Q: What is Cellulaze?

Cellulaze is an FDA-cleared , minimally invasive cellulite treatment . Created by Cynosure, it's a one-time treatment that uses the thermal energy of a 1440-nanometer Nd:YAG laser (called the SideLight 3D laser) to liquify excess fat, while loosening or severing the bands of connective tissue, or septae, that cause cellulite dimples. The laser treatment's heat also promotes new collagen production, which can increase skin thickness, firmness, and elasticity. The treatment is typically done under local anesthesia, with or without a sedative. It's cleared to improve the appearance of cellulite in any area, but it's most commonly performed on the thighs, abdomen, or buttocks. RealSelf Tip: A lot of people assume that cellulite is caused by excess fat. While gaining weight can make cellulite look worse, it's not a direct cause of cellulite, which is why fat removal treatments like liposuction aren't good cellulite treatments. Cellulite is actually a structural problem caused by bands of fibrous tissue called septa, which run vertically through the layer of fat between the skin and fascia. When these connective bands stiffen, they tug the skin down and compress the fat until it bulges out of its compartments, creating the dimpled appearance of cellulite.

Q: What are the pros and cons of Cellulaze?

Pros The treatment addresses the root cause of cellulite by breaking up and loosening the connective fibers that create a dimpled appearance, while liquifying excess fat cells and boosting collagen production. Results can be impressive. RealSelf members who said their Cellulaze treatment was Worth It saw noticeably smoother skin, and Cellulaze treatment before and after photos from doctors on RealSelf show a significant improvement in the appearance of cellulite. Just one treatment is usually recommended. Cellulaze can produce longer-lasting results than topical or massage-based cellulite treatments, which usually require annual maintenance treatments. Cons While results can last for a year or more, they aren't permanent; you will need maintenance treatments. You’ll have to wait at least three months (and possibly six) to see your final results. That's how long it takes for new collagen to develop and help smooth the skin. Individual results can vary widely. A significant number of RealSelf members who reviewed Cellulaze said it was “ Not Worth It ,” either because they found the procedure too painful, still didn’t see noticeable results months later, had significant side effects, or thought that they actually looked worse afterwards.

Question 1

What is Cellulaze?

Accepted Answer

Cellulaze is an FDA-cleared, minimally invasive cellulite treatment. Created by Cynosure, it's a one-time treatment that uses the thermal energy of a 1440-nanometer Nd:YAG laser (called the SideLight 3D laser) to liquify excess fat, while loosening or severing the bands of connective tissue, or septae, that cause cellulite dimples.

The laser treatment's heat also promotes new collagen production, which can increase skin thickness, firmness, and elasticity.

The treatment is typically done under local anesthesia, with or without a sedative. It's cleared to improve the appearance of cellulite in any area, but it's most commonly performed on the thighs, abdomen, or buttocks.

RealSelf Tip: A lot of people assume that cellulite is caused by excess fat. While gaining weight can make cellulite look worse, it's not a direct cause of cellulite, which is why fat removal treatments like liposuction aren't good cellulite treatments. Cellulite is actually a structural problem caused by bands of fibrous tissue called septa, which run vertically through the layer of fat between the skin and fascia. When these connective bands stiffen, they tug the skin down and compress the fat until it bulges out of its compartments, creating the dimpled appearance of cellulite.

Question 2

What are the pros and cons of Cellulaze?

Accepted Answer

Pros

The treatment addresses the root cause of cellulite by breaking up and loosening the connective fibers that create a dimpled appearance, while liquifying excess fat cells and boosting collagen production.
Results can be impressive. RealSelf members who said their Cellulaze treatment was Worth It saw noticeably smoother skin, and Cellulaze treatment before and after photos from doctors on RealSelf show a significant improvement in the appearance of cellulite.
Just one treatment is usually recommended.
Cellulaze can produce longer-lasting results than topical or massage-based cellulite treatments, which usually require annual maintenance treatments.

Cons

While results can last for a year or more, they aren't permanent; you will need maintenance treatments.
You’ll have to wait at least three months (and possibly six) to see your final results. That's how long it takes for new collagen to develop and help smooth the skin.
Individual results can vary widely. A significant number of RealSelf members who reviewed Cellulaze said it was “Not Worth It,” either because they found the procedure too painful, still didn’t see noticeable results months later, had significant side effects, or thought that they actually looked worse afterwards.

Question 3

How much does Cellulaze cost?

Accepted Answer

The cost of Cellulaze treatment for you will depend on your provider’s level of experience, their practice location, and the number of treatment areas.

Because this is an elective cosmetic procedure, insurance won’t cover it.

See our complete guide to Cellulaze costs

Question 4

Cellulaze before and after pictures

Accepted Answer

The Cellulaze photos in our gallery have been shared by the provider who performed the procedure, with the patient's consent.

Question 5

Who makes a good candidate for Cellulaze?

