Subcision: a treatment for cellulite

BACKGROUND: Cellulite is a common clinical condition, with few proven effective therapeutic options. Subcision is a surgical technique that is useful in treating advanced degree cellulite. This study was designed to determine the usefulness of the treatment of cellulite by subcision. METHODS: From January 1995 to January 1998, 232 female patients, aged 18-52 years, with cellulite on the thighs and buttocks were treated on an outpatient basis by the subcision technique. RESULTS: In the postoperative period, all the patients had pain, bruises, and hemosiderosis. An improvement in the surface depressions was observed and the patients reported a high degree of satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: This outpatient procedure is effective in the correction of surface depressions on the thighs and buttocks, clinically classified as cellulite.