POSTED UNDER Velashape REVIEWS
VelaShape GAVE Me Cellulite - Montreal, QC
ORIGINAL POST
The absolute last thing I expected a cellulite...
thinkagainAugust 17, 2012
$150
The absolute last thing I expected a cellulite treatment to do was give me cellulite, but that's what happened. I bought a promo voucher for a VelaShape treatment through Living Social. I really didn't have much cellulite and this wasn't something I was too concerned about, but I thought it would be a harmless way to pamper myself, a little spa treatment. I went in for the treatment, which was up in small clinic in an office building. It was nothing fancy, but the staff was nice. I arrived a little late and the provider seemed to be in a bit of a rush, but from what the receptionist said, she did take the regular amount of time to do the treatment. The treatment felt absolutely wonderful. It was like a deep, heated massage and coming out of there, I felt like I was walking on air, practically euphoric like you would be from a great massage. I followed the instructions and drank lots of water and worked out a little that day.
The next day, I had a look in the mirror and was stunned to see that my thighs actually looked much lumpier! If I didn't have cellulite before, I sure had it now. You could see indentations where the suction had been performed. I thought maybe it was swelling and waited for some improvement over the next few days, but it didn't get much better. In the before picture taken at the clinic, you will see that my behind look fine. In the after picture, taken 3 days later, it looks like your grandma's lumpy backside.
I blocked out background in the after photo for privacy reasons, but the pictures are otherwise unretouched. Notice how in the after picture, my right thigh has changed shape, even the crease of the buttock is different. This is not because of the pose, it looks like that any time I stand straight.
I feel like a bit of an idiot because I've had bad experiences with plastic surgery and beauty treatments before, and when I came to the clinic I was on the phone with a friend saying that I didn't really have cellulite and had misgivings about going through with it. But I thought I was just being chicken and I figured the worst that could happen was that it wouldn't do anything.
After I got this lousy result, I googled 'velashape makes cellulite worse' and found that, sure enough, I wasn't the only one this had happened to. I had lipo on my outer thighs nearly 20 years ago, so I don't know if that had something to do with it. I complained to the clinic and they said it was impossible. Look at my butt and tell me I don't have more cellulite now than before!
Having cellulite is not the end of the world, but PAYING to get it is like adding insult to injury.
I think the providers of this treatment should be better informed of the possible adverse effects, and should be more honest about them when informing their clients.
My only consolation is that VelaShape results are not permanent (hopefully!) and that eventually, my behind will go back to how it used to look. It's possible that the treatment wasn't done right and that another round might correct the unevenness. I am planning to go back and see if there is anything they can do. I'm really disappointed it looks so bad because the treatment itself felt absolutely great and was so relaxing.
Replies (20)
May 3, 2015
I'm sorry you didn't get results and can understand how disappointing it must be. But thank you for sharing your story and sharing your photos, you're a good person, because so far no one is happy WITH THIER DIFFERENT TREATMENTS. And the ones that have had cellulaze or Velashape & ARE HAPPY WITH RESULTS ARE NOT POSTING PHOTOS. So I will just have to chalk it up to this: there is nothing out there from cellulite:(
May 3, 2015
Cellfina was just approved for cellulite treatment and looks promising, but since it is so new there aren't any reviews from real people- just the info from Cellfina. Â So time will tell- but I personally think it looks like it may have some potential.
August 3, 2015
I'm so sad for you. I had the same thing happen after only 1 treatment in my thighs. Has it gone down? Have you found anything to fix it? Please share. I'm dying!!
August 20, 2015
UPDATE: The cellulite effect has gone down. I am guessing this is a short term effect on most ppl.
