PORTLAND – Women who have made plans for a warm weather spring break may dread getting back into a swimsuit, but a new procedure is designed to help get women beach-ready.
No matter what they weigh, the majority of women have persistent problems with their hips and thighs. Even celebrities have failed to find a solution to the “orange peel” or “cottage cheese” look that lands them in magazines.
“Cellulite is largely a genetic problem and 85 percent of women have it,” said Naturopathic Doctor Alisha Moadab.
The quest to get rid of it can begin with creams that cost anywhere from $8 to $80.
“You put it on the skin and the skin actually swells up a little because it’s a little bit irritated or inflamed,” Nutritionist James Dubberly said. “Which will smooth out the skin a little bit. But is it a permanent solution? Unfortunately, no.”
Bobbie Stewart was looking for a cellulite solution before her vacation to Belize, so she tried the Smooth Shapes treatment at Soleil Med Spa in Southwest Portland.
The procedure is approved by the FDA for temporary reduction of the appearance of cellulite, and has been available there for less than a year.
“It works using laser, light, vacuum and massage,” Moadab explained. “The combination is designed to break up the fat cells and flush them out of the body.”
The process takes 10 minutes in each area and Bobbie came back twice a week for four weeks, a total of eight sessions.
“I can’t say it was perfect but it was a definite improvement,” she said. “There wasn’t as much sagging. I guess it just looked better all around”
Online reviews of Smooth Shapes give it a 57 percent approval rating and put the cost anywhere from $1,000 to $2,500 for the eight treatments.
Customers can expect to be “relatively cellulite-free for a year and possibly need some touch-ups after that,” Moadab said.
But even Smooth Shapes advocates agree: Diet and exercise are also key in fighting those cellulite producing fat cells.
Drinking lots of water and massaging the area are other tips.
There may be no permanent fixes, but at least there may be help reducing the appearance of cellulite, perhaps enough to help women enjoy that spring break a little more.
