Cellfina: FDA approved procedure gets rid of cellulite for up to 2 years

WARNING: Graphic images

PHOENIX -- It's vexed women forever -- no matter how much they diet and exercise, some just can't get rid of it: cellulite -- those dimples of skin that you just can't hide in a swimsuit.

But there's new hope in an FDA approved procedure that gets rid of cellulite for up to two years.

"We do Botox and fillers where we do no surgical procedures such as facials and body hair removal," said Dr. Bryan Gawley.

You know you're in Scottsdale when you see reserved parking signs for Botox patients. You'll find this one at the MD Skin Lounge on North Pima Road.

"A more of a retail space that offers the highest quality of medical procedures, but in a med spa type of environment," said Gawley.

But this isn't any quick stop at the spa. The MD Skin Lounge is run by Dr. Gawley, a board certified plastic surgeon.

"Board certified plastic surgeon and in particular, I'm board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgeons," he said.

Besides his plastic surgery practice, Dr. Gawley, who also owns and operates MD Skin Lounge, is one of the first in the valley to offer a cellulite removal procedure called Cellfina.

"What it does in a low down time in-office procedure is it smooths out the dimpling or that cellulite appearance," he said.

"It's genetic. I take after my mom and she probably wishes she was here today getting this procedure done," said Stephanie Schwartz, who was in the office for a Cellfina treatment. "I teach spin seven days a week an I've had the same issues for the last 20 years."

Clearly, this 35-year-old is in good shape, but when it comes to cellulite, it doesn't discriminate.

"It's not related to being overweight or underweight. We have some of the leanest body building patients that can have cellulite and certainly people who have a little weight to lose can have cellulite," explained Gawley.

Cellulite is caused by fibrous tissue beneath the skin that pulls at the skin, creating cellulite dimples. The Cellfina procedure releases the skin from these cellulite causing bands, smoothing the skin.

"Once the band releases that pucker pops up and it's flat," said Gawley.

The procedure is quick, usually less than an hour and there are no major incisions.

"The incisions are the same size if you were going to have Botox. It's a little needle poke, there isn't any cutting, no sutures involved," said Gawley.

Patients can go back to work the next day.

"It's just local anesthesia, so I don't have to go under for this treatment and I'll be back at it after lunch," said Schwartz.

After an update from the doctor and a short prep period, Schwartz was ready for Cellfina.

First, the area to be treated is numbed, then using a tool no thicker than a needle, Dr. Gawley detaches the skin from fibrous tissue, leaving behind some bruising that should vanish, along with the cellulite in a few days.

"If this works as well as they think it does, I'll just keep doing it as often as I need to," said Schwartz.

"To have that type of non-surgical procedure have such amazing results both in the way they look and how they feel about themselves.. it's pretty exciting," said Gawley.