VelaShape

Have you ever looked at pictures of celebrities and wondered how they got their smooth, sexy figure? No prizes for guessing - it's more than just diet and exercise. Many people who are in the limelight take a little help from cosmetic procedures. Today, we're talking about one such non-invasive body contouring treatment called VelaShape. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about this innovative treatment.

What causes cellulite?

Before we get into what are VelaShape treatments, let's take a quick look at cellulite, which is one of the problems it treats. Cellulite is the dimpled, orange peel appearance of skin that is quite common in the thighs, hips, buttocks, and abdomen area, especially in women. This dimpling is caused by bands of underlying dermal collagen fibers pulling down the skin surface and causing fat cells to push up. This causes an uneven appearance of the skin, commonly known as cellulite.

Doctors classify cellulite on the Nurnberger-Muller scale. Stage 1 on this scale is when a person has no dimpling when lying down; however, a pinch test reveals an orange peel appearance. Stage 2 is when dimpling appears spontaneously upon standing but none is present when lying down. Stage 3 is the appearance of cellulite both while lying and standing.

Cellulite can make the skin appear unsightly. VelaShape is an FDA cleared non invasive treatment that not only helps with cellulite reduction and improving skin laxity but also with circumferential reduction of the thighs and abdomen.

What is VelaShape treatment? How does it work? Does it use infrared light?

VelaShape is a non surgical, non invasive body contouring treatment that can help you achieve a smoother, sexier figure. It can sculpt your body volume in problem areas to give you a more toned, contoured, and shapely silhouette. You can get dramatic results with just a few sessions. The sessions are office treatments that do not involve any anesthesia, cuts, or needles.

Before understanding how VelaShape LED works, let's do a quick overview of skin structure. The middle layer of skin called the dermis is where collagen is made. Collagen is the protein that gives the skin its smooth, tight, youthful appearance.

VelaShape uses a combination of vacuum suction, bi polar radio frequency energy, and infrared light to achieve deep heating of the fat cells and surrounding connective tissue in the skin. The vacuum stimulates blood flow to the area. The heat helps to break down the bands of connective tissue that cause the appearance of cellulite. The breaking down of the fat cells and surrounding connective tissue helps with both fat reduction and cellulite reduction in the treated area. This means you not only get rid of stubborn fat bulges but also get rid of moderate cellulite.

Does VelaShape kill fat cells?

Yes, as noted above, the RF energy and infrared light in VelaShape destroys fat cells in the target area. However, it is worth noting that this is not a weight loss treatment. It is designed to provide localized reduction of fat in problem spots. If you have a body mass index that qualifies you as overweight or obese (BMI over 30), this procedure will not help you lose any significant amount of weight.

If your main goal is weight loss, your provider may suggest other treatments. A healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet and a regular exercise routine is the safest way to achieve your weight loss goals. Once you are at a healthy weight with diet and exercise, you may qualify for VelaShape treatments.

Is VelaShape good for cellulite reduction?

VelaShape is a safe and effective way to reduce the appearance of cellulite. What's more, not only does the treatment reduce cellulite and smoothen dimpled skin, it also increases collagen production, leading to tighter skin. Notably, the skin tightening is not immediate. Rather, it occurs over a period of several weeks as the body makes new collagen.

What areas can be treated?

The VelaShape system is FDA cleared to get rid of excess fat in treatment areas such as the thighs and abdomen. The procedure can help reduce the orange peel appearance of skin as well as result in circumferential reduction of the thighs, abdomen, and upper arms.

Does VelaShape really work?

Clinical trials have shown that VelaShape works for most patients with significant improvement in skin laxity and smoothness as well as circumferential reduction of up to 1.4 cm in the abdomen, 1.2 cm in the thighs, and 0.5 cm in the buttocks after a series of sessions. Most people see gradual and overall improvement throughout the treatment regime.

What happens during VelaShape?

