Q: What are the pros and cons of Endermologie?

Pros It's a quick treatment, lasting just 15-35 minutes. The treatment isn't painful and comes with no downtime or side effects. A single treatment session is relatively inexpensive. It has health benefits beyond cellulite and fat reduction, including lymphatic stimulation, fluid drainage, and muscle pain relief. Doctors on RealSelf say it can improve the results of body contouring procedures, including liposuction. Cons It's a real time commitment: a recommended 12-16 initial treatment sessions, once or twice a week, followed by additional treatments to enhance results. The cost of that many treatment sessions can really add up. Results take time to appear, and they aren't permanent: you'll need follow-up appointments to maintain them. It gets a much lower Worth It Rating from RealSelf members than other cellulite treatments like Qwo and Emtone .

Question 1

What is Endermologie?

Accepted Answer

Body Endermologie is an FDA-cleared, nonsurgical treatment used to reduce the appearance of cellulite. It uses a combination of suction and deep-tissue massage to stimulate the lymphatic system, break up fat, reduce fluid retention, and activate fibroblast cells to produce new collagen and hyaluronic acid. This increased collagen can help thicken and mildly firm skin tone.

The treatment is painless and has no downtime or side effects, unlike more invasive cellulite treatments like Cellfina, which cuts the connective tissue bands that pull down skin and cause dimples.

The device was initially developed by French engineer Louis-Paul Guitay (LPG) in the 1980s to loosen scar tissue from burns and muscle damage he suffered in a car accident. Physical therapists and patients soon discovered it was effective at reducing the appearance of cellulite, too.

Related: These Are the Top Cellulite Treatments, According to Doctors & RealSelf Members

Question 2

What is Endermologie used for?

Accepted Answer

Most providers offer Endermologie, sometimes called lipomassage, as a cellulite treatment for the thighs and butt, but it’s also safe to use on other areas.

Some also use it as a complement to liposuction or other fat-reduction body treatments. By stimulating the lymphatic system, Endermologie encourages your body to drain excess fluids, which reduces swelling and inflammation and shortens liposuction recovery time.

The treatment can also improve body contouring results and make the skin look smoother. As Dr. Ricardo Vega, a plastic surgeon in Baja, California, explains in a RealSelf Q&A, “Endermologie is great after liposuction. It helps tighten skin, firm, and also reduce cellulite.”

Because it’s a form of massage therapy, the treatment can also help relieve muscle aches and pains, along with improving both blood circulation and lymphatic circulation.

Related: 6 In-Office Cellulite Treatments That Work—Including One You’ve Never Heard of

Question 3

What are the pros and cons of Endermologie?

Accepted Answer

Pros

It's a quick treatment, lasting just 15-35 minutes.
The treatment isn't painful and comes with no downtime or side effects.
A single treatment session is relatively inexpensive.
It has health benefits beyond cellulite and fat reduction, including lymphatic stimulation, fluid drainage, and muscle pain relief.
Doctors on RealSelf say it can improve the results of body contouring procedures, including liposuction.

Cons

It's a real time commitment: a recommended 12-16 initial treatment sessions, once or twice a week, followed by additional treatments to enhance results.
The cost of that many treatment sessions can really add up.
Results take time to appear, and they aren't permanent: you'll need follow-up appointments to maintain them.
It gets a much lower Worth It Rating from RealSelf members than other cellulite treatments like Qwo and Emtone.

Question 4

How much does Endermologie cost?

Accepted Answer

One treatment session typically costs between $60 and $100, but this is dependent on your provider's level of experience and practice location. You’ll need multiple sessions to see significant results, so providers typically offer discounted treatment packages.

Also keep in mind that results are not permanent. To maintain them, you will need to plan for annual follow-up treatments, which can become costly.

The most promising new cellulite treatment, Qwo, costs more up-front, but studies show that results last as long as four years.

Question 5

What should you expect during an Endermologie treatment?

Accepted Answer

Each treatment session lasts 15-35 minutes. First, you’ll be asked to wear a bodysuit that prevents the massage tool from directly touching your skin and helps reduce swelling.

A certified Endermologist will use the small handheld massage tool to gently suction and knead the entire body, focusing primarily on the areas with cellulite.

The device uses a combination of suction, rolling, and pulsating to break up the fat deposits locked within the deep tissue.

As the tissue loosens in the treated area, clumps of fat cells slowly break apart, smoothing skin to reduce the "cottage cheese" or "orange peel" appearance of cellulite. The massage also stimulates the lymphatic system and reduces fluid retention.

Question 6

How many Endermologie treatments are needed?

Accepted Answer

The manufacturer recommends 12-16 Endermologie treatment sessions, once or twice a week, followed by individual follow-up sessions to enhance your results.

Quicker results can be achieved by scheduling multiple appointments per week until a visible difference is seen.

Question 7

How long do Endermologie results last?

Accepted Answer

The cellulite reduction you'll see from this treatment isn't permanent, and the length in which results last will vary. Depending on your age and lifestyle, results typically last around six months. Also, monthly upkeep sessions are needed in order to maintain optimal results.

RealSelf Tip: Endermologie isn’t a weight loss treatment, and the best candidates are at a stable weight, since gaining weight can lead to new cellulite (or make dimpling more obvious).

Question 8

Does Endermologie really work?

Accepted Answer

While some patients do see results after a series of treatments, Endermologie isn't the most effective cellulite treatment option.

According to a small study conducted by the manufacturer in 2008, LPG, Endermologie, 12 treatment sessions produced "an increase in the lipolytic responsiveness of femoral adipose tissue in women with cellulite": in other words, the contents of fat cells in the hips and thighs were more easily released into the blood stream.

A larger independent study published in 2009 concluded that "LPG Endermologie is a well-tolerated and effective method for reducing the diameter of body circumference, however, it is mildly effective in reducing the cellulite grade."

RealSelf members give it decidedly mixed reviews for getting rid of cellulite. While type: embedded-entry-inline id: Ks6V6ARYAktTMUTOEu3el said the treatment was "Worth It," often citing noticeable cellulite reduction, others say Endermologie helps them more with reducing water retention and inflammation than with cellulite treatment, fat loss, or skin smoothing. And some say they saw no difference at all.

Related: Qwo, A Newly FDA-Approved Injectable Is Being Called a “Game Changer” for Cellulite

Question 9

Is Endermologie painful?

Accepted Answer

Patients report no pain during the procedure and no side effects. For some, Endermologie feels like a relaxing massage, while others find it just tolerable.

The strength of the treatment can also be adjusted, if you feel any discomfort. Some people report bruising post-treatment, but this isn't the case for everyone.

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Julie Ricevuto

Julie Ricevuto

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