Cellulite: the frustrating, nearly impossible to treat dimpling of the skin that plagues approximately 90 percent of women. And for most of us, there’s nothing we did to put there: whether we’re thin or heavy, light- or dark-skinned, it doesn’t discriminate. Though not everyone who has cellulite is pining for a way to get rid of it, many of us look forward to smoother-skin days, and it would definitely be a big boost in the confidence department. As we head into shorts season, we’re excited to share the latest news: an innovative in-office treatment called Resonic that uses sound waves to smooth lumps and bumps—completely noninvasively.
Highly anticipated in the aesthetic community—dermatologists and plastic surgeons frequently hear frustrations about cellulite from patients, but treatment options have been very limited—Resonic uses a first-of-its-kind, FDA-cleared Rapid Acoustic Pulse (RAP) technology to improve the appearance of cellulite noninvasively on the buttocks and thighs after just one session. RAP was designed to safely deliver rapid, high-pressure acoustic shockwaves at a rate of up to 100 pulses per second to break the fibrous septa bands beneath the skin the cause cellulite, without damaging or disrupting surrounding areas.
Washington, D.C. dermatologist Elizabeth Tanzi, MD, who was a principal investigator for Resonic, says the treatment takes about 45 minutes to an hour and is pretty comfortable for patients because there’s no heat involved. “It’s different than anything else on the market, and we’re seeing significant results for cellulite that improve over a month’s time. We see an almost redraping of the skin for a smoother effect, after just one treatment, which is really encouraging. We can treat all skin types, tones and colors, too.”
Dr. Tanzi says the improvement she saw continued up to 12 months post-treatment, and at that point, 93 percent of her patients were still satisfied with their results. “My patients only had one side of their buttocks treated in the study, so during that time they were always asking me, ‘When can I have the second side done!’ because they were so excited.” Though the FDA-clearance is currently only indicated for short-term improvement of cellulite, Brad Hauser, president and CEO of Soliton, (the parent company of Resonic) says the company is working on a long-term indication based on the 12-month study results. “However, aging, sun exposure, lifestyle, etc. will all play a role in how long a patient’s results last,” he explains.
Another interesting point of difference for Resonic is that it’s a dual-platform device, and can also be used to speed up the tattoo removal process. “When used as an accessory to a Q-switched laser—laser-assisted tattoo removal—Resonic uses sound waves to disrupt ink particles,” says Hauser, noting that the device received FDA clearance for this indication back in May 2019. “With traditional tattoo removal, it can take up to 10 or more treatments to remove it, but with Resonic, it can speed up the process significantly, sometimes removing it fully in as little as three treatments,” adds Dr. Tanzi. “It helps disperse pigment faster and allows the doctor to safely do multiple passes in the same day, which is a big deal. There’s a lot of time, money and energy that goes into getting rid of tattoos.”
Resonic will be available at select doctors’ offices in the U.S. starting in June, and the full launch is planned for 2022. Stay tuned to NewBeauty for updates!
