Cellulaze side effects commonly include bruising, swelling, and soreness. While they tend to resolve within a few weeks, some RealSelf members have noted that it took over a month for the bruising to resolve and for the soreness to dissipate enough that they could return to their exercise regimen.
Broken blood vessels, spider veins, and hyperpigmentation are less common complications of treatment; the latter affect mainly patients with olive, brown, or deep skin tones, which is more prone to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
Infection, seroma (fluid under the skin), and burns from the heat of the laser are possible but also rare when the treatment is performed by an experienced doctor.
In addition to the usual Cellulaze bruising and discomfort, some patients experience patchy areas of tingling, numbness, or nerve pain in the treatment area. This is normal and should subside over time. Dr. Rigo J. Mendoza, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Brandon, Florida, cautions that “nerve irritation or hypersensitivity can last from weeks to months, sometimes even up to a year.”
In inexperienced hands, Cellulaze can also leave lumps and contour irregularities.
The bottom line: this is definitely a case where you’ll be better off not choosing your doctor based on who’s offering a deal. Both for the sake of your health and avoiding a bad result, trust only board-certified dermatologists or plastic surgeons to perform it.
