The UK’s Leading Orthopaedic Shockwave Clinic
Tel: 020 8549 6666
Cellulite Shockwave Treatment
Cellulite, or its medical term “gynoid lipodystrophy”, is a term used to describe the dimpled appearance of skin caused by fat deposits that are just below the surface of the skin. It generally appears as skin ages in the abdomen, lower limbs, arms and pelvic region when the collagen fibers become thinner and less resistant to fat cells poking through.
Between 80 & 90 per cent of women will suffer from cellulite and it’s a problem that affects mostly women as they have more fat cells than men do.
There are three main factors that link to your chances of getting cellulite:
Genetic Factors
Certain genes are needed for cellulite to develop. Some of these inherited genes can be connected to a person’s circulatory levels, ethnicity, distribution of fat under the skin, and speed of metabolism. Individually or in combination, these may impact your chances of developing cellulite.
Lifestyle & Dietary Factors
Healthy lifestyles may help to lower the risk of cellulite. You are more likely to experience lumps and dimples on the skin if you do not eat enough fibre and consume too much salt, carbohydrates and fat. Cellulite is often more prevalent in people who stand or sit in one position for extended periods of time as well as those who do not take sufficient exercise. While it is more common in people with excess fat, slim and fit people can have cellulite too.
Age & Hormonal Factors
Hormones also play a role in the production of cellulite. Prolactin, thyroid hormones, noradrenaline, insulin, and oestrogen are all part of the cellulite production process.
Shockwave Therapy & Cellulite
With Cellulite Shockwave Treatment, ladies can now achieve firmer, smoother skin in the areas where skin dimpling commonly forms – the thighs, buttocks, abdomen and arms.
As well as treating cellulite, shockwave will also help to stimulate collagen production, rejuvenate connective tissue, improve elasticity of the skin, reduce pockets of fat, and help get rid of stretch marks, giving your skin an overall firmer, smoother, and tighter appearance. The toning effect can be quite remarkable.
A study conducted in Switzerland has shown a 110% improvement in skin elasticity in the female patients treated and, in many cases, women started to feel softening and smoothing of the skin over the area treated in as little as 3-5 session, while visual changes started to become noticeable after 6-8 sessions.
We use a process called Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT) because treatment is fast and is virtually painless with no long term side-effects. Our shockwave machine will transfer waves of acoustic energy to the skin. The connective fibrous walls that are trapping toxins and fat under the skin, and causing cellulite, will breakdown thanks to the sheer force of the oscillating wave of energy. This will help to get rid of any lumps and bumps that are getting you down. The toxins and fat are released once the connective fibres have been destroyed.
You can expect increased blood circulation, enhanced metabolic activity, and accelerated lymphatic flow. Some short-term discomfort may be felt during the treatment and tingling or numbness over the treatment area.
Shockwave & Cellulite Research
There have been a number of scientific studies into ESWT and radial shock wave therapy (RSWT) and shown them to be safe and effective treatment options for cellulite. These include Sattler et al, 2008, Knobloch et al, 2013, Russe-Wilflingseder et al, 2013, Braun et al, 2005, Angehrn et al, 2007, Christ et al, 2008, Christ et al, 2008, Adatto et al, 2010, Kuhn et al, 2008).
A further study published in the International Journal of Surgery, Volume 24, Part B, December 2015, Pages 210-217
Where Karsten Knoblocha & Robert Kraemerb undertook a metanalysis that included a total of eleven clinical trials on the effects of ESWT on cellulite with a total of 297 included females.
They concluded that there is growing evidence that both, radial as well as focused ESWT and the combination of both are able to improve the degree of cellulite both in terms of appearance as well as in terms of ultrasound improvement of the subcutaneous fat. Typically, six to eight treatments once or twice a week have been studied so far.
The most recent study into Cellulite Shockwave treatment published in the journal Dermatology Research and Practice in 2019 concluded that ESWT is efficient and safe in the clinical treatment of cellulite, with the objective of decreasing its degrees, improving the aspect of the skin, and re-establishing quality of life with lasting results even after the end of the treatment.
To book Cellulite Shockwave treatment please request a specialist clinician to call you back to arrange an initial assessment Tel: 020 8549 6666 or complete the Contact Form below.
Our reception lines are open from 8:30am to 8:00pm weekdays and between 10:00am and 4:00pm at weekends (excluding Christmas, New Year and Bank Holidays).
Cellulite Shockwave Treatment FAQ's
Studies published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine show that ESWT does indeed effectively treat cellulite.
Research has shown the improvement in the mechanical properties of the skin during the treatment and that this benefit was maintained for three months after the end of the treatment. This demonstrates that the stimulus of ESWT on the fibroblasts continues even after the end of the therapy
Shockwave therapy is a non-invasive and non-surgical treatment. You may feel a little pain or discomfort in the treatment area during the therapy, but. most patients say that they feel like small pulses against their skin and nothing more.