A combination treatment using laser energy and fat transplantation shows promise in significantly improving cellulite, according to a new study published in the November/December 2008 issue of Aesthetic Surgery Journal.

"The search for the cause of cellulite and effective treatments is ongoing, however, the combination of a minimally-invasive pulsed laser treatment and autologous fat transplantation represents a viable option for women who have severe cases of cellulite," says Robert Gotkin, MD, a plastic surgeon in New York, and one of the authors of the study. "All treatments have limitations and since cellulite is a chronic condition, the patient must understand that there are no miracle procedures and multiple treatments may
be necessary."

The treatment presented in the ASJ study first uses 1064-nm Nd:YAG laser energy conducted underneath the skin to stimulate collagen formation and skin tightening, and to reduce fatty tissue. Laser treatment is followed by injections of the patient’s own fat to fill in the depressed areas. Along with visible improvement, there are very few adverse effects, most of which are mild and temporary.

The doctors treated 52 women between the ages of 18-47 with severe cases of cellulite who had not undergone previous surgical treatments such as lipoplasty or subcision. After the laser tightening and fat injections, patients received a massage to evenly distribute the fat and returned the next day for physiotherapeutic postoperative treatments. The follow-up period ranged from a 1 to 3 years, and nearly 85% of the patients rated their results as "good" or "excellent".

[Source: Medical News Today]