Cellulite Treatments

Minimally-invasive cellulite treatment is performed by Dr. Moalemi at Gentle Aesthetics Touch in Manhattan, NY. Our patients travel from all over the world to receive our cellulite reduction treatments.

What is Cellulite?

Cellulite is fat that collects in pockets just below the surface of the skin. It forms around the hips, thighs, and buttocks. Cellulite deposits cause the skin to look dimpled.  There is nothing complex about what cellulite is!  The complexity can be in how to rid yourself of it long term.

Why Do I Have Cellulite?

Carboxytherapy refers to the cutaneous and subcutaneous administration of carbon dioxide gas [CO₂] for aesthetic and therapeutic purposes. Carboxytherapy was originally developed to sculpt residual post-liposuction fatty deposits above the knees and histological studies showed that the fat cells were ruptured by the CO2 gas while leaving the remaining skin structures and nerves unharmed. Collagen remodeling in the areas of the injections also shown to occured, as well as thickening and smoothing of the overlying skin.

Cellulite is a layer of connective tissue comprised of collagen called the “fibrous septae.” When the fibrous septae becomes damaged, the subcutaneous fat cells are pushed through the damaged regions and are squeezed into small bulges that give the overlying skin the unwanted “dimpled” appearance.  When the blood cells are exposed to the carbon dioxide from carboxytherapy treatments they release oxygen molecules, and pick up the carbon dioxide so that we can exhale it from our lungs. By injecting small amounts of carbon dioxide gas just below the surface of the skin, we are tricking it into increasing the blood circulation to that area of the cellulite and breaking the fibrous septae and creating repair to the soft tissue. Carboxytherapy is a safe, in-office procedure with minimal or no downtime that yields visible results in a shortened amount of treatments.

Your genes may play a part in whether or not you have cellulite. Other factors may include your diet, how your body burns energy, hormone changes, and dehydration.

Cellulite may be more visible than fat deeper in the body. Everyone has layers of fat under the skin so even thin people can have cellulite. Collagen fibers that connect fat to the skin may stretch, break down, or pull tight. This causes fat cells to bulge out resulting in noticeable dimpling of the skin that is problematic for so many people. Many people seek treatment for cellulite because they are bothered by how it looks. The problem is not harmful to your health, however.

What Treatments are Available for Cellulite?

Mesotherapy is one of therapies used to increase vascularization and lymphatic drainage in the subcutaneous regions of the skin where cellulite is formed. Over a period of injections using a cocktail mix of non-harmful and natural irritants noticeable improvement to cellulite areas occur as the subcutaneous fat chambers are rejuvenated from the increased vascular and again become elastic thus diminishing or eliminating the dimpling associated with cellulite. The injections are made to the subcutaneous fat chambers where engorged fat chambers or inelastic fibers (bands) are causing the skin irregularity. Increased vascular and lymphatic drainage occurs because of the irritants injected and thus the body reacts to these chemicals. Besides using different medications, Mesotherapy cellulite treatments require many more injections to the affected area, require many more treatments, and can take several months to complete. Diet, nutrition, estrogen inhibitors (i.e. fiber) and other cellulite conjunctive therapies enhance mesotherapy cellulite treatments including the main culprit of cellulite – estrogen dominance among women. We also offer creams and lotions to help decrease the appearance of cellulite temporarily as you go through our treatment protocols.  Since cellulite is multi-factorial so should the treatments be in controlling and reversing the indication of cellulite.

What can I expect from Cellulite Treatment Therapies?

Cellulite is graded scaling from 1-4 with type 4 cellulite being the most severe:

• Type 1 – pinching of the skin causes dimpling, standing and lying flat there is no
• Type 2 – dimpling of the skin occurs while standing but is eliminated with lying flat.
• Type 3 – dimpling occurs while standing and lying flat, this is the most common form of cellulite patients seek and can be further classified as mild or severe.
• Type 4 – nodular cellulite, the most stubborn form of cellulite in its advance stage.

At Manhattan Medical wellness we offer multiple treatment options and solutions for the correction of cellulite and typical results are a 1-2 grade improvement to your cellulite problems.  The higher the grade of cellulite the more difficult it is to treat.  Cellulite is a progressive skin disorder and early intervention is key to successful outcomes.

Dr. Moalemi offers the latest technologies and techniques in treating stretch marks yielding faster, more dramatic results for patients of all ages and for immature and mature striae indications.  At Manhattan Medical Wellness we use Carboxytherapy improves skin elasticity, improves circulation, initiates collagen repair, improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and eliminates localized fatty deposits under the skin.

Stretch marks are caused by collagen damage due to stretching of the skin where the banding has increased to where they are noticeable visible characteristics of discoloration of the skin.  Stretch marks typically occur in the abdomen, buttock, thigh, and breast area in women.  Pregnancies and various hormonal factors creates stress on the skin and causes the collagen and elastin fibers within skin to become elongated causing scar tissue from these changes.

There are (2) types of stretch marks defined as immature (reddish, blush color) and mature (older whitish, pale skin) types of striae. Treatment for stretch marks have included topical formulations of retinoic acid (Retin-A), microdermabrasion, Radio Frequency devices and IPL lasers as well as fractional CO2 and ERYAG laser ablation.  Though these treatments may improve the stretching of the skin and may create collagen remodeling the cause of the stretchmark indication is not addressed – the damaged collagen banding within the dermal layers of the skin.

The reticular dermis is responsible for skin elasticity and although stretch marks are thought to be a result of collagen rupture and breakdown during stretching of the skin, until recently, few treatments actually targeted the root cause of the striae formation, the damaged collagen in the dermal layer.

Carboxytherapy is the only effective treatment available for both mature and immature stretch marks that noticeably repairs damaged collagen over a series of treatments and has a high safety profile as it can be used safely in all skin types and complexions.  Carboxytherapy causes the formation and remodeling of new collagen in the dermis and subsequently thickens the skin to improve the appearance of the stretch marks by rebuilding the collagen structure within the dermis of the skin and create microvascular to these same components of the skin.

At Manhattan Medical Wellness we use a combination approach in treating stretch marks including the use of creams, lasers, and carboxytherapy to eliminate the unwanted appearance of striae.