HOUSTON – For about 85 percent of adult women, cellulite is a fact of life. Some are so self-conscious, it affects their confidence and even the clothes they choose to wear.
A revolutionary new treatment is promising to zap cellulite without surgery and with limited downtime.
Genetics, hormones, lifestyle, weight loss or weight gain can all play a role in the body's tendency to develop cellulite.
"It's extremely common and it's not preventable. It's programmed within our DNA that we're going to have cellulite," Houston dermatologist Dr. Jennifer Peterson told KPRC 2 News.
Cellulite is most common on the buttocks and thighs where bands of fat pull down on the skin, causing puckering or dimples.
"Cellfina is unique, because it's revolutionizing the treatment of cellulite, because we can finally address these thick bands and release them to release the dimples of cellulite," said Peterson.
Peterson is now treating patients with Cellfina, the only minimally invasive procedure cleared by the Food and Drug Administration that is clinically proven to treat cellulite for up to two years with a single treatment.
Patients report seeing results within a month, and studies show a 94 percent satisfaction rate one year after treatment.
"I do find Cellfina is the best treatment out there available for the treatment of cellulite, because it's the only one that can give us long-lasting results. The lotions, the potions, the massage and even some of the energy devices that we currently have available just give our patients very temporary results, because they're not addressing the root of the problem," Peterson said.
She said the best candidates for the Cellfina procedure are 21 to 55 years old with a body mass index less than 35 who are otherwise in good health.
There is some bruising and swelling, but most return to work the next day.
The average cost runs between $2,000-$5,000.