain weight, you’re more likely to develop it. Smoking reduces circulation, also a contributing factor in cellulite development.

While cellulite is physically harmless (though in extreme cases become painful due to inflammation, edema, or fibrosis), it’s appearance can make women feel insecure. Few want to invest in painful surgeries, which is why shockwave therapy for cellulite is such an exciting discovery.

Does Shockwave Therapy Work for Cellulite?

• Weakening fibrous subcutaneous tissues
• Reducing lymphedema (swelling caused by poor lymph fluid flow)
• Influencing mesenchymal stem cells (adult stem cells found in fat tissue)
• Improving blood circulation

Taylor & Francis Online shared the results of a review done on 12 research articles about shockwave therapy as a cellulite treatment. They found that this therapy helped to restructure properties of the skin, as well as subcutaneous tissue, thus improving the appearance of cellulite.

Shockwave Therapy – the Best Cellulite Treatment in Los Angeles?

Of course, shockwave therapy isn’t the only cellulite treatment in Los Angeles. There are numerous options, like the popular Cellfina and Cellulaze treatments. How do these compare to shockwave treatment for cellulite?

1. Cellfina: Cellfina is a non-surgical, minimally invasive procedure. After administering a local anesthetic, a doctor will insert a microblade the size of a needle under your skin. Using a fanning technique, they’ll use the blade to release the fibrous subcutaneous connective tissues.

The Cellfina procedure can cause tenderness, minor pain, and bruising, though these typically go away within a few days.

2. Cellulaze: Cellulaze in Los Angeles utilizes a laser, which uses heat to cut the connective tissues below the skin. Post-procedure side effects are similar to Cellfina treatment.

Why Shockwave Therapy Is the Better Option

Shockwave treatment not only treats the tight connective tissue that contributes to cellulite in a minimally invasive way, but it also promotes the health of your tissues.

With shockwave therapy, there’s an improvement in:

• Blood circulation
• Lymph flow and lymphatic drainage
• The breakdown of fat cells
• Collagen production, which increases its flexibility

Another benefit of shockwave therapy is that overall skin elasticity improves tremendously.

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