OctOber 27 - NOvember 10, 2006 Siklab Newsmag 10

Cellulite! Just the mere idea of it is enough to make a woman wince and feel the dread that it brings. There is nothing really harmful about having cellulite but it is being feared because in

a way, it harms many women’s self-esteem as they can’t confidently bare some skin in their attempt to hide that un-pleasant appearance. Cellulite is stored directly under the skin, usually on the thighs and buttocks. The uneven mass of fat cells that tends to press against the skin’s surface results in the cottage-cheese look that many despise. Cellulite is a kind of fat tissue in the subcutaneous layer of the skin. It contains tight bands of connective tissue, which vary in thickness and with fat cells. When fats, fluids and toxins are trapped deep in the skin (below the epidermal layer), the connective tissue thickens and hardens, giving a dimpling effect. As we get older, the layer of the skin thins, and results in the rippled look of cellulite. There are two types of cellulite: hard and soft. Hard cellulite is hard to get rid of because it doesn’t lift from the body easily. It’s also harder to see because it attaches directly to the muscle. Soft cellulite, on the other hand, is not as concentrated as hard cellulite and is much more visible. It occurs in large areas. It doesn’t attach so strongly to the muscle, that is why it’s looser and often sags from the body. The result is often poor muscle tone. It’s easier to remove.Women are often the victims of cellulite. It often forms in postnatal women and those who take birth control pills. A sed- en-tary lifestyle also makes the connective tissue hard which causes skin dimpling. The overweight have a greater chance of developing cellulite. However, thin women can also get it. It usually occurs in women who are active like dancers or athletes.

There are of course ways to improve the appearance of cellulite like taking in fewer calories than you burn, and exercis-ing regularly. How-ever, these may be so tall an order for many women and the result can’t be seen as quickly as one wants it. Now there’s the Acoustic Wave Therapy (AWT) for cellulite treatment. It uses pressure waves that crack up both of the major causes of cellulite: fibrous septae and protrusion of fat into the lower dermis. It also produces a pressure wave that passes through skin and fat to strike the fibrous septae, breaking up the collagen of the septae. It then releases from the skin for a smoother surface. AWT also helps thicken the dermis and decrease fat growth.AWT introduces one important breakthrough, the D-Actor. It is a device that uses a ballistic hand piece that generates acoustic waves which address the components responsible for dimpled skin.

The radial head uses a pellet inside an air chamber to generate the AWT pressure wave. This generates a

pressure wave which is slower in duration and is like a strong vibrator. The pressure wave

breaks up the septae and increases dermal collagen. The radial head has also been used in pain control. It over- stimulates nerves

and increases blood flow to treated areas which makes the treatments comfortable. At higher frequencies, the radial head can also increase muscle tone without exercise.

Moreover, the planar head uses an electromagnet to generate the AWT, which results in a high energy pressure wave with a very short duration

allowing the high energy pres-sure wave to be painless. The high energy breaks up the fibrous septae. Collagen is also stimulated in the lower dermis resulting in the reduc-tion of fat growth. Some of the en-ergy is delivered to the surrounding fat cells. It then causes those cells to shed out some of their fat.

If you want to improve the appear-ance of your skin, you may want to

resort to this truly innovative treatment. To treat cellulite effectively a total of six treatments are required in a period of three

weeks. Two treatments per week for three weeks is the usual treatment regimen.

Should you need advice on this treatment and other proce-dures call for a free consultation:

Biologica 626-564-03001492 W. Colorado Blvd. Suite BPasadena, Ca. 91105

Dr. Roberto Tostado is the founder of The Biologica Institute of Aesthetic and Anti-Aging Medicine. He has over 14 years of medical practice and has been exclusively practicing aesthetic medicine in Pasadena, California. He is part of a new breed of innovative physicians practicing non-surgical cosmetic medicine. His practice specializes in the Asian population and skin of color. He graduated from the University of Michigan Medical School and holds a BA from Columbia University. His extensive training in aesthetic medicine integrates knowledge and the newest technology available from various parts of the globe. He is board certified in Family Practice. He currently writes for numerous Asian publications.