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HEALTHursday: Goodbye Cellulite!

By Dr. Rina Shinn

Cellulite - The dimpled, uneven skin on the backsides and thighs of women, preventing them from feeling comfortable in bathing suits and summer shorts.

In the past, whenever women would ask me about treatments for cellulite, I had to be honest and couldn't recommend any procedure that would effectively treat this unsightly condition that affects 151 million women in the US alone.

Until now.

Out of all the machines, creams, wraps, etc. out there for cellulite problems, SmoothShapes XV by Eleme Medical Inc. has proven itself as the first medical approach to treating cellulite that delivers long-lasting, visible changes and creates smoother, tighter-looking skin. This new system treats cellulite by combining dynamic laser and light energy with the mechanical manipulation of vacuum and massage.

I knew about this machine last year, soon after it was FDA-approved, but I wanted to see how it fans out in clinical uses.

The results among many clinicians have been phenomenal.

The SmoothShapes system can treat all skin types, including tanned skin. Protocol consists of two treatments a week for four weeks, for a total of eight treatments.

Patients can expect the following:
- Gentle warming of the skin
- A feeling similar to a deep tissue massage
- A relaxing and pleasant experience

For years it was thought that cellulite occurred primarily due to obesity, excessive weight gain, lack of exercise and poor diet. The formation of cellulite is due to several genetic and physical factors that include hormones, vascular changes and connective tissue changes. Basically, enlarged fat cells are trapped in an inflexible network of fibrous septae located in the subcutaneous layers of skin. It affects 85-98 percent of post-pubertal women.

The SmoothShapes XV system effectively treats cellulite by improving the overall condition of enlarged fat cells and inflexible fibrous septae through Photomology technology. Photomology wavelength penetrates well into the tissue and is preferentially absorbed by lipids causing a thermal effect. The temperature inside the adipocytes is slightly elevated. Contoured rollers move liquefied lipids from the interstitial space to the lymphatic system for dynamic drainage.

SmoothShapes patients consistently share how treatments have transformed them from being self conscious about what they wear to finally being pleased with their appearance.

Dr. Rina Shinn is a board-certified General Surgeon and a Fellow of American College of Surgeons who has been in a general surgery practice since 1997. In 2008, Dr. Shinn decided to expand her expertise in laser aesthetic fields. Because of her extensive background in general surgery, Dr. Shinn has a thorough knowledge of facial and body anatomy and physiology. She is also well-versed in the specific medical and cosmetic issues facing the gay and lesbian community. Dr. Shinn has performed various "traditional" forms of cosmetic procedures, as well as new, innovative ones. She is credited with being the first surgeon to bring Body-Jet, an innovative water-assisted liposuction technique, to Colorado.

Dr. Shinn is currently the practicing Medical Director at Adonis Aesthetics in Pueblo, Colorado, where she is committed to helping her patients improve their lives. For more information, please visit www.adonisaesthetics.com.