Vibration therapy for cellulite? A science-based discussion for professionals
Successful body contouring professionals utilize vibration therapy to augment fat reduction treatments. But not as many providers use vibration therapy for cellulite. Based on our twenty years of medspa clinical experience and the ample scientific data, we believe they should. In this article we explore the science-based evidence demonstrating how vibration therapy not only enhances the results of cellulite treatments like cavitation and lipo laser, but it also provides direct cellulite minimizing benefits. Join us as we discuss vibration therapy, the four causes of cellulite and the scientific evidence demonstrating how it reduces cellulite. We conclude by giving you tips to implement vibration therapy for cellulite in your practice.
First, a quick review of cellulite.
I
How does cellulite form?
The 4 causes of cellulite
Cellulite reduction can be challenging due to the necessity to treat its multiple causations.
How cellulite is formed
- The skin cells become malnourished and/or damaged;
- Small bands of fibrous tissue (collagen) are damaged and become