August 20, 2015
Anna55, I think that they could work, if you wore them for an hour every day, they say for 30 min. while exercising, that will get them working all over if your doing Pilates or anything on the mat. I didn't keep it up. I'm always on the go. And I just didn't want the stares..because they're different. I did wear them to Pilates class once, and no one looked, it was an early morning class. I don't know if they thought I was trying to be stylish with little balls on my pants ..lol!!! But I actually think they're kind of cute, but I've got a butt on me. When you think about the concept of them, I think they could really help. The little balls of wood sewn in, can break up that deep fat..cellulite when you are exercising on the mat. They don't hurt, they feel like they are getting the blood circulating there, so that's got to be good. I use to use a massager on my liposuctioned areas. Of course like everything, we stop doing it after a while. I wore them when I got home for the evening. I think I will get back into wearing them, do my stretches in the morning for 1/2 hr. We pay so much for our clothes anyway, why not for clothes like this? Did you go to Cellilite Crushers on their web site yet? I actually discovered them in NEW BEAUTY magazine about 4 mo. ago. Then I went to the web site & ordered. Go to the web site and check them out. It will explain them better.
August 20, 2015
You are lucky that the bad result was temporary! I am guessing that you had no prior liposuction in the area, and you are young :-)
August 20, 2015
Inspector Cruso 59, I have checked the website. Those pants could be my next option. Right now I am doing massages and I have an idea to try stretch mark creams to improve circulation. Hopefully they would also work on my issue, which in my opinion is a combination of cellulite, lumpy post-lipo fat and possibly stretched skin.
August 21, 2015
Eventualy if we keep at it maybe we can be rid of these, or at least put them at a hault. I've seen a lot of women at swim class with some awful cellulite, I mean lumps & lumps!! But these woman have a lot of excess weight on them also. I never noticed cellulite on myself until after the Lipo, but it is disturbing.
August 18, 2015
Review after 2 years post Vela 2 treatment; perhaps it would help someone.
I also got disappointing result after 1 treatment in the back of thighs. When bruising and swelling was gone in about 10 days, I had what looked like hills and valleys under the skin and one bigger lump of fat on one leg. Now, after 2 years, and some weight loss (approx. 10 lbs), the isolated lump of fat is mostly gone, hills are partly gone, but valleys/dimples are still there, and overall the skin might be a bit loose. I will never do Vela or any RF, nor any suctioning device again. But I am contemplating adding some filler into the dimpled areas, and if successful, maybe conservative fat transfer later? For now, I am trying to loose more fat naturally, and see if the valleys get less visible. I am also trying to exercise muscles in the backs of my legs, massage those areas, and in general, improve circulation in those spots in hopes of mobilizing the fat and naturally loosening and redistributing it. I will also be watching other people's reviews of Cellfina (cutting the fibrous bands).
I also got disappointing result after 1 treatment in the back of thighs. When bruising and swelling was gone in about 10 days, I had what looked like hills and valleys under the skin and one bigger lump of fat on one leg. Now, after 2 years, and some weight loss (approx. 10 lbs), the isolated lump of fat is mostly gone, hills are partly gone, but valleys/dimples are still there, and overall the skin might be a bit loose. I will never do Vela or any RF, nor any suctioning device again. But I am contemplating adding some filler into the dimpled areas, and if successful, maybe conservative fat transfer later? For now, I am trying to loose more fat naturally, and see if the valleys get less visible. I am also trying to exercise muscles in the backs of my legs, massage those areas, and in general, improve circulation in those spots in hopes of mobilizing the fat and naturally loosening and redistributing it. I will also be watching other people's reviews of Cellfina (cutting the fibrous bands).
August 19, 2015
I hear you, I had Lipo on outer thighs at 60, the saddlebags, but my PS also did back of thighs. I think the saddles took well, but that backs of thighs have a lot of lumps & bumps. Although they are unsightly in a swim suit, because they are mostly on upper thighs. I thought that maybe it would dissipate after a while, because they were purplish, now after 6 mo. Since Lipo I see that the purple is gone but lumps remain. It could be worse at my age. I have seen a lot of ladies out there with lumpy bumpy thighs. So I think when this Cellufina comes out maybe there will be some hope for us. ??? $$$ Cha Ching!!!
August 19, 2015
I have the Cellulite Crusher athletic crop pants. I wore them for a while, at home, but it has gotten so hot here in NY, I had to stop. But they could help, if I was willing to wear the things in public..ha ha!!! They are basically crop tights with wooden beads sewn all around the thighs and buttocks!!! Kind of cute, if your a thin gal...with no butt. Lol!! I must remember to wear them at in the evening when I'm in for the evening. They come from the UK so they take a while to get them, they have to go through Customs!!!! $97.00.
