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What is Cellulite? | Causes of cellulite | Acoustic Wave Therapy | Breakthrough Tools in Treating Cellulite | Results

DR. JOHNSON IS THE PIONEER OF ACOUSTIC WAVE THERAPY.

We have been featured WFAA's Good Morning Texas, click on the links below to watch videos.

Acoustic wave therapy for removing cellulite
February 22nd, 2007

Two high tech solutions for your cellulite
January 31st, 2007

Cellulite Fight: Painless treatment promises smoother skin
September 21st, 2006

What is Cellulite?
Cellulite is the changes in skin texture that result in an "orange peel" or "mattress" appearance to the skin. Cellulite is much more common in women. Studies show 85-98% of women have some cellulite. Men and women organize their fat differently. In men, the connective tissue fibers that organize and support fat run primarily parallel to the skin. This means that men have minimal pulling down of the skin by fat deposits, and therefore smoother skin. Unfortunately for women, their fat is organized perpendicular to the skin. This results in a pulling down of the skin by the connective tissue support structure and an uneven surface.

normal process

Cellulite is a normal process in women, so for many years medical science was not interested in treating it. Only in the last few years have any studies been done to identify the cause of cellulite. Effective treatments are an even more recent development. Cellulite forms in the superficial fat. All fat is not cellulite, only the part present in this superficial layer. The superficial layer is the last area to be affected by weight loss. Therefore, exercise and weight loss do not eliminate cellulite. Even women who exercise regularly and follow low-fat, nutritious diets may still have cellulite. This makes weight management and cellulite treatment completely different issues.
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What are the causes of cellulite?
Until recently, very few studies had looked at the cause of cellulite. As a result, theories abounded but answers were few. Recent studies have revealed two major causes of cellulite. The first is a hardening of the connective tissue support system of fat. These are referred to as connective tissue (fibrous) septae. These are made of collagen.

Over time, these septae harden and contract. The contraction results in most of the dimpled appearance that characterizes cellulite. Additionally, the contraction leads to a blockage of the blood vessels and lymphatics. The blood vessel blockage further hardens the septae. The lymphatic blockage leads to thick, swollen appearing skin.

The second major cause of cellulite is protrusion of fat cells into the lower part of the skin known as the “reticular dermis”. This protrusion results in worsening of the dimpling.

dermis

Treatments for cellulite need to address both of these issues in order to have really good results. Until recently, no treatments were available to address either issue effectively, much less both. Innovations MedSpa is the first practice in the USA to have access to treatment that addresses both issues and does so with minimal pain and side effects: Acoustic Wave Therapy (AWT).
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Acoustic Wave Therapy for Cellulite
Acoustic Wave Therapy (AWT) represents a new approach to cellulite treatment. AWT uses pressure waves that impact both of the major causes of cellulite: fibrous septae and protrusion of fat into the lower dermis. The AWT produces a pressure wave that passes through skin and fat to impact the fibrous septae. The pressure breaks up the collagen of the septae and releases the skin, allowing a smoother surface.

muscle fascia

AWT also helps to thicken the dermis and decrease fat protrusion. Ultrasound pictures confirm dermal thickening after treatment.

ultrasound before
Ultrasound echos from dermis before treatment.

ultrasound after
Ultrasound showing thicker dermis after treatment.

The thickened dermis helps to reduce the protrusion of fat into the dermis. Again, this reduces the appearance of cellulite. With its ability to impact both of the major causes of cellulite, AWT is uniquely suited to improve the appearance of cellulite.
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Breakthrough Tools in Treating Cellulite
Many different treatments for cellulite have been introduced over the years, most with poor results. Now with CelluActor and D-Actor, AWT represents an important breakthrough. AWT has two different devices available.

Radial Head (at Innovations MedSpa since Feb 2006)

Acoustic Wave Therapy

Planar Head (new to USA)

Acoustic Wave Therapy

The radial head uses a pellet inside an air chamber to generate the AWT pressure wave. This generates a pressure wave that is slower in duration and feels like a strong vibrator. The pressure wave breaks up the septae and increases dermal collagen. The radial head has also been used in pain control. It over stimulates nerves and increases blood flow to treated areas. This makes the treatments comfortable. At higher frequencies, the radial head can also increase muscle tone without exercise.

The planar head uses an electromagnet to generate the AWT. This results in a high energy pressure wave with a very short duration (measured in nanoseconds). The short duration allows the high energy pressure wave to be nearly painless. The high energy breaks up the fibrous septae. Collagen is also stimulated in the lower dermis, reducing the fat protrusion. Some of the energy is delivered to the surrounding fat cells. This causes those cells to leak some of their fat. Innovations MedSpa is now developing ways to help the body burn the fat before it is put back into fat cells. We are also studying the benefits from using both heads together and with other technologies.

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Click on the images below to view results from actual Innovations MedSpa patients treated with the radial head.

before and after

Click here to read more information of the use of Acoustic Wave Therapy (AWT) in the Treatment of Cellulite.

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