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A Multicenter Study for Cellulite Treatment Using a 1440-nm Nd:YAG Wavelength Laser with Side-Firing Fiber
Barry E DiBernardo1, Gordon H Sasaki1, Bruce E Katz1
1Dr DiBernardo is an Associate Clinical Professor of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA. Dr Sasaki is a Clinical Professor of Plastic Surgery, Loma Linda University Medical School, Loma Linda, CA, USA. Dr Katz is a Clinical Professor of Dermatology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA. Dr Hunstad is an Associate Clinical Professor, Division of Plastic Surgery, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; and Section Head of Plastic Surgery, Carolinas Medical Ctr., University Hospital, Charlotte, NC, USA. Dr Petti is a plastic surgeon in private practice in Torrance, CA, USA. Dr Burns is an Assistant Professor of Plastic Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, TX, USA.
Background:
Treatment of cellulite using a 1440-nm YAG wavelength laser with side-firing fiber has proven safe and effective, lasting at least 6 months.
Objectives:
The authors evaluate the safety and efficacy of a single, subdermal procedure to treat the underlying structure of cellulite for at least 1 year.
Methods:
Fifty-seven patients underwent a 3-step cellulite treatment with a 1440-nm Nd:YAG laser with a side-firing fiber and temperature-sensing cannula. Efficacy was measured by the blinded evaluators to distinguish baseline photos from those taken at 12 months posttreatment, with results on a 5-point, 2-category ordinal photonumeric scale when comparing baseline photos to 12 months posttreatment. Subject and physician satisfaction was assessed based on completion of a satisfaction survey. Adverse events (AE) were recorded throughout the study. Twelve month data were analyzed and compared to 6 month data.
Results:
Evaluators chose baseline photographs 97% on average from 6 (-1, +2) months and 91% from the 12 (-3, +2) months posttreatment photographs. At 6 (-1, +2) months, the average improvement score was 1.7 for dimples and 1.1 for contour irregularities. At 12 (-3, +2) months, the average improvement score was 1.4 for dimples and 1.0 for contour irregularities. The average satisfaction score for the physician was 5.6 and the patient was 5.3 on a 6-point scale.
Conclusions:
A single, 3-step, minimally invasive laser treatment using a 1440-nm Nd:YAG laser, side-firing fiber, and temperature-sensing cannula to treat the underlying structure of cellulite proved to be safe and maintained effectiveness at least 1 year post treatment. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 2: Therapeutic.