There is no special preparation required before the appointment except to be well hydrated. The treatment itself does not cause any significant discomfort. You will lie comfortably on the treatment table. Your provider will apply the VelaShape hand-held device to the target area. This will feel like a mechanical massage. The heat generates a warm sensation that many people describe like a warm deep tissue massage in the treated areas.

What is VelaShape recovery like? Is there any downtime?

There is no downtime after a VelaShape session. As noted, the treatment is non invasive and does not involve any cuts or needles or anesthesia. You can go home the same day and return to all normal activities.

How many treatments do I need to see result? How far apart should VelaShape treatments be?

The recommended regimen is a series of three treatment sessions with VelaShape. Some people may need up to six sessions for the desired results. However, your provider may be able to plan a single treatment protocol for you. Your appointments will be scheduled two weeks apart to allow the body time to heal and produce more collagen.

How soon do you see results from VelaShape? How long do results last? Is VelaShape permanent?

You should not expect immediate results from the treatment. Although some people notice an improvement after the first treatment, most patients report they got optimal results in about 6-8 weeks after completing the recommended series of VelaShape sessions. The results are not permanent. You will need to go back to your provider for maintenance treatments every six months or so. A healthy diet and exercise will help you maintain your results longer.

What are the pros and cons of VelaShape?

Pros

The key advantages of VelaShape treatments are that they are quick (typically taking 20-30 minutes per treatment area). Also, there's no downtime. The office-based procedure is painless and can be combined with other cosmetic treatments. Side effects are rare. There may be some minor bruising but this usually goes away in a few hours.

Cons

The main disadvantages of VelaShape are that the results are temporary and you need multiple treatments (3-6 or even more) to see results. Also, you do not get the type of dramatic results you can get with more invasive treatments such as liposuction.

Who makes a good candidate for VelaShape?

Anyone who is looking to get rid of fat bulges in stubborn spots like the abdomen, thighs, and upper arms and/or anyone who wants to reduce the appearance of cellulite (orange peel) in these areas is a suitable candidate for VelaShape. The treatment can be done on all skin types. However, as noted above, it is not recommended for people who are overweight or obese (body mass index over 30).

How much does VelaShape cost?

The price of VelaShape treatment will depend on the size of the area being treated and how many sessions you need. On average, you can expect to pay $1,000 per session. Your provider may offer a reduced price per session if you purchase a package of several treatments.

What are some other alternatives to VelaShape?

There are various options available to clients looking for cellulite reduction and spot reduction of fat. Some of them are described below along with a brief comparison to VelaShape.

VelaSmooth vs. VelaShape: What's the difference?

VelaSmooth is made by the same company that makes VelaShape. It was the first non invasive cellulite treatment cleared by the FDA. VelaShape is a newer device that comes with multiple applicators. It has shown better satisfaction ratings from patients compared to VelaSmooth.

Endermologie vs. VelaShape: What's the difference?

Endermologie is a platform that also works to break up fat cells and smooth out cellulite with mechanical massage and vacuum technology. Although both platforms use similar technologies, VelaShape has been found to give better results.

Which is better, CoolSculpting or VelaShape?

CoolSculpting is a treatment in which freezing temperatures are used to kill fat cells in problem areas like the abdomen, flanks, thighs, hips, buttocks, and upper arms. VelaShape uses a combination of RF, vacuum, and infrared light that not only destroys fat cells but also improves the tone and texture of the skin. The two treatments can be combined together for a more comprehensive approach.

What is the difference between VelaShape II and VelaShape III?

They are two different models of the same device, with VelaShape III being the latest VelaShape device.

Is VelaShape® right for me?

If you are in generally good health, at or near a healthy body weight, and are Nurnberger-Muller stage 1 or 2 on the cellulite scale, then VelaShape could be an excellent choice for you.

Still not sure if you are a good candidate for this procedure? Have more questions? Want to explore other non invasive options?

The MeTime app makes it easy to find a qualified and licensed plastic surgeon or aesthetic provider for VelaShape in your area. You can click and upload pictures, chat with experts, schedule a video consult, and have suggestions sent directly to you. Try the MeTime app today!