What Causes Cellulite?

Cellulite is not simply caused by excess body fat.

Underneath the skin are fibrous connective tissue bands known as septa. These bands connect the skin to deeper layers of tissue.

When certain septa become shortened or tight, they pull downward on the skin while the surrounding fat pushes upward. This creates the characteristic indentation or dimple associated with cellulite.

This is why cellulite can occur even in patients who are thin, fit, or have a low body-fat percentage.

The key to successfully treating a true cellulite dimple is therefore understanding whether the treatment is actually addressing the fibrous band underneath it.

What Are the Available Treatments for Cellulite?

There are several approaches to improving the appearance of cellulite.

Topical Cellulite Creams

Creams containing ingredients such as caffeine or retinol may temporarily improve skin texture or make the skin appear smoother.

However, topical products cannot directly release the fibrous septa underneath the skin that create a true cellulite depression.

For this reason, results from cellulite creams are generally limited and require ongoing use.

Massage and Lymphatic Treatments

Massage, lymphatic drainage, and similar treatments may temporarily improve circulation and reduce fluid retention.

This can make the skin appear smoother for a period of time, but these treatments generally do not correct the structural bands responsible for persistent cellulite dimples.

Radiofrequency and Skin-Tightening Treatments

Radiofrequency treatments use controlled heat to improve skin tightening and stimulate collagen.

They can be helpful when cellulite is accompanied by loose skin or generalized skin texture concerns.

However, many non-invasive treatments primarily work from the surface downward. They may improve the appearance of cellulite temporarily without directly releasing the specific fibrous septa pulling the skin inward.

The FDA notes that many non-invasive body-contouring procedures result in temporary improvement in cellulite appearance.

Laser and Energy-Based Cellulite Treatments

Certain laser and energy-based technologies may improve skin texture, collagen production, or the appearance of cellulite.

Results vary depending on the technology, severity of cellulite, and underlying anatomy. Some treatments may also require multiple sessions or ongoing maintenance.

Subcision

Subcision is a medical technique that works beneath the skin to release the fibrous bands responsible for cellulite depressions.

Unlike treatments that primarily tighten or smooth the skin from above, subcision addresses the structural cause of the dimple underneath the skin.

This is the principle behind Avéli.

What Is Avéli Cellulite Treatment?

Avéli is an FDA-cleared device designed specifically to improve the appearance of cellulite on the buttocks and thighs of adult women.

It is a minimally invasive medical procedure performed through a very small entry point in the skin.

The physician guides the Avéli device underneath an individual cellulite depression and identifies the fibrous septa responsible for pulling the skin downward.

Once the responsible band has been identified, the device releases it.

The physician can then confirm that the septum has been released before moving to the next cellulite dimple.

This ability to identify, release, and verify the specific bands responsible for each depression is what distinguishes Avéli from many treatments that work primarily on the surface of the skin.

How Does Avéli Work?

Avéli works by addressing cellulite at its structural source.

The process can be summarized in three steps:

Identify the band.

The device is positioned beneath the cellulite depression to locate the fibrous septum causing the dimple.

Release the band.

The fibrous septum is mechanically released so it can no longer pull the skin downward in the same way.

Confirm the release.

The provider can pass through the area again to verify that the responsible tissue has been adequately released.

The FDA-cleared indication describes Avéli as releasing the fibrous tissue beneath cellulite for long-term reduction in the appearance of cellulite of the buttocks and thighs.

Why Avéli Is Different From Surface Cellulite Treatments

Many traditional cellulite treatments attempt to improve what is visible on top of the skin.

Avéli takes a different approach by treating what is happening underneath the skin.

When a visible cellulite dimple is being caused by a tight fibrous septum, simply tightening the skin above it may not fully address the source of that depression.

Avéli allows the provider to directly release the structural band causing the dimple.

This makes it particularly attractive for patients who have already tried creams, massage, radiofrequency, or other surface-based treatments without achieving the improvement they wanted.

Rather than repeatedly treating the appearance of the skin, Avéli addresses the underlying tissue contributing to the individual cellulite depression.

Is Avéli a One-Time Cellulite Treatment?

One of the biggest advantages of Avéli is that it is designed as a single-treatment procedure.

Unlike treatments that may require a series of appointments followed by ongoing maintenance, individual cellulite depressions can typically be treated during one Avéli procedure.

