More common in women than men, cellulite is a skin condition that makes areas around the things, hips, stomach, and buttocks appear lumpy or dimpled. And while it is physically harmless, it can affect mental health, making people feel self-conscious and uncomfortable about their appearance.
A recent Harris Poll of over 2,000 US women revealed that 60 per cent surveyed felt it was their fault for having cellulite and 57 per cent felt judged for their cellulite. The poll also surveyed over 300 board certified dermatologists and plastic surgeons, over 90 per cent of whom wished more women understood having cellulite isn’t their fault.
To varying success, cellulite reduction methods can include weight loss, exercise, massage, and creams. Part of the challenge is that little is known with regards to the causes of cellulite. It can be caused by a variety of factors, including weight and muscle tone, but even the fittest people can develop it.
The skin is tethered to the underlying muscle by fibrous connective cords, with the fat lying in between. Fat cells push up on the skin as they amass, while the long, stiff cords pull down. This results in a dimpling or uneven surface. Furthermore, hormonal variables have a significant influence in the formation of cellulite, and genetics determines skin structure, texture, and body type.
Shockwave therapy, which uses acoustic sound waves to increase metabolism and blood circulation in a targeted area, has proven to be an effective drug-free and non-invasive option for cellulite reduction.
A meta-analysis published in the International Journal of Surgery reviewed eleven clinical trials on the effects of shockwave therapy on cellulite. Of the eleven clinical trials, five were randomized controlled trials. A total of 297 females were included in the meta-analysis, with the randomized controlled trials accounting for 123 females.
Treatment cycles typically consisted of six to eight total sessions, averaging once or twice a week. Outcome parameters focused on photographs, circumference measurements and ultrasound. And even though studies on shockwave therapy for cellulite only began in 2005, researchers concluded there was a “substantial body of evidence” that showing shockwave is effective in cellulite reduction.
One study in particular looked at the impact of shockwave therapy on 21 female patients. Shockwave therapy was applied onto the skin at the lateral thing twice a week for six weeks. Researchers measured results using ultrasound before and after the treatment cycle, and they found shockwave therapy had caused remodeling of the collagen within the tested region.
It’s important that people feel comfortable in their own skin, and shockwave therapy offers a proven, safe modality for cellulite reduction. Shockwave therapy is also effective in treating physically harmful conditions like chronic pain issues, which can also impact mental health. If you would like to learn more about integrating the long-term benefits of shockwave therapy into your practice, call 1 (888) 741-SHOC(7462) or visit our website to learn more.