August 19, 2015
Same story here ... I had lipo for inner thighs and a bit of saddlebags years ago, but my PS also decided to do the back of thighs without asking me!!! My legs look OK everywhere else, except the back of thighs. I thought that Vela would help, but it made matters worse. Thanks for letting me know of other ladies out there with bumpy legs ;) I never seem to see anyone else, just mine, yuck. I wish I could swim and walk the beaches in men's shorts ;)
August 19, 2015
Oh, and thanks for sharing about the Cellulite Crusher pants. Do they really work a bit?
UPDATED FROM thinkagain
UPDATE: 2 weeks later. The results I saw right...
thinkagainAugust 24, 2012
UPDATE: 2 weeks later.
The results I saw right after the treatment must have been partly due to swelling, as they have improved a bit since then. I would say the left side looks not too bad. The right thigh is still lumpy looking, with more dimpling than before I got the treatment. I really believe that what happened was that she didn't treat the areas evenly. I had a harder time tolerating it on the right side, so she did some strong sucks on some parts, and some not so strong, and I think it was a bit of a rushed job. So different areas got different amounts of toning. I see a big change in the shape of my butt since I had this done so I would have to conclude that this treatment definitely works. I did not expect such a dramatic change. I still think my behind looked better before, in terms of shape and the lumpiness on the right side, but on the left side the skin does look smoother now. I still have some darkened 'track mark' areas on the right side where she did some of the pulses. I'm still considering going back to have her go over it again, mainly just on the right side, to try to even it out. I think the results have a lot to do with how the treatment is done.
The results I saw right after the treatment must have been partly due to swelling, as they have improved a bit since then. I would say the left side looks not too bad. The right thigh is still lumpy looking, with more dimpling than before I got the treatment. I really believe that what happened was that she didn't treat the areas evenly. I had a harder time tolerating it on the right side, so she did some strong sucks on some parts, and some not so strong, and I think it was a bit of a rushed job. So different areas got different amounts of toning. I see a big change in the shape of my butt since I had this done so I would have to conclude that this treatment definitely works. I did not expect such a dramatic change. I still think my behind looked better before, in terms of shape and the lumpiness on the right side, but on the left side the skin does look smoother now. I still have some darkened 'track mark' areas on the right side where she did some of the pulses. I'm still considering going back to have her go over it again, mainly just on the right side, to try to even it out. I think the results have a lot to do with how the treatment is done.
Replies (8)
August 24, 2012
I wouldn't go back! I just had a similar experience, and the nurse (who owns the salon) said this has never happened before. The new Vela is MUCH stronger than the old version (40%, I was told), and the technician must be very aware not only of proper technique, but the age and condition of the skin they are working on. And, I had Vela 8 years ago that I was pleased with, even though the results weren't perfect they were such an improvement that I was content. But when I learned that there was an updated machine, well I guess I envisioned perfection. What I got appears like "track marks" where the machine "stamped" my skin. The texture of the skin where these marks are is very thin and orange peel looking. Certainly I am disgusted with the result, horrified, really. But the technician simply said at first look that I should continue the treatments as my skin was remodeling. I did not continue and went in to show her again weeks later that nothing had improved. She said she would do Vela on me again, and that she had never seen this kind of thing happen before......that's it. The bad news for "thinkagain" is that my results from eight years ago remained the same, there was no loss of results. I wish I had left well enough....alone.
August 24, 2012
Sorry, what I meant to say is that the technician said she "would NOT do Vela on me again". KK
August 24, 2012
Eight years?? Ah crap!!
I see that the areas she velad did decrease in size, but that she apparently did this very unevenly and that's why it's all irregular. Also, I got those 'track marks' where she put the sucker. They are still there now. Damn it. I knew I shouldn't do it. Part of me was thinking 'don't do this, your butt is fine' but I really didn't think there were any real risks to it.
I see that the areas she velad did decrease in size, but that she apparently did this very unevenly and that's why it's all irregular. Also, I got those 'track marks' where she put the sucker. They are still there now. Damn it. I knew I shouldn't do it. Part of me was thinking 'don't do this, your butt is fine' but I really didn't think there were any real risks to it.
