Velashape is a non-invasive, non-surgical body reshaping procedure used for cellulite and circumferential reduction. While the results are similar to those of plastic surgery and other body contouring procedures, Velashape is a painless outpatient procedure requiring no recovery time.
Because of its fast results and the ease of the procedure, Velashape was voted the number one cellulite reduction procedure in 2009, in addition to currently being the most popular body reshaping procedure among celebrities. Velashape is the only FDA-approved non-invasive medical procedure used for body shaping, cellulite reduction, and circumferential reduction in body contouring clinics to date.
The most common treatment areas for Velashape include the buttocks, abdomen, and thighs. Since these areas are commonly affected by pregnancy and are sometimes difficult to isolate in postpartum weight loss, Velashape has been especially popular among moms who wish to return their bodies to pre-pregnancy state.
Velashape is approved for circumferential reduction of the thighs, reducing their size anywhere from one to seven centimeters, depending on the number of treatments. In addition, Velashape is also used to reduce cellulite on the thighs, buttocks, waist, and abdomen.
How Does Velashape Work?
Velashape uses “elos” technology, a combination of bi-polar radiofrequency and infrared light energy. Elos is then further combined with mechanical vacuum massage. The elos technology isolates the targeted area, heating this area only, while specially designed massage rollers smooth out the skin to ensure correct heat energy distribution. The metabolism of the stored energy is increased, promoting better lymphatic drainage and shrinking the size of the fat cells and chambers.
Velashape is often described as feeling similar to a deep tissue massage, so this painless procedure actually feels therapeutic. A pulsed vacuum device is used to prep the skin for treatment by massaging the skin into the prime treatment position. The bi-polar radiofrequency and infrared light energies create a warming sensation on the skin as they isolate the fat cells under the skin’s surface. Each treatment session lasts from 20 minutes to one hour, depending on the size of the area being treated.
Candidates for Velashape include patients with a body mass index under 30 and a cellulite classification level of one or two, in which cellulite appears spontaneously while standing up but not while lying down. Doctors performing the procedure will additionally asses each patient’s overall health before determining whether the procedure will be beneficial.
What is Cellulite?
Fat chambers are made up of rigid fibers. When fat cells are enlarged (when a person gains weight in an isolated area), the rigid fibers push up against the soft skin tissue, causing the rough, “cottage cheese” texture on the skin’s surface. Velashape reduces the appearance of cellulite by heating the fat cells beneath the skin while using the mechanical vacuum massage to smooth out the skin’s surface.
Cellulite is a common condition in women, caused by a combination of risk factors that include heredity, hormones, smoking, poor diet, lack of hydration, and too little exercise. Cellulite is a problem for nearly 80 percent of women today, regardless of their body type, shape, or weight.
The Benefits of Velashape
Velashape is a safe, comfortable, and effective procedure for reducing the circumference of the thighs and cellulite on the thighs, waist, buttocks, and abdomen. The procedure can produce a toned, well-shaped and contoured body in as few as four sessions. One feature that makes Velashape stand apart from other fat reduction procedures is that it is non-surgical and requires no recovery time. Patients can walk out of the clinic directly after the procedure and return to work and their other daily routines immediately.
The results of Velashape are gradual, so there is no drastic change after any one treatment session. Instead, Velashape produces a steady reduction of fat and cellulite each time the treatment in repeated. A noticeable difference is obtained after four treatment sessions, although additional treatments may be performed until the desired body shape is reached. The gradual effectiveness of the treatments can be a benefit for patients wishing to avoid an obvious overnight change that can draw too much attention to a person’s suddenly different appearance.
Additional benefits of Velashape include more confidence, better self-esteem, and an overall improved lifestyle.