Ever since “showing some skin” hit the fashion scene, women have been looking for ways to get rid of cellulite.
Johanna Petrychi, a physician’s assistant from Queens, N.Y., is no exception – she has been dealing with cellulite since her ‘tween years.
"Even at 12 years old, you know, always going to the beach with friends; sitting down, I look over, I had dimples, they didn't have dimples,” Petrychi said. “And it was something that progressively got worse the older I got."
No matter how much she exercised, Petrychi didn't see a change, and it affected her everyday life.
"I always wore long shorts from as far back as I remember,” she said. “You know, whether it'd be going out to the beach, or trying to wear skirts; growing up everything just went to my knee," she said.
So in November 2010, she turned to Dr. Bruce Katz, director of the Juva Skin and Laser Center in New York City, who introduced her to Cellulaze, the first one-time laser treatment approved for cellulite by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Cellulite occurs when collagen bands under the skin pull down, causing hills of fat to push up – resulting in that infamous dimpled appearance.
"For the first time, we really actually have a laser that treats all three components of cellulite," Katz said.
Katz threads a laser under the skin to break the collagen bands, smoothing the appearance of cellulite in just one session.
"The real ground-breaking difference here, is that the laser beam is split in two different directions,” he said. “It is the first time we have ever been able to do that."
The procedure lasts about 45 minutes, and patients go home the same day with minimal swelling.
The dramatic results last at least two years – and even improve over time, Katz said.
"We believe that if the cellulite has stayed away for two years, it's probably gone for good," he added.
For patients like Petrychi, Cellulaze means getting rid of cellulite for good.
"It was just great to walk around and not have to cover myself with a towel or wear a long skirt or shorts,” she said. “So it definitely changed my life for the best."
