LIPOCLINIC St. Gallen
9000 St. Gallen
LIPOCLINIC Zürich
8004 Zürich
Sagging cellulite is difficult to treat and cannot be compared with the "bulging cellulite" of young women. We also refer to this as "volume deficiency cellulite". This is soft, flabby and "excess skin" that "wobbles" when you walk. Sagging cellulite can be compared to an empty balloon that has deflated.
This finding is most common on the legs (sometimes only above the kneecaps), upper arms and upper abdomen. In principle, however, this phenomenon can also be found on all other parts of the body.
The cause of this type of cellulite is a degeneration of the connective tissue or a severe breakdown of the collagen under the skin. This breakdown leads to three consequences, which are responsible for the formation of cellulite:
Sagging of the connective tissue
Various factors reduce the stability and firmness of the connective tissue fibers that hold the skin to the muscle. The connective tissue fibers lose their firmness and can be stretched like rubber. This explains, for example, the "hand organ phenomenon" of wrinkled skin above the knee.
Thinning of the skin
The skin becomes thinner as a result of the loss of collagen. In addition, the water content in the skin decreases (hydration), which intensifies the effect. The skin feels thin, soft and flabby. As soon as the skin is stretched, the cellulite also disappears.
Swelling of individual areas of the subcutaneous fatty tissue
The fat cells swell unevenly (water retention) because the tightening, compressing effect of the connective tissue is missing.
A drop in female hormones, weight fluctuations and weight loss, genetics and the unstoppable age-related degeneration lead to the breakdown of collagen and are the reason for these changes, which usually occur from the age of 40 and only in women. Cellulite forms regardless of weight and is also found in very slim women.
Scientific studies show a lack of collagen fibers under the microscope, which are there to keep the connective tissue tight. If these collagen fibers are missing, the tissue becomes very soft and flabby – the stored fat cells fill up with water and swell. This makes the irregularities of the skin even more visible.
Sagging cellulite can only be treated in two ways: One option is an operation to tighten the skin. This major and expensive operation – also known as a "body lift" – comes with many possible complications and often thick, highly visible scars. The second option is to restore the collagen that was once there to the skin and the tissue underneath. We have developed a new concept for this that leads to results that have never been possible before.
The aim of a non-invasive cellulite treatment must be to increase the collagen content in the connective tissue so that the tissue tightens up again.
The human body can actually produce collagen for a lifetime, but unfortunately it produces less and less of it as we get older. Targeted stimulants, however, can encourage the body to produce new collagen.
The best stimulants for the production of new collagen are heat and substances that lead to the production of new collagen as part of a collagen-building reaction.
There are many devices that attempt to use heat to stimulate the body to produce collagen. These are known as HIFU, Thermage, radio frequency etc., but they almost never achieve the heating required for collagen formation (60°-80° degrees).
We have developed a system called "Cellu supercharged", which combines heat and foreign body reaction in a single session. The subcutaneous tissue is heated by radiofrequency, which heats it efficiently at three levels (7,5 and 3mm under the skin). Collagen is stimulated by the foreign body reaction through injections of so-called collagen stimulants, i.e., either polylactate (Sculptra, Lanluma) or calcium hydroxylapatite (Radiesse). In some cases, we also combine this with PDO threads.
Each method achieves certain results on its own, but it is the combination that potentiates the effect, which has rarely been achieved before.
When Morpheus8 is used, thin needles are inserted under the skin at the tip of which the radio frequency heat is generated. The very fine needle pricks and the heat cause the inflated fat balls to shrink and the connective tissue fibers between the skin and muscles to tighten. In contrast to other devices, Morpheus8 uses the so-called "burst" concept, in which heat is delivered at three different depths (3mm/5mm/7mm) as part of a single pulse, exactly where it is needed: in the skin and underneath, where the connective tissue fibers are located.
The effect is not only to tighten and shrink the tissue (similar to a steak on the grill), but also to stimulate the formation of new collagen.
Morpheus8 is currently the most effective and efficient device on the market.
Even if the Morpheus8 treatment already leads to the formation of new collagen, this stimulation is potentiated by injecting additional substances that trigger a foreign body reaction.
A foreign body reaction is a natural process in the body in which it recognizes and breaks down foreign material that does not belong to the body. This degradation process takes place in such a way that the blood circulation in this area is promoted by the ingrowth of capillaries and connective tissue (fibroblasts) as well as other cells migrate in. The improved blood circulation and the migration of cells then lead to the formation of new collagen, while the foreign material is completely broken down (and excreted as water in the urine and carbon dioxide in the breath). Weeks after the treatment, a biopsy of the tissue may reveal much more collagen but no injected substances.
