Cellulaze June 1 - Discouraged - Maryland

Sorry to read that the procedure did not work for you. I don't know if it is the technique of the doctor during the treatment or your ability to heal or a combination of both. I am 61 years old and hated my cellulite. I first saw the procedure on the Today show and made an appointment with Dr. Bruce Katz, the doctor featured on the show who pioneered the treatment. I figured he would be the most experienced. He was very professional and I was impressed with him and his staff during the procedure which was practically pain free. I had my entire thighs done at the same time -- outer, inner, front and back on August 2nd. It is now approximately nine weeks since the procedure and I have seen a vast improvement in my thighs -- so much so that I bought several bathing suits -- an article of clothing I hadn't worn in years!. One thing I noted in your blog is that you continued to do heavy exercising. My doctor said you could start exercising after 8 days but if it hurts don't do it. Even now I cannot run or even walk quickly without a stinging sensation --- so I don't do it. I found that I can exercise on the eliptical machine without any problem and work out about 45 min to 1 hour several times a week on the eliptical machine in addition to using light weights. If you were running, etc. while having pain -- STOP doing it! I can't say if that contributed to your healing but not doing a particular exercise if it hurt was one of the post-procedure instructions emphasized by my doctor. I also had a problem with scar tissue which was of grave concern to me as it got worse and worse over a very short period of time. Since I am in Florida and my doctor is in NY, I went to my local dermatologist who showed me the proper way to massage the areas. He explained that if massaged incorrectly you can create more scar tissue by damaging the tissue surrounding the scar tissue. You must also massage the area for an extended period of time, a few seconds on an area is not going to do the trick. The first few times I massaged my thighs the pain was so intense I thought I would vomit. However, by massaging for about 30 minutes to an hour twice a day the scar tissue has been broken down and is no longer visible. I am also concerned for you because you have written about all the pain you are in. I was on pain medication the day of and the day after the procedure. After that I took tylenol at night a few times a week for the first week or two. That's it. I have experienced the electrical shocks in my thighs. The skin on my thighs at first felt like it was streched like saran wrap and later on, like I had tight rubber bands wrapped around my lower thighs - just above the knees. For the first month it was hard to sit on the toilet and sitting on chairs with a hard edge can still cause some pain. At present my skin is still sensitive although it is no longer numb. I can honestly say the post-procedure wasn't like a walk in the park and at times I really hurt. Yet, I never had the need for anything stronger than tylenol and I chose not to even use it after the second week. Maybe I just have a higher tolerance to pain. However, it seems like you should not be in this much discomfort at 4 months. My suggestion would be to get a second opinion to determine what can be done. If it were me, I would see if I could get an appointment with Dr. Bruce Katz, the doctor featured on the Today show who did my procedure. The cost of a consultation is well worth knowing if anything more can be done to help you.

Thanks, FL Gal. I am so glad it worked for you! I don't know if it was the technique, doctor, or my own healing that caused me to not get the results. I think he "went too deep" since no results are showing on the skin surface and so many people are reporting great results. I followed all pre and post op directions and did not exercise at all until the Dr. cleared me to do so. He knew that I had goals for running events and triathlons before the procedure and we scheduled it carefully to accommodate that. When I resumed my training, I described the symptoms (the sand bags attached to my thighs!) and pain and he advised that "I push through it". I have a pretty high tolerance for pain. He advised some additional massage during my follow up last week and said that it is likely nerve damage. Time will tell if it is permanent - it has been almost 5 months. If I catch the back of my legs the wrong way on a chair, it sends a sharp pain - similar to what you describe as an electrical shock. Most discouraging is that the cellulite is the same - and the back of my legs actually look worse with the added bands of fat - still no swim suit in public. He has offered to touch up and add liposuction (for free), but I am not sure I should have him redo it. My gut says "no way"! Would you? A second opinion is a must before I do anything. I wish I had the opportunity to see Dr. Katz - even for a consultation - that segment on the Today Show is actually what prompted me to do this.

Post pics

Gezzzz where in Maryland. I'm going for some touch up Lipo from years ago and cellulaze next week. Not happy about the down gym time either. Ugh.

Thanks LaurelC - I am still discouraged :(...I posted an update today.
Undecided28 - my doctor took before pictures and is waiting until 3 months to take after pictures - I did have my husband take before pictures so I will get him to take some (and then figure out how to post them!). Maybe they will show some improvement...

I am from Florida and flew to NY for the Cellulaze procedure approximately six weeks ago on the front, back, outer and inner thighs at a cost of over $13,000. I am in excellent health, work out, eat healthily and am not overweight -- most people think I am in my 40s (I am 61). My doctor was very professional and the procedure went without a hitch. However, one thing I found to be deficient was that no one told me about the after effects -- most particularly that I would have excessive scar tissue ---lumps and bumps have replaced the cellulite within the first two weeks after the procedure. I called the doctor's office and was told to massage the areas several times a day. This has helped break down some of the larger lumps (most were the size of grapes but I also had a few the size of silver dollars) but when they break down in one area they seem to emerge somewhere else on my thighs. Has anyone else had this problem? Do you use any special creme when massaging or is there anything that has worked well? Will the scar tissue eventually go away in several months time or can I expect this to replace the cellulite?

hi there- wanted to let you know that I am fully back to all my activities- both tennis and spinning.   My skin still feels a bit weird, but I can do all my normal workouts and feel fine.   I wrote you almost 4 weeks ago and I have improved so much in that time.   So patience is the key.   We all heal at different speeds.    I am 10 weeks today.   So 2 1/2 months.   And my cellulite looks so much better- not perfect- but tons of improvement.  My super big dimples are either gone or significantly less pronounced.    So keep your chin up mama.  

Hey....I hope all is well n u received maximum results... Please update us....n if possible can u post before n after pictures....thanx