August 24, 2012
Yes, I was told that it can't damage you. So, I also thought that worst case was "no result", I didn't consider it making further damage. The new machine chews skin!
August 27, 2012
Thank you for letting us know about the changes you have noticed 2 weeks after the treatment. I'll be curious to hear if you decide to go back or not, so please keep us posted.
August 30, 2012
Hi! Glad to hear that you are seeing improvement. Technician error, or inexperience more likely, is definitely an important factor. My first treatment was done by the owner, who was trained by the manufacturer. My second treatment was done by the girl that observed part of the first treatment. When she was working on me, she said "Does this feel like it did the last time...?". She clearly was too inexperienced to have been allowed to work on a patient. That should have been the red fllag, as that is when all of the damage was done. They should do their "training" on one another, or have you sign on that you are aware that they have no experience. When I noticed the deformities that had been created, the owner said that I should just continue the treatments, that I hadn't had enough treatments. I had two more, with zero improvements and a resulting roughness and thinning of the skin.
I have seen a real physician now, about the results of the VelaShape. He concurs that the drawback to the machine is the lack of control over volume loss. He also said, and this applies to me, that older women should wait ONE MONTH between treatments, in order to give the SKIN time to heal. It's not just about the fat under the skin. If the skin is compromised and becoming thinner and crepey, it doesn't really matter if you have smoothed what lies under it...because the skin is going to be loose and wrinkly. I would take my original problem over the one I have now...!!
I am in skin healing mode now. I have been told it could take one to two years. Let the buyer beware, kids!
I have seen a real physician now, about the results of the VelaShape. He concurs that the drawback to the machine is the lack of control over volume loss. He also said, and this applies to me, that older women should wait ONE MONTH between treatments, in order to give the SKIN time to heal. It's not just about the fat under the skin. If the skin is compromised and becoming thinner and crepey, it doesn't really matter if you have smoothed what lies under it...because the skin is going to be loose and wrinkly. I would take my original problem over the one I have now...!!
I am in skin healing mode now. I have been told it could take one to two years. Let the buyer beware, kids!
UPDATED FROM thinkagain
Update: 1 Month after treatment. As you can see...
thinkagainAugust 31, 2012
Update: 1 Month after treatment.
As you can see from my 1-month-after pic, things have definitely settled down and evened out.Overall I actually see some improvement in smoothness on the left side. However, in some areas, the right side is still lumpier than before treatment and I still have some dark spots where the sucker left kind of ;track marks'. I really don't understand why this happened on only one side other than, as I mentioned before, the right side was treated unevenly because it was more sensitive.
I have mixed feelings about Velashape. One one hand, it definitely does something, but it has to be applied very carefully or you get uneven results that could end up looking like you have more cellulite than before.
As you can see from my 1-month-after pic, things have definitely settled down and evened out.Overall I actually see some improvement in smoothness on the left side. However, in some areas, the right side is still lumpier than before treatment and I still have some dark spots where the sucker left kind of ;track marks'. I really don't understand why this happened on only one side other than, as I mentioned before, the right side was treated unevenly because it was more sensitive.
I have mixed feelings about Velashape. One one hand, it definitely does something, but it has to be applied very carefully or you get uneven results that could end up looking like you have more cellulite than before.
Replies (4)
September 5, 2012
I can see the un-eveness you are talking about in the picture. Thank you so much for continuing to update us with pictures - that is so helpful! Have you decided if you are going to do it again, or are you still undecided at this point?
September 6, 2012
I am still very much undecided because the left side looks better while the right side looks lumpier and has track marks. I interpret this to mean, the treatment could go either way, even on two different parts of the same person's body. I think I will talk to the clinic and see what they think. Right now, I'm just really glad it doesn't look like it did right after the treatment!
August 4, 2015
I too have heard varies outcomes with Velashape. I'm trying to eventually get thigh, butt lift with lipo. I need to see how my recovery from the laser goes. I do see a nice difference. It can truly be a waiting game. I know I will continue to do a lot of research.
I can definitely understand why you would be feeling disappointed with things looking worse after the treatment. Have you considered going elsewhere for a second opinion on this?