How Much Does Cellulaze Cost?
The average cost of Cellulaze is $5,750, but it can range from $1,700 to $6,000, according to 169 reviews from RealSelf members.
This FDA-cleared cellulite treatment uses laser energy to liquify excess fat, break up the stiff connective tissue bands that cause dimpling, and thicken and smooth the dermis. Read on to find out why you might pay more or less to treat the dimples and uneven texture associated with cellulite—and whether the price of Cellulaze is really worth it.
Is the cost of Cellulaze worth it?
RealSelf members give Cellulaze procedures a 71% Worth It rating.
Realistic expectations are key with Cellulaze, as well as any cellulite treatment—after all, there's no cure for cellulite.
According to Cynosure, the manufacturer of the Cellulaze laser, good candidates for this treatment have moderate cellulite.
Doctors on RealSelf also note that it can take up to 6 months to notice results. According to Dr. Adam Oppenheimer, a plastic surgeon in Orlando, Florida, some patients need to wait up to a year to see their final result. That's because new collagen production slowly accumulates over time, increasing skin elasticity and thickness.
Cellulaze results aren't permanent: they usually last about two years, so keep that in mind when determining if the cost will be worth it for you.
If you're considering other options, keep in mind that many doctors on RealSelf prefer Cellfina over Cellulaze, calling it a "game changer" for treating cellulite on the thighs and buttocks.
Cellfina is less usually expensive than Cellulaze, and results can be longer-lasting—at least five years, according to one clinical study. The manufacturer of Cellfina also guarantees results for one year: if you aren’t happy with your results, your provider will re-treat you, free of charge.
Still, this minimally invasive treatment—which uses suction to elevate the skin over the dimpled area while fibrous bands are cut with a tiny blade—has an even lower Worth It rating from RealSelf members.
Consider consulting with a provider who offers a range of cellulite removal options and can recommend the best one for your unique situation.
What affects the cost of Cellulaze treatments?
1) Your provider’s credentials and level of experience.
Cellulaze is a technically demanding treatment, and results depend on your provider's skill with the device. Due to this learning curve, Cellulaze should be performed by a trained provider with years of experience—ideally a board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon.
You can expect to pay more for the time and expertise of a provider with more experience (compared to one who's just starting out and still building their patient base), but the higher price may be worth it.
While the downtime and side effects associated with Cellulaze (swelling, bruising, soreness, and oozing at the incision sites for the laser probe) are promoted as minimal and temporary, some RealSelf members report devastating results—and doctors agree it can go wrong. For instance, "if areas are treated too aggressively, too much fat can be lost, resulting in volume loss or even saggy skin," says Dr. Grant Stevens, a plastic surgeon in Marina del Rey, California.
To avoid a poor outcome, consult with more than one well-reviewed, qualified provider. It's also smart to seek out before and after photos posted online by their patients, not just the photos they choose to show.
2) The type of sedation or anesthesia you have.
Cellulaze is typically performed under local anesthesia, sometimes with sedation (such as anti-anxiety medications like Valium or Ativan), so you're awake but relaxed during the procedure. However, if larger areas or multiple areas are being treated, it may be necessary for your provider to use low dosages of general anesthesia to help keep you comfortable.
Local anesthesia can be administered by your provider, but local anesthesia with IV sedation or general anesthesia require the skills of an anesthesiologist (an MD) or certified registered nurse anesthetist (a CRNA), who monitors you throughout your procedure.
Involving a second provider into your procedure significantly raises costs (by several thousand dollars), and an anesthesiologist will charge more than a CRNA.
If you're having a larger area or several areas treated and prefer to have local anesthesia, ask if the treatment can be staged as two procedures and how that would impact your costs.
3) The size of the treated area.
Cellulaze costs are based on treatment zones, similar to how liposuction procedures are priced. The more areas being treated and the larger the surface area, the higher the cost. Smaller treatment areas will naturally cost less.
The most popular treatment areas for Cellulaze are the thighs and buttocks, but providers can use this laser treatment to help smooth the dimpled appearance of cellulite anywhere on the body, including the arms, abdomen, and calves.
4) Whether you combine Cellulaze with other treatments.
You can't combine Cellulaze with a procedure like liposuction on the same area during the same session, but it's often done at the same time as a procedure on a different area—for instance, Cellulaze on your thighs and liposuction on your abdomen or buttocks.
By combining procedures into one session, you may be able to save a significant amount of money because you'll be paying the surgeon's fees, facility fee, and the anesthesiologist fee just one time.
Your surgeon may give you a discount for having multiple plastic surgeries done at the same time.
That being said, you're still adding the price of an additional cosmetic surgery to your overall bill, so you'll still end up paying more than you would for Cellulaze alone.
5) Where your provider is located.
All cosmetic procedures usually cost more in major metro areas, which have a higher cost of living. This is especially true if your provider has a luxurious medspa in a desirable part of town, rather than a more modest practice in a less exclusive neighborhood.
The law of supply and demand also comes into play. If your area has few qualified Cellulaze providers and high patient demand for cellulite reduction, these providers will be able to charge more for their time and services. If the reverse is true, you may find lower prices or deals, as doctors compete more for your business.
RealSelf Tip: The compression garment you may be asked to wear post-treatment to minimize swelling could cost an additional $50–$200.
Is Cellulaze covered by insurance?
Cellulaze and other cellulite treatments are considered elective cosmetic procedures, so they don't qualify for insurance coverage.
If cost is a barrier, most practices accept financing or offer payment plans that break up the cost over several months.