Copyright © 2023 Somenek + Pittman MD. All rights reserved.
Cellulite is a common problem that the vast majority of women deal with. It’s not medically concerning but it can have a significant impact on the way you feel about your appearance. Rather than try and hide the depressions that cellulite causes on your thighs or buttocks or endure the self-consciousness it causes, it’s beneficial to deal with the cause of troublesome dimples. The mistaken consensus about cellulite has been that this is a “fat problem.” It’s not. Cellulite is primarily caused by the inward pull on the skin by the fibrous bands that tether it to the underlying layer of fascia. You can be your ideal weight and still have cellulite. You may already realize this, so now what you need to know is what you can do to smooth your skin.
Dr. Somenek and Dr. Pittman, along with our experienced team, are excited about innovative new treatment options. We love that we can offer Avéli™ as a proven cellulite treatment! If you’re ready to schedule your consultation for this cellulite treatment now, contact our Washington, D.C. office today at (202) 933-5934!
Avéli is a non-surgical cellulite treatment cleared by the FDA for the correction of dimples on the buttocks and thighs. The minimally invasive procedure is performed in the office, where the provider utilizes a specially-designed handpiece to sever the bands of connective tissue that are pulling on the skin. The reason that cellulite affects women far more often than men is that the fibrous bands that tether the skin to the fascia run perpendicular in women. In men, the bands run in a criss-cross pattern. This leaves less space between the bands for dimples to occur. While other cellulite treatments work from the outside-in, Avéli gets right to the source of the problem, the fibrous bands, and severs them.
If you are generally healthy and have mild to moderate cellulite in the buttocks or thigh area, you may be a great candidate for Avéli. This treatment is not approved for women who are pregnant, and it cannot be performed if you have an active infection in the treatment area. Before your Avéli procedure, we’ll meet with you to discuss your desired outcome and the ability of this procedure to achieve that. Avéli works only on dimples caused by fibrous bands. Some “dimples” are caused by tissue laxity or pockets of fat. If, during your consultation, we determine that either of these conditions is contributing to the appearance of cellulite, we can discuss ancillary or alternative treatments such as liposuction or truSculpt iD.
This minimally invasive cellulite treatment is performed in our comfortable Washington, D.C. office. It begins with a local anesthetic, which is administered via injection into the superficial layers of your skin. Because we use a very small needle and the medication works almost immediately, you can expect your experience to be virtually painless. Once the area is numb, your provider will make a tiny nick in your skin. They will insert a thin rod with a light on the end. The light illuminates the skin from the underside, enabling your provider to visualize the location of the connective tissue bands around each dimple. As the rod is progressed to the intended location, a hook on the end of the rod “catches” the band. A retractable blade is then released to sever the septae. You do not feel when the septae is severed. It all happens painlessly. Your provider will confirm that the skin has been released by carefully moving the rod and hook beneath the skin. The entire process takes about an hour.
After undergoing the Avéli cellulite procedure, you can expect mild to moderate discomfort in the form of soreness and tenderness. This can be especially noticeable when sitting. Fortunately, post-treatment discomfort usually only lasts two to three days. If needed, you may take an over-the-counter pain reliever to alleviate this symptom. Bruising and swelling are also common side effects. Neither should be significant and neither should require special care. You may be advised to wear compression leggings for a week or two to help mitigate these side effects. It can take up to four weeks for them to resolve. Even with the minor side effects that can occur after Avéli treatment, you may engage in light to moderate exercise beginning as soon as you feel comfortable.
Because it can take up to four weeks for the swelling and bruising to resolve after Avéli treatment, this is when you can expect to fully appreciate the outcome of your treatment. Avéli is a relatively new treatment. At this time, we know that studies have confirmed sustained improvement up to three months after treatment. Results will be evaluated again one year after treatment and, as data become available, we will update our information.
Here at Somenek and Pittman in Washington, D.C., we adhere to an uncompromising standard of patient care. Schedule your consultation to learn more about Avéli cellulite treatment by calling (202) 933-5934.
Copyright © 2023 Somenek + Pittman MD. All rights reserved.
