Improvement in Cellulite Appearance After a Single Treatment Visit With Acoustic Subcision: Long-Term Findings From a Multicenter Clinical Trial

Abstract

BACKGROUND Cellulite is an aesthetically displeasing rippling or dimpling of the skin, primarily on the buttocks/thighs. A recent study showed a novel acoustic subcision device produced significant short-term (12-week) improvement in the appearance of cellulite after a single rapid acoustic pulse (RAP) treatment. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the long-term (>52-weeks) efficacy and safety of RAP treatment for improvement in the appearance of cellulite. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this prospective, multicenter trial, female participants (n = 42) with severe cellulite were treated with the acoustic subcision device in a single visit. At >52 weeks, blinded board-certified dermatologists assessed efficacy by correctly identifying post-treatment photographs and using a 6-point simplified Cellulite Severity Scale (CSS). Participant satisfaction was also collected. Safety was assessed throughout. RESULTS The blinded panel correctly identified post-treatment photographs at a rate of 95.2%; 70.4% of participants had a >1-point reduction in the CSS score from baseline (mean reduction of 1.09). All participants (100%) reported improved cellulite appearance. Overall pain during treatment was rated as 2.4 and 0.3 post-treatment (pain scale 0–10). No device or treatment-related adverse events were reported at the >52-week follow-up. CONCLUSION Rapid acoustic pulse treatment significantly improved the long-term appearance of cellulite and was well-tolerated.