Tessie’s Serenity SPA brings new technology for cellulite suffers..


The look of Cellulite: Cellulite – a word most women are familiar with. It is the formation of tiny dimples on the skin, usually appearing on the thighs and bottom.

Though adorable on children, these puffy puckering dimples are a curse to most women. Approximately 80 percent of women have some degree of cellulite, a result of concentrated fat cells that leave a rippling effect on the skin, which is often compared to an orange peel. Even teens and younger are getting “attacked” by cellulite.

The treatment evolution: Constructed of small pockets of waste, cellulite is very difficult to treat and studies indicate that it is tied to poor circulation and a sluggish metabolism. The best bet is to enhance one’s natural cellular function and speed up one’s metabolism for efficient toxic waste from the body, a daily-balanced diet low in fat but high in fiber with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, and a sufficient amount of water (half your body weight in ounces of water). Ideally, one should refrain from alcohol, caffeine and cigarette smoking

.Proper nutrition or supplementation with certain trace minerals like zinc, manganese, copper, selenium, magnesium, boron, chromium, molybdenum, silica and vanadium are vital for metabolizing nutrients to help fight cellulite.

Two other critical nutrients are: Vitamin C, a natural anti-inflammatory and powerful antioxidant, fights against cellulite and skin damage because it breaks down collagenase and elastinase, substances in the body that attack collagen and elastin;Vitamin E, both topically and when taken internally, is a very potent fat soluble antioxidant. Because it is fat soluble it can work its way into the fat-rich cell membranes in our bodies, protecting the cell walls.

Unfortunately, because of heredity and a stressful lifestyle, most do not follow such protocol of healthy living. Thus a huge selection of cellulite remedies mushroomed, all claiming to be the “miracle cure.”

A short list with varying degrees of success or temporary results include exfoliation, laser, AHA peels, microdermabrasion, body wraps, endodermology vacuum, massage, lymphatic drainage, and ultrasound all attempt to warm the skin, mobilize lymph, improve circulation, lift the fatty tissue, and remove toxic waste buildup.

Though most are pleased with the outcome of a fairly expensive surgical procedure such as Lipoplasty or Liposuction, careful review and extended discussion with a physician or even a second opinion is necessary due to many risks. In addition to downtime that can last for many days to weeks, some risks involve anywhere from minor infections, prolonged pain, discomfort, fluid imbalance, burns, edema, loss of sensation. Some severe cases include punctured internal organs, skin necrosis (skin death), embolism, toxicity from Anesthesia, and a percentage of death fatalities. (http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/liposuction/risks.html)

Gaining popularity, Mesotherapy, uses micro-injections injected into the middle of the dermis at a trouble spot, to deliver healing or corrective treatment to a specific area of the body. They can be made of conventional or homeopathic medication mixed with Isoproterenol, vitamins, and a diuretic when treating cellulite. Isoproterenol is touted to melt fat, although no clinical studies are available to back up this claim. Up to two hundred deep injections are delivered into trouble areas. The biggest problem with Mesotherapy is that there is no standardized mix for the formula. Long-term chronic cellulite and wrinkles may require at least fifteen sessions before you notice any result. Other side effects include physical bruising and prick holes on the skin. Not to mention the financial burden that can range up to $5,000 plus follow-up visits.

The trend of the future is towards a client/patient-friendly atmosphere, with less to non-invasive treatments.

On June 13, 2005, after two years of clinical study with over 500 patients, a non-invasive technique called VelaSmooth received FDA’s seal of approval as an effective solution for cellulite. Vela is relaxing and uses the revolutionary elos™ combined energy technology — Bi-Polar Radio Frequency and Infrared Light — plus tissue mobilization and suction to safely and effectively re-contour the skin surface.

Dr. Stephen Mulholland, M.D., a cosmetic plastic surgeon in practice in Toronto, Canada, and Beverly Hills, Calif. comments, “We’ve done so well on the face non-surgically with Botox, fillers, and photorejuvenation, but our efforts non-surgically in the body have been disappointing, including endermology. I’ve been performing endodermology with a couple of different machines for about the past five years. Results have been very limited. There certainly have been no changes in fat contouring of significance. We can improve cellulite 30% and 50% of the time. But, overall, we have had fairly disappointing results with endodermology…In contrast, the VelaSmooth allows us to make very significant, consistent and noticeable improvements in both cellulite and fat contour…. The most common areas amenable to treatment are the love handles in the lower tummy, the upper arms, and of course the hips, thighs and buttocks.

”For treating modest-to-severe cellulite…Vela is Dr. Mulholland’s foundation of his cellulite therapy. “The pulsating machine gently grabs and sucks up skin while "giving a dose of radio frequency, a dose of infrared laser and ultrasound into the fat…increases the metabolic rate of cellulite, liquefies fat and heats up the skin…requires no down time...delivers noticeable difference after only three treatments with a 60 to 70 percent improvement in cellulite after the six-week program.

"To rid of those “dimples” in as little as two to three months, or an average of 10-12 treatments, with bi-monthly maintenance visits can nothing but exciting for us cellulite victims. As of this writing, Vela is already undergoing an upgrade for a head that will address the face, neck and smaller areas where those nasty bulges like to congregate.

Tessie brings her training on this modern technology from Canada to Chino Hills to help her spa’s friends and guests combat the cellulite menace. To help jumpstart your 2006 reshaping goals, call about her “Breath, Refresh and Transform” that combines Sudatonic French Wrap (detoxes & slims)VelaSmooth Spa (breaks down cellulite, recontours & smoothens skin), Home Bath Soak (pulls impurities, Pressotheraphy (drains lymph) and a Full Body Massage (relaxes & renews)