Avéli Cellulite Correction Surgery

Conveniently located to serve Seattle and Bellevue

Cellulite is noticeable dimpling of the skin on the surface of buttock or thighs usually. They are caused by fibrous bands that tether the skin from underneath to the soft tissue deeper down. Cellulite is more common in women and 80-90percent of the population have it. It can be seen at younger or older age groups. Although not harmful it does have a significant cosmetic impact in the buttock and thigh overall aesthetic.

Cellulite has been treated with a technique called subcision. Historically this was performed with blade or needle by releasing the bands that tether the skin. New technologies have arisen in cellulite space. The most successful a modern technology is called the Aveli Device which is FDA approved for nonsurgical cellulite reduction.

The Avéli® and the Technique

The Aveli Device is a single use FDA approved device as a nonsurgical method for cellulite reduction. It essentially has a blade that cuts the bands that tether the skin that forms the dimple. It passes under the skin pass the bands underneath the cellulite, the blade is engaged and pulling back the blade cuts the bands and releasing the dimpled area. The procedure can be done awake with local anesthesia or asleep under general anesthesia. Multiple areas can be done in one sitting.

Recovery and Results

After the procedure, a compression garment will be placed over the area which is worn for 2 weeks. Showering can be started after 48 hours post procedure. There is no restrictions on sitting or walking. Working out can start 1 week after procedure. Results will be seen after bruising and swelling subsides in about 2-4 weeks.

Combining Avéli® with Fat or Filler

The procedure can be performed in combination with fat or Alloclae ( FDA approved cadaveric Fat) to fill in defects after the release of the band’s cellulite dimple. Dermal fillers are sometimes used as well to add volume to the area. For skin laxity, Renuvion or Radio Frequency (RF) soft tissue tightening can be performed as well in combination with the above procedures.

Complications

• Seroma
• Hematoma
• Bruising
• Swelling
• Overcorrection
• Hyperpigmentation

FAQS about Avéli Cellulite Treatment

• Does it work on the front of the thighs, or on men?

  It’s cleared for the buttocks and thighs of women. Whether a particular dimple will respond depends on whether a band is pulling it down. Dimpling on the front of the thighs is often from skin laxity instead, which Avéli doesn’t address, so the exam decides. Cellulite is uncommon in men, and the clearance covers women only, so treating a man would be outside the cleared use. For a man, the first step is an exam to see what’s actually causing the dimples.

• How long do results last, and will I need more than one session?

  The results are long term, and Avéli is designed as a single treatment. A released band isn’t expected to pull the skin back down, and the FDA clearance rests on results that held through a year of follow-up, which is as far as the tracking goes so far. What Avéli can’t do is stop cellulite from forming elsewhere. New dimples can appear in nearby skin over the years, because cellulite is driven by genetics and hormones, and those can be treated later if they bother you. Significant weight changes or loss of skin firmness can change how the area looks too. Most patients think of it as a one-time correction of the dimples they have today.

• Will I have scars?

  You’ll barely have any. The entry points are only a few millimeters, usually in the crease under the buttock or another easy-to-hide spot, and they fade to small marks that are hard to find.

• How is Avéli different from Cellfina, QWO, or laser treatments?

  Cellfina, QWO, and laser treatments all go after the same bands, in different ways. Cellfina also cuts bands, using a vacuum and a tiny blade, but without a way to confirm which band is being cut. QWO was an injection that dissolved the bands; its maker stopped selling it in late 2022 because of heavy bruising and lasting skin discoloration. Laser treatments like Cellulaze heat and cut the bands through a probe. Radiofrequency, acoustic wave, and massage devices work on the surface instead and need repeat sessions because the effect wears off in months. The difference with Avéli is that each band is confirmed before it’s released, and it’s done in one session.

• How much does Avéli cost?

  It depends on how much is treated and whether anything is combined with it, so you’ll get a quote after your consultation. Insurance doesn’t cover cellulite treatment. There’s financing for patients who qualify.

• I live in Seattle. How many trips to Bellevue will Avéli take?

  Two or three. A consultation can start by phone, video, or photos, followed by an in-person visit with Dr. Parikh to look at the areas and mark a plan. Then it’s treatment day and a follow-up a few weeks later, which can often be done by photos. The office is at 301 116th Ave SE in Bellevue, just off I-405, about 20 minutes from downtown Seattle outside rush hour. If you’re asleep for the treatment you’ll need a ride home; if you’re awake with numbing only, ask the office whether you can drive yourself. If you’re coming from farther away, the travel and stay page covers hotels and timing.

• What are Dr. Parikh’s qualifications?

  Avéli is a surgical instrument, and results depend on the judgment of the person holding it. Dr. Parikh is double board-certified by both the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery. He completed his plastic surgery residency at Vanderbilt University and a research fellowship at Cleveland Clinic, and he is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He also performs liposuction, fat grafting, and skin tightening, so if your cellulite needs more than band release, the whole plan sits with one surgeon. You can see his patients’ results in the before-and-after gallery.

• Does Dr. Parikh have hospital privileges?

  Yes, at Overlake and Swedish. Dr. Parikh holds surgical privileges at Overlake Medical Center in Bellevue and two locations for Swedish Medical Center one at the First Hill Campus location in Seattle and the other at the Issaquah Campus. Privileges mean a hospital has reviewed a surgeon’s training, board certification, and record and allows him to operate there. Your surgery is done at RP Surgery Center, the practice’s state-accredited surgery center; the privileges are an outside check on his credentials.

This FAQ is general information and doesn’t replace the personal instructions Dr. Parikh will give you.