The released fibrous septa are physically treated during that session rather than temporarily relaxed or heated.

FDA-cleared labeling supports long-term reduction in the appearance of cellulite, with clinical evidence demonstrating treatment benefit through one year of follow-up.

It is important to understand that no aesthetic procedure can guarantee that a patient will never develop new cellulite in untreated areas in the future. Aging, changes in skin quality, hormonal factors, and changes in body composition can still affect the appearance of the skin over time.

However, the appeal of Avéli is that the specific structural bands responsible for treated cellulite depressions are directly released during the procedure.

Avéli vs. Non-Invasive Cellulite Treatments

The fundamental difference is where the treatment works.

Non-invasive treatments generally apply energy, heat, massage, or another technology from the surface of the skin.

Avéli works beneath the skin.

For patients with clearly defined cellulite dimples caused by fibrous septa, directly treating those septa may provide a more targeted solution than repeatedly treating the skin above them.

Surface treatments can still be valuable for concerns such as:

• Skin laxity

• Crepey skin

• Generalized texture

• Collagen stimulation

• Skin tightening

But these are different problems from a discrete cellulite depression caused by an underlying fibrous band.

In some patients, combining treatments may ultimately provide the best cosmetic result.

Is Avéli a Medical Procedure?

Yes.

Avéli is not a massage, spa treatment, or topical cellulite treatment.

It is an FDA-cleared medical device used to release tissue beneath the skin and should be performed by an appropriately trained medical professional.

The treatment involves entering the subcutaneous tissue through a small incision and mechanically releasing the fibrous septa responsible for cellulite depressions.

This allows cellulite treatment to be approached as an anatomical and structural medical procedure rather than simply a surface-level cosmetic treatment.

What Areas Can Avéli Treat?

Avéli is FDA cleared for long-term improvement in the appearance of cellulite affecting the:

• Buttocks

• Thighs

The best candidates typically have identifiable cellulite depressions that remain visible while standing.

During a consultation, the provider can determine which depressions appear to be caused by fibrous septa and whether Avéli is appropriate for the patient's anatomy.

What Does the Avéli Procedure Involve?

The treatment begins with an evaluation of the cellulite while the patient is standing so that the individual dimples can be identified and marked.

The treatment area is then prepared and local anesthesia is used to make the procedure more comfortable.

Through small entry points, the Avéli device is advanced beneath the skin.

Each targeted cellulite depression is evaluated individually. The responsible fibrous bands are identified, released, and checked before proceeding to the next area.

Because multiple cellulite depressions can be addressed during the same treatment session, Avéli can provide comprehensive treatment of the thighs and buttocks without requiring a long series of appointments.

What Is Recovery Like After Avéli?

Because Avéli works underneath the skin, some temporary post-treatment effects should be expected.

These may include:

• Bruising

• Swelling

• Tenderness

• Soreness

• Temporary firmness or small areas of unevenness

• Discomfort around the treatment sites

The exact recovery experience varies depending on the extent of treatment and the individual patient.

As with any minimally invasive medical procedure, patients should discuss potential risks, expected recovery, and post-treatment instructions with their provider before treatment.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Avéli?

Avéli may be particularly appealing for someone who:

• Has visible cellulite dimples on the thighs or buttocks

• Has cellulite despite maintaining a healthy body weight

• Has tried creams or non-invasive treatments without adequate improvement

• Wants to address the underlying fibrous bands

• Prefers a one-treatment approach rather than repeated maintenance sessions

• Understands that cellulite treatment improves appearance rather than creating perfectly smooth skin

Not every irregularity in the skin is caused by cellulite.

Loose skin, excess fat, stretch marks, skin laxity, and generalized textural changes can sometimes resemble cellulite but may require different treatments.

A medical evaluation is therefore important before deciding on treatment.

Cellulite Treatment in Santa Monica at Zeeba Medical

For patients searching for cellulite treatment near me in Santa Monica, Zeeba Medical offers physician-guided evaluation of cellulite and body-contouring concerns.

Our goal is to determine what is actually creating the irregularity in the skin and select a treatment based on the underlying anatomy.

For true cellulite depressions caused by fibrous septa, Avéli provides an advanced option because it allows the physician to work underneath the skin and directly release the bands responsible for the dimpling.

Rather than relying solely on temporary surface smoothing, Avéli targets one of the primary structural causes of cellulite.