Accepted Answer

Doctors on RealSelf say that Cellulaze works best on mild and moderate cases of cellulite. If you have some dimples or waves, or a combination of the two, Cellulaze can help smooth out the skin. It’s not recommended for people with severe cellulite or loose skin, or for those looking for significant fat reduction.

It’s not an effective treatment for weight loss or body contouring. “It’s so important [for providers] to choose the right candidate for this procedure,” Dr. Ferzli says. “Cellulaze is for people who are generally fit but have dimpling that they don’t like. It works best if you have a normal BMI, exercise regularly, and maintain a healthy diet.”

Question 6

How does Cellulaze work?

Accepted Answer

This minimally invasive procedure takes one to two hours, depending on the size and number of treatment areas.

First, the area will be numbed with local anesthesia; you'll wait at least 30 minutes for the anesthesia to take effect. Your provider may also give you an oral sedative to help you stay relaxed and comfortable.

Once the treatment area is numb, your surgeon will make a series of four tiny incisions (at the corners of the treatment area and insert a cannula, an ultrathin tube, under the skin’s surface. Then they'll insert the Cellulaze laser fiber into the cannula.

The laser’s heat will liquify and reduce small pockets of fat, while severing or loosening the fibrous septae, the connective-tissue bands that cause dimpling.

Related: 6 In-Office Cellulite Treatments That Work (Including One You've Never Heard Of)

Question 7

How much downtime can you expect?

Accepted Answer

Most people have minimal downtime, returning to normal activities within a day or two and resuming more strenuous activities, like exercise, after about two weeks.

You can expect some oozing from incision sites for the first 12–24 hours. You’ll also have swelling, bruising (which can be significant), and tenderness. The discomfort is usually mild enough that patients only need over-the-counter pain relievers. Ask your provider about which one they recommend.

Some providers recommend wearing a compression garment (sometimes followed by Spanx or other shapewear) for up to eight weeks, to reduce swelling and bruising as you heal.

Your provider may also suggest lymphatic massage, to help diminish fluid retention and swelling more quickly.

Question 8

What are the risks and side effects of Cellulaze?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 9

Does Cellulaze tighten skin?

Accepted Answer

A Cellulaze treatment offers mild skin tightening and firming benefits by heating the dermis, which stimulates your skin's natural healing response and stimulates the formation of new collagen and elastin.

However, skin tightening isn't its primary purpose. If you have moderate to severe skin laxity, consider one of these top skin tightening treatments as a complement to cellulite treatment.

Question 10

How soon will you see Cellulaze results?

Accepted Answer

You may see some immediate firming from the heat (which can tighten the existing collagen fibers), but you'll need to be patient for your final results: you may not see them until three to six months after your Cellulaze procedure. It can take that long for swelling to subside and new collagen to form.

Results can continue to improve for up to a year.

Question 11

How long do Cellulaze results last?

Accepted Answer

Studies have found that the cellulite reduction results of Cellulaze can last for a year or more.

In a randomized, controlled trial published in the Journal of Drugs and Dermatology in 2013, researchers assessed improvements in cellulite with 2D and 3D imaging. When blinded evaluators were presented with photographs of subjects at baseline (before treatment) and after a single treatment, they correctly identified photos of treated subjects in 90% of cases.

According to the paper’s authors, “With 3D imaging, the average decrease in skin depressions [dimples] was 49% at six months, and 66% of patients showed improvement in overall skin contour at six months follow-up.”

A later study published in Aesthetic Surgery Journal in 2016 noted improvements in the appearance of cellulite one year after treatment.

Question 12

Cellfina vs. Cellulaze: What's the difference?

Accepted Answer

RealSelf members give Cellulaze a higher Worth It rating than Cellfina, another minimally invasive, one-time treatment indicated for long-term improvement in the appearance of cellulite on the buttocks and thighs.

In clinical studies, the benefits of Cellfina are shown to last at least five years, making it the longest-lasting FDA-cleared cellulite treatment currently on the market. (Qwo, a newer injectable treatment, has been shown to last at least four years.)

Cellfina treats the primary cause of dimpling by targeting the septae, but instead of breaking the fibrous bands with laser energy, it cuts them with a small blade via an automated subcision process, allowing the divots to rise up and level out. The treatment is performed under local anesthesia, in about one hour.

Unlike Cellulaze, Cellfina does not heat the skin, so it lacks any skin-tightening benefits. On the other hand, “heat can cause side effects which may include thermal burns, hyperpigmentation, and scarring,” notes board-certified New York City dermatologist Dr. Sameer Bashey. Thermal risks don’t exist with Cellfina. Its main side effects are bruising (often severe), swelling, and soreness.

When comparing the two technologies, doctors on RealSelf commonly note that Cellfina offers more precision than Cellulaze, making it better for deep or clearly defined dimples. Cellulaze addresses more generalized irregularities, like widespread waviness and cottage-cheese texture.