Does Cellfina or any procedure work on bad cellulite on upper inner arms from armpit to elbow? (photo)

Cellfina is a highly effective device in treating primary cellulite, which is a result of fibrous bands pulling down on the skin and creating a dimpled appearance.  These fiber bands are most commonly found in the buttocks and posterior thighs.  On the upper inner arms, the issue is typically skin laxity and textural irregularity, which appears to be the case based on your photos.  Regarding non-surgical treatments, this is best managed by a skin tightening device.  We frequently use Thermismooth for textural irregularity, which uses radiofrequency heat to help tighten the skin.  Treatment options are patient specific, so I always recommend consulting with your provider to ensure optimal outcomes.  Some cases may have too much laxity present to show improvement with non-invasive options, so discuss treatment options before proceeding.

Hello Olive,Thank you so much for your question.  Though Cellfina is performed mostly on the thighs and buttocks, it could potentially treat cellulite on the arms.  The catch, however, is deciphering whether the concerned areas are truly cellulite or loose skin.  If it's loose skin, Cellfina will not treat it and may make the areas look worse.  I would recommend seeking a formal evaluation with a trained physician who has extensive experience with using Cellfina to give you a realistic understanding of what results you can achieve with the treatment or if it's even the best route for you to pursue.  Hope this helps.All the best,Carlos Mata, MD, MBA, FACSBoard-Certified Plastic Surgeon

Thank you for your question, The best treatment for cellulite is Cellfina. However, a combination approach is needed to get the most improvement. I recommend Cellfina in combination with Sculptra injections and body treatments like Exilis Ultra, Venus Legacy, and Cellutone / ZWave. For patients who are also looking for fat reduction, contouring, skin tightening and definition, we often suggest a VASER HI DEF liposuction procedure to get the most toned result. See an expert for a formal evaluation. Best, Dr. Emer.

My suggestion is begin by consulting with a board certified plastic surgeon in-person to be examined. Such will provide you with the available options best suitable to you. 
If you are deemed a candidate, you may benefit from #Cellfina. It is the newest, most effective FDA approved technology available for treating cellulite. This one-time, minimally invasive procedure takes only 45 minutes to perform, but the results last for a minimum of two years. #Cellfina has the longest lasting results of any current #cellulite treatment. Its approval rate is over 93% here on RealSelf.
Used on #moderate to #severe cellulite of the buttocks and #thighs, Cellfina works by treating the rubber-band-like connective tissue that causes cellulite. When these “rubber bands” under the skin are cut, the fat trapped underneath in dimples “snaps” back into place, creating a full, smooth appearance.There is no cutting and no incisions. To perform this controlled, precise, and safe procedure, a vacuum hand piece is placed over the dimpled tissue through which the surgeon will deliver a local anesthetic. Then a small, needle-like #microblade is inserted to release the fibrous bands, the cause of cellulite. Your #cellulite reducing procedures should always be performed by a plastic surgeon who is board-certified who has a great deal of experience in such #treatment. You will then greatly improve your chances of getting the result you desire, and, without the need for a revision surgery. It is also suggested that you look at before and after photos of the surgeons actual patients, and read patient reviews.

Cellfina is an FDA approved minimally invasive procedure that reduces the appearance of cellulite for at least two years on the buttocks and back of the thighs of women.

It works by releasing the internal bands that cause the cellulite dimpling and so we have not seen any fat atrophy. You should not see much of a difference with weight gain or loss but this also has not been studied.

Other areas of the body with dimpling, it is important to make sure it is truly cellulite before treatment.

It is common to have swelling bruising and firmness after the procedure. This can last for a few weeks.

It is different than Cellulaze which is a laser. 

If you have had previous poor results with cellulaze, you can still do Cellfina.

Cellfina has shown 100% noticeable improvement and 96% satisfaction in all patients at 2 years. 

Cellfina is designed to be a one time procedure. 

It can be used on women with all skin types but caution should be taken if theres a history of keloiding.

It can also be combined with other treatments such as Thermi or

Ulthera if skin tightening is needed.

We have done Sculpsure and Coolsculpting if fat reduction is wanted, but its best to wait 3 months to see the results before proceeding.

It can also be done at the same time as other procedures such as liposuction and BBL or as a stand alone procedure in the office.

Since Cellfina outcomes can be based on technique and experience, please see a board certified plastic surgeon that specializes body contouring to see if Cellfina or other treatments are available to meet your goals. 

Take care,

Dr. Schwartz 

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

#RealSelf100Surgeon

#RealSelfCORESurgeon

Your cellulite problem is a common one. Fortunately, finally there are effective ways to minimize this problem. Perhaps the least invasive one is  Cellfina™. Cellfina is the only FDA-cleared minimally invasive, one-time procedure clinically proven to improve the appearance of cellulite for at least two years—the longest FDA-cleared duration for a cellulite treatment. A straightforward solution to cellulite, Cellfina™, combines a proven approach with innovative, proprietary technology, to produce precise, long-lasting results and has a high satisfaction rating on RealSelf. Together with Velashape 3, a non invasive procedure to help "shrink wrap the skin" and further minimize cellulite as a combination treatment is perhaps your best chance for taking care of this tough problem. Cellulaze is also a possible treatment but much more invasive

Thank you for the question and corresponding photos. Cellfina is only approved for cellulite on the buttocks and thighs at this time. Based on your pictures, you would benefit from a brachioplasty to help remove the excess skin that looks to be most of the issue. I recommend seeing a board-certified plastic surgeon in-person to discuss your goals and who can plan the right treatment for you. For more information please visit our webpage. 

Thank you for your question and submitting your pictures. It appears that there is a fair amount of skin laxity in your upper arms. When skin laxity is present, Cellfina is generally not a good treatment choice. If you release the fibrous bands that contribute to cellulite in the face of skin laxity will get worse. Two other options would be BodyTite by InMode of ThermiTight. In some instances we also had Sculptra to further collagen production in the arms. I recommend an in person consultation with an experienced aesthetic physician to determine the best procedure in your situation.  I hope this was helpful - Dr. Moore.

The question of exactly which types of cellulite we can treat with Cellfina is an interesting one.  Typically we treat the buttocks and outer thighs, but that is evolving. We performed the original cellulite and Cellfina research several years ago at my dermatology practice.  During that initial trial, we focused on the buttocks but found evidence that outer thigh cellulite tended to respond to Cellfina as well.  When we started to look at the outer thighs, we also found that the back of the thighs responded nicely.  Now that Cellfina is more widely used, we are also learning that the front of the thighs, in the right candidate, can respond nicely to Cellfina.  But the caveat here is that the visible problem has to be cellulite for Cellfina to work, and not loose skin.  In many instances, and in particular the images shown here for the arms, loose skin is a primary part of the problem.  In that case, Cellfina will not work.  So the best thing you can do is see a skilled Cellfina physician near your home and have your skin evaluated for cellulite and laxity.  If it is cellulite only, then Cellfina will likely help quite a bit.  But for the arms, I just don't think we are there yet.

Cellfina is best for dimpled cellulite of the posterior thigh and buttocks.  Areas where cellulite with loose skin are not good options.