Exilis: Stories

Confused... Are you asking if Exilis is good following your surgery to remove staples or if the Exilis is ok to use over staples which it is not... Also pease keep in mind that the Exilis and all like devices work best in patients with a BMI below 30 or patients within 25-35 pounds of normal.

Hi Nichal. You seem to know your stuff! Thank you so much for your comments! I would love to have the Exilis treatment. I had my gall bladder removed in the 80's, and the staples are still inside me. Do you think this would be too risky. I have never had a problem after the surgery, and I don't want to start now. My belly is hugh; maybe the cushion I need. I would love some feedback from you. The doctor who would perform the surgery says that it will be ok. kneedtono

Kathi,

Thanks. And I agree that waiting is key. I also hope that the body will do some of its own healing.

I do like the suction/RF combo for cellulite. I will note and research the Viora Reaction and compare it to the next gen Vela when it comes out. (I do have one area with cellulite that I haven't treated with Exilis to date).

4ever Y,

I had four rounds of Exilis, and I saw no results. I did neck, upper arms, upper thighs. I saw no results at all, and the facility was just too far away and I had spent too much $ for no visible results. The nurse was really great and informative. There were two nurse in the practice, and they both had used the Exilis on one another and on others in the office. Most of them had good results. My nurse was sixty, thin and with beautiful skin. She said that some patients have good results and some have no results. She thought she started to see some results in my upper arms but that was only temporary. There was no improvement neck or thighs.

The plastic surgeon I saw in NYC uses the Viora Reaction. He thinks it is the best machine to date. It is very much like Exilis, although it has a suction handpiece like Vela. He was also very honest and said that even with a powerful machine like the Viora, I may get only 20-30% improvement in upper arms, so I must decide if it is worth it.

He was doubtful whether I could tighten the slack in my skin from the large volume loss from the Vela II machine. Too much, too fast, was his opinion. As far as improvement of the gouges that the Vela II made in the skin, he said all he could do is try, but to wait a while and that the treatments should be 2-3 weeks apart in order to assess the progress.

The way the skin in the upper thighs has been compromised, I wouldn't let machine touch me for a few months....

Kathi,

One other comment. When my front thighs shrunk with Exilis (I could really tell this week), I did notice looser skin too (even though I had been doing 50/50 fat reduction and tightening). So this week, on my final #4 of the set of 4, I just did tightening only. I will let you know if it works for me.

How many rounds of Exilis did you try in that area to try to tighten it? (and did you see further fat loss?)

Kathi,

The biggest problem I see is that the Velashape technician worked on both legs, when you only wanted it on one. As I mentioned, I have uneven thighs also, we measured them and the nurse spent far more time on the bigger thigh. I don't get how the doctor could possibly blame you for that, regardless of why your thighs are uneven in the first place. I assume that getting a dent was from some uneven application of the RF. I do know that I got a welt from it last time (still there after a week but going away). But I am extremely cautious and stop the nurse instantly if it feels wrong. (especially after all I read here).

The nice part is the nurse had the treatment recently, so she now truly understands, for example that the grounding pad can get very hot. She always respected my requests to stop, but still, first hand experience brings empathy. I do trust her - has been built over time.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Nickal,

I wasn't able to see the doctor today, so will need to wait to ask about pricing for hands. The nurse said she has done them for others with good results, which is encouraging.

Kathi,

In over 14,000 Vela treatments, we've never seen the issues you are reporting. You might want to speak to Syneron Medical to get their opinion but it's certainly nothing they have every reported to the field. One last comment and this is not meant towards you but everyone looking to have work done.

You need to have proper expectations when it comes to patient outcomes. If you are looking to take off about a decade of aging, Botox, Fillers, lasers, Exilis etc. can for the most part, accomplish that. If you're looking to slow down the aging process and age as youthfuly as possible, all the above and more can accomplish that. But... If you are looking to go back in time and have the body, face & skin of a 20 year old, that just is not realistic. 50 can be the new 35-40 or so but 50 cannot be 20

It's truly amazing what we are now able to do without surgery and yes over time the tech, the protocols and skills of the people using them will get better and better. It will still NEVER be the same for all patients. So what to look for? First a center that has experienced practitioners. Second, look for centers that own not rent their lasers and for those that properly maintain their equipment. Third look for centers that bring in new but proven technology. Ask tough questions and demand sound answers. Lastly don't buy the farm. Start slow, build trust and prove in what works best or not at all.

Oh, one thing I meant to say. Since I gave in to the advice that I needed to do both legs, I now have lost half an inch off of each thigh...leaving them STILL lopsided. And, the left thigh which was firm and smooth, now is loose, and flabby, and flawed.

Hi nical,

I just returned from meeting with the doctor who owns the facility where I had VelaShape II. He interviewed me extensively about what happened, and did seem genuinely concerned. He did, however, dwell on a few things for quite sometime that I thought were strange. Since I have one thigh larger than the other, I had told the practitioner that I wanted only that one treated. She argued that I should have both thighs done at once. My point at the onset was that the Vela I had seven years ago did a good job on the left thigh, but was ineffective on the left. He seemed to suggest that it was not normal to have one thigh larger than the other (I then showed him the size difference between my arms, as well) , and thought that I must have an edema problem. I told him I have never had that problem. He questioned me excessively about having had surgeries that may contribute to edema, something that would clog the lymph or duct system, like breast or hernia, etc. I said no, I have had no surgeries. He said "Really?, that would seem a logical reason for edema.". I said that I have had this lopsidedness lifelong, and he said "uh, huh...". I said my chiropractor said I am shorter on the right side! We finally got off the surgery subject when I lifted up my shirt and pulled down my skirt and showed him my full torso, which shows no surgery scars.

