The SmoothShapesTM System, distributed by Elemé Medical, Inc., is the newest entrant into the non-surgical cellulite treatment market, and it's been getting a lot of press. If you missed it on ABC's The Doctors, you may have seen it on Good Morning America.
The SmoothShapes system uses a proprietary technology called PhotomologyTM to treat the causes of cellulite through a combination of laser, vacuum, and mechanical rollers. If it sounds familiar, that's because the addition of the laser light energy is the only significant thing that separates it from its predecessor, EndermologieTM, which has been around for almost 2 decades.
The idea behind Endermologie is that the primary cause of cellulite is a stiffening and hardening of the septae (fibrous bands of connective tissue which connect the skin to underlying tissue), causing the skin to pull down and dimple. The vacuum and rollers are supposed to stretch out these vertical bands to level out the surface of the skin. The device is also thought to increase circulation and facilitate removal of excess water weight and metabolic waste products in the treated areas.
According to Elemé Medical, SmoothShapes uses a 915nm laser and 650nm light plus a vacuum and contoured mechanical rollers. The laser's job is to penetrate into tissue and cause liquefaction of the fat cells under the skin, while the 650nm light is claimed to affect permeability of fat cell membranes. The vacuum is there to position the skin optimally for laser and light penetration, allowing liquefied fat to move into the space between the cells, where the mechanical roller-massage encourages movement of the liquefied fat into the lymphatic system (which then does the job of flushing the fat out of the body). The end result, say the system's reps, is tighter and smoother-looking skin.
So does it work? Some doctors and patients say yes, others say no. Some say it's too soon to tell. One thing is undisputed: Like Endermologie, Photomology requires multiple treatments (a series of 8-10 ten-minute sessions), and the results are not forever. The series of treatments needs to be repeated once or twice a year to maintain results, and at about $2000 for a series, it's no chump change. Of course, with no surgical alternatives (liposuction may actually make cellulite appear worse) and the understanding that diet and exercise will not banish cellulite, it still may be worth a try to women who are self-conscious about lumpy, bumpy thighs.
Learn more about what causes cellulite and what can be done about it.
Other cellulite treatments that may be worth a look include a non-surgical option called Acoustic Wave Therapy, or even a surgical procedure called Rejuveskin.
See plastic surgery before and after photos.
