The prior two blog entries have been building up to this moment…my experience with non-invasive body sculpting. Now I know some of you are thinking “what exactly do you need to sculpt?!?”, but the truth is that although I am physically active, eat well, and ensure I take care of my body, cellulite is not a respecter of person! Since high school, weighing an easy 100 pounds, I’ve had these two quarter sized dimples on my thighs that have followed me since. No matter how intense my workouts became or how I improved my diet, they’ve remained and even had the audacity to invite some unwanted cellulite friends to join the party. 😒
The exact cause of cellulite is unknown, but it involves the connective tissue beneath the skin’s surface and layers of fat cells. Fibrous connective cords tether the skin to the underlying muscle, with the fat lying in between. As fat cells collect, they push up against the skin, while the long, tough cords pull down creating an uneven surface or dimpling.
As discussed in last week’s blog, a qualified body sculpting specialist created a combination of treatments and the frequency necessary to target my problem area. Today we are going to look at two of those treatments used in my body sculpting program, ultrasonic cavitation and radio frequency therapy.
Ultrasonic Cavitation
This devise uses low-level ultrasonic waves to liquify the fat cells while leaving surrounding tissues intact. These waves form bubbles around fat deposits under the skin. The bubbles then burst, breaking the fat deposits into the interstitial and the lymphatic systems where they are drained. The fat deposits are changed into glycerol and free fatty acids. Glycerol is then reused by the body while the free fatty acids travel to the liver and are expelled as waste. This procedure involved applying light pressure to the treatment area for about 20 minutes. I felt a slight warming sensation as the specialist moved the probe around the treatment area. There was also a periodic buzzing in my ears which was caused by the sound waves passing from my skeleton to my ear drums.
Radio Frequency
This part of the treatment uses radio frequency (RF) energy to heat the skin with the purpose of stimulating collagen fibers to contract and tighten, while simultaneously breaking down the fat cells for your body to naturally eliminate them through the lymphatic system. A plus with RF therapy is that it both tightens skin and targets cellulite. The technique induces tissue remodeling and production of new collagen and elastin to reduce the appearance of fine lines and loose skin. Light pressure was also applied during this treatment, lasting about 30 minutes.
All in all, this part of the treatment was therapeutic and very relaxing. I asked the specialist a ton of questions during the process just to get a better understanding of the science behind the program she chose for me. The session ended with a light massage followed by a 20-minute walk to encourage lymphatic flow. Part 2 will cover the other treatments performed during this session. Stay tuned!
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