Of course, the light was bright and all the blinds were up so the worst of my injuries did not show as they do in more unkind lighting. I offered to have him and the technician accompany me into the bathroom of the facility, where I had just checked things out prior to this appointment, but he declined.

There really was no final analysis, just the mantra that Vela does not harm and probably did make some improvement but it was not the improvement I was hoping for. He said there is some risk that the results will be worse than when you began. I told him that there was absolutely no improvement and certainly I would never have begun the treatments had I been told that results could be worse than what I started with. (Really, is there anyone who takes that kind of risk?).

He has offered to have me see a plastic surgeon to get his opinion. He said this surgeon does not use Vela, so there is no conflict. I will do this, as I want to hear as many opinions as possible. Certainly I will have no treatments of any kind for some time. I will work on skin recovery, which I am told could take months.

It is possible...only possible, that I am noticing a little less prominent an imprint where the rectangular imprint is....but again, it could have been the lighting!

Of course, as has been stated repeatedly, these machines are all still new, and we don't really know what to expect, even with my having prior experience with an earlier model...I probably should have asked more questions. But, the questions I did ask....regarding the most important concerns I had.....the answers I got were just...wrong.

Hi Nickal,

I will check it out and let you know.

ps I spotted your initial posts a couple of months ago, you give a lot to this board, thank you!!

Hands, fingers and wrist can all be done. On top of hand try and get above 40C. On fingers just treat for a few minutes. Will have some discomfort anywhere there is bone so tech need to keep hand piece moving. We usually can treat both hands in about 20-25 minutes.

Thanks. Sorry to bother you again, but

1. how long do you spend on each hand? 10 minutes, or 10 minutes after it reaches 40+ ?

2. Do you do the individual finger (with the loose skin on the knuckles) also, or just the main hand with the big hand knuckles? (don't know the medical terms)

interesting re lips! (makes sense, why not)

For hands above 40 is the target. Skin is thin but 41 is as high as most patients can tolerate. Here is another one. Try treating your lips. Awesome treatment..

Thanks Nickal! How much time do you spend on each hand? Do you still take it to 41-43, even though the skin is thinner there?

I know that Radiesse can help if the skin is thin and the veins show, but I don't currently have that problem or pigment issues (still too young I think, or high use of sunscreen?).

But I could use some tightening on my hands while it is still mild. (an ounce of prevention...). My elbows are much looser, when I straight my arm, the looseness is very visible and just stays there.

I will ask the doctor today, and if affordable, will start on it - I may even post before/after pictures, since I can still be very anonymous, and it isn't personal.

For hands we use only the small hand piece which is for skin tightening and the results are excellent. 4 treatments are required and best results 4-6 months after last treatment. In addition to tightening, very good textural changes and even pigmentation changes. Sometimes we add in a syringe of Radiesee in each hand to add additional volume. Never tried the elbow but don't see why it would not work.

Nickal,

If you define an area as 1 outstretched hand, then it maps to the 5x7 area my clinic defines. But they spend 30 minutes on that section. So that is why I go for 4 hours and not 2, they call 4 areas what you call 8 areas. I'm sure relative pricing accounts for that.

I am glad you told me that the reduction continues. That is CRITICAL to know. I am definitely stopping after 4. I just needed a little and do NOT want even more reduction/volume loss.

BTW, do you have much experience with Exilis for tightening the hands and elbow, to be able to comment on actual results, vs theoretical? Such a great opportunity for tightening, and I see no before/after pics on it. I read someone in Europe was doing good things with hand, but again no pics.

I am particularly interested in whether tightening the hands resulted in any fat loss. (I still remember that earlier Thermage (RF) also caused some fat loss.) That area is already so thin as we age, would be really bad.

I would jump in for those 2 areas if the path were fairly proven and safe.

We have 8 different lasers as not one laser can do it all. With multiple lasers we can treat all skin types for; sun damage, age spots, fine lines/wrinkles, laxity, large pores, skin tone & texture, acne scars, body scars, active acne, Melasma, Rosacea, facial veins, laser hair removal, stretch marks, toe nail fungus, and more.

Find a center that specializes only in aesthetics and has the technology and experienced practitioners to maximize results. Be careful of cut rate Groupon type offerings as centers that offer the best in class of technology plus best staff cannot afford to offer such extreme discounts. I'd also stay away from centers that have you meet with a highly paid sales guy to close you. Meet with the practitioner that will be treating you. Lastly, don't buy too many areas at one time. If you're looking to have body contouring done and want multiple areas pick one or two. After six months if you're satisfied pick one or two more. Same for skin tightening.

What type of laser do you use? That's another realm of selection....!

Kathi,

We use PRP in combination with laser treatments. Laser's stimulate collagen and PRP stimulates productoin of elastin. Frequenly combinatoin therapies provide the best results.

Wow...yes, I've heard of it. A friend, also a medical aesthetician, has had the "Vampire Facelift". She liked the results, but frankly I couldn't see a difference. Of course, she is only 36 and has access to everything new, so she always looks good. She did say it was quite painful, though. But, that is a good thought for me to ponder. Would you suggest that over any of the lasers for regenerating lost collagen?

PRP is Platelet Rich Plasma sold as Selphyl and sometimes called The Vampire Facelift. Basically we take syringe ofa patients blood spin it in a high speed centrifuge that seperates platelets, add in the fibrin matrin from the supplier and inject. PRP contains platelets, growth factors & stem cells that create collagen and elastin.

Hi,

Good information. What is PRP?