By Doctor Henry Delmar
Cellfina™ has been launched on the market to offer a unique solution to a specific problem.
This mini-invasive medical device can eliminate the dimples created by fibrous cellulite by targeting the conjunctive tissues responsible for this type of cellulite. A welcome addition to the surgeons’ arsenal of therapies, it can be combined with surgical or medical treatments.
The figure: an art, a science, a diagnosis
There are many problems connected with body shape, and to treat them we must take into account a certain number of factors to design a tailor-made treatment adapted to each patient’s physiology. For a surgeon who specialises in body shaping, it is important to propose procedures that use medical devices – such as cryolipolysis for fatty bulges or radiofrequency for orange-peel cellulite and sagging skin – and not only surgical solutions such as liposuction, which only treat part of the problem.
Cellfina™ provides a long-lasting and visible solution to rid patients of the skin dimpling caused by deep-seated fibrous cellulite (the most difficult kind to treat) in just one session. Around 80% of women suffer from it, often hand in hand with other types of lipodystrophies such as orange-peel skin, which is not the right indication for this treatment. These skin “hollows” are caused by the hardening of the fibres in the conjunctive tissue, or septa, coupled with bad blood circulation. As the fibres harden, their collagen causes the septa to retract, pulling the skin inwards. Since liposuction does not treat these superficial or deeper deposits of fat, I now suggest a Cellfina™ treatment three months after the final results, or even during liposuction surgery. In 10% of cases, the dimples are so deep that even the Cellfina™ cannot fully correct them, and so we need to inject a bit of fat to smooth the surface of the skin. Just one session is enough, and we can couple it with cryolipolysis on other areas such as the stomach or love handles in the same session. In this way, all women have the opportunity to improve their figure, whatever their age.
Technology and how the treatment is performed
Merz laboratories developed this minimally-invasive medical device, which has been FDA-approved since 2013 and has had the CE mark since 2016. The system, which is equipped with a suction chamber, uses the patented “Tissue Stabilized-guided Subcision™” technique to safely release the fibrous bands responsible for dimpling. Each treatment area is anaesthetised prior to treatment, then the practitioner uses the subcision system inserted into the handpiece and guided by the Cellfina™ platform to section the septa one by one, without any scarring. The path in which the single-use micro-scalpel is inserted into the tissues is accurately controlled and guided horizontally, vertically and to a depth of 6 to 10mm in order to prevent any skin sagging when we section the septa close to one another. The procedure is carried out in outpatient surgery and lasts 1 to 2 hours, depending on the number of dimples to treat, plus the time it takes to prepare a sterile field and to apply bandages after the procedure. So, in all, it takes between 2 and 3 hours.
At the end of the operation, we remove all of the serous fluid and any bleeding, then apply large ice packs, which the patient wears for 24 hours in order to minimise swelling and bruising, which can vary from one person to another. The results are achieved at the end of the first session but will only be visible once all of the swelling and bruising has disappeared.
Plan ahead for optimal results
For optimal results, I recommend making a diagnosis two weeks prior to the operation in order to analyse the patient’s skin, morphology and eating habits to prepare the patient and optimise the results: 15 days and 2 months post-procedure, nutritional supplements, lactic acid bacteria and a suitable diet are prescribed, because a body that is well prepared and well-nourished heals better and faster. If we are clear in our explanations and about the potential results, patients are satisfied with the procedure and with their body, since dimpling, just like fatty bulges, affects the appearance and dynamics of the figure.
Doctor Henry Delmar
Doctor Henry Delmar, plastic surgeon, founder-director of the “Science et Beauté” clinic for surgery, aesthetic medicine and anti-aging in the Cap d’Antibes. Author of scientific publications about the superficial tissues of the face and endoscopic forehead and breast surgery. Co-author of the book “Philosophie de la chirurgie esthétique” (The reasoning behind cosmetic surgery) from Odile Jacob editions.
