Quantitative & qualitative evaluation of the efficacy of a 1440 nm Nd:YAG laser with novel bi-directional optical fiber in the treatment of cellulite as measured by 3-dimensional surface imaging

• Published in: Journal of drugs in dermatology Vol. 12; no. 11; p. 1224
• Main Author: Katz, Bruce
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.11.2013
• Subjects: Adult; Buttocks; Cosmetic Techniques; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Imaging, Three-Dimensional; Lasers, Solid-State - therapeutic use; Middle Aged; Optical Fibers; Patient Satisfaction; Photography; Prospective Studies; Skin - metabolism; Subcutaneous Fat - pathology; Thigh; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 1545-9616

Cellulite gives the skin surface an orange peel or mattress-like appearance thought to be caused by expansion of subcutaneous fat, fibrotic septae and, dermal laxity and atrophy. To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a single cellulite treatment using an Nd:YAG 1440-nm laser delivered with a special fiber delivery system and temperature control. Women with cellulite on their thighs and buttocks were enrolled in a prospective Institutional Review Board-approved study. Subjects were 15 healthy females of all Fitzpatrick Skin types with cellulite (grades II-III). A single treatment was performed with an average of seven 5 x 5 cm squares treated per leg. Evaluations with 2D and 3D imaging, patient and blinded evaluator scales as well as skin histology were performed at baseline, 3 and 6 months post treatment. In the 2D photographs, blinded evaluators were able to identify treated photographs versus baseline in 90% of cases and the number of sites with improvement in contour irregularities was 94%. With 3D imaging, the average decrease in skin depressions (dimples) was 49% at 6 months and 66% of patients showed improvement in overall skin contour at 6 months follow-up. Patient and physician satisfaction scores were high and no adverse events were reported. The Nd:YAG 1440 nm laser with a special fiber delivery system produced significant improvement in cellulite with one treatment after 6 months of follow up. There were no adverse events.