A foreign body reaction occurs to any foreign material, but this varies greatly depending on the type of substance. Polylactate (Sculptra and Lanluma), calcium hydroxylapatite (Radiesse) and PDO threads have proven themselves as collagen boosters because they all stimulate maximum collagen production and are completely broken down at the same time, thus disappearing completely from the tissue.
Sculptra is used below to describe how a collagen booster works. Other substances that can be used, such as Lanluma, Radiesse or PDO threads, work in exactly the same way. For various reasons, we mostly use Sculptra, sometimes supplemented by PDO threads.
This is how a Collagen Booster works:
The use of collagen boosters to tighten the skin has been known for almost 20 years. Until now, collagen boosters have mainly been used on the face, whereas their use for cellulite is relatively new. Sculptra, Lanluma (polylactate), Radiesse (calcium hydroxyapatite) and PDO threads are used. They are injected under the skin with a syringe or inserted directly. Tissue activators are either injected over a large area or specifically into "dents".
Unfortunately, collagen boosters are very expensive products. Prices of up to CHF 700.00 are common for treatments of small areas of the face. Much more material is required for cellulite, which explains the higher costs.
The Cellu supercharged treatment concept aims to form new, firm collagen and tighten the sagging connective tissue fibers. The results last for years. As a rule, a single treatment is sufficient.
Cellu supercharged is a completely new, unique treatment concept for the lasting improvement of cellulite. A long-lasting improvement in the tissue can be achieved after just one treatment. However: Every tissue is individually "flabby", and every expectation of the result is subjective. It may therefore be necessary in individual cases to undergo a second or even third treatment until the desired result is achieved.
Please note: The tightening processes and the body's own collagen build-up take a long time. The result should therefore only be assessed after 8-12 weeks, until then the tissue is "working".
There are no significant, restrictive side effects. However, the treatment with Cellu supercharged works the tissue very intensively, so that redness and bruising must be expected. However, these heal after a few days. Patients also report slight pulling pain, similar to sore muscles.
You are welcome to take a painkiller such as Brufen or Ponstan if necessary, and cooling the treated tissue usually helps. Alternatively, you can wrap the tissue and put on a light compression garment.
Sport is possible again immediately. Whatever you enjoy and is possible without pain is allowed. 90% of our patients go straight back to work after a Cellu supercharged treatment.
The treatment is very bearable because we pre-treat the tissue with an anesthetic ointment or put you into an ultra-short twilight sleep. This lasts so short that you are still fully fit afterwards and can drive a car, go back to work, etc.
There are countless ways to treat cellulite – and we’ve tried them all. Surgical skin tightening may be an alternative, but do you really want that? The results are often disappointing, and the unsightly scars remain forever.
Endermologie is a key standard in cellulite treatment, but it's not a real alternative for flaccid cellulite. The effect only lasts as long as the treatment is continued – Endermologie is essentially a lifelong therapy. While we recommend it as a first step for general cellulite treatment, it brings no improvement for loose skin and may even worsen skin quality.
Other methods like HIFU, Thermage, or radiofrequency treatments may occasionally show good results in individual cases, but many patients are disappointed because the expected outcomes are not achieved. These methods don’t reach deep enough beneath the skin to heat the tissue in a way that stimulates collagen production. Renuvion also produces unsatisfactory results on the legs and is therefore not an ideal alternative either.
A visible result typically lasts for many years (excluding natural aging processes).
Results from Cellu Supercharged take at least two months to appear, as the body first needs time to respond. Only then should the outcome be evaluated.
The heating of the tissue and subsequent injections can be uncomfortable. We therefore usually perform the procedure under light sedation or apply numbing cream to the skin upon request.
The treated skin areas may be red immediately after the session, and bruising can occur. However, these symptoms heal quickly. Physical activity is allowed right after treatment, and no downtime is required.
This advanced cellulite treatment involves significant costs for equipment (Morpheus8, single-use applicators) and injectable substances. Pricing is based on treatment area – for example, an A4-sized zone costs CHF 2000.00.
| Cellu Supercharged knees to mid-thigh | CHF 2000.00 |
|---|---|
| Cellu Supercharged front of both thighs | CHF 4000.00 |
We understand that aesthetic treatment needs to be carefully considered. We are therefore happy to take the time to answer all your questions during a free, no-obligation initial consultation. Arrange your consultation appointment today at one of our two LIPOCLINICs.
If you would like a brief online preliminary clarification before your consultation, you can also contact us by e-mail.
No matter how you want to reach us – we look forward to hearing/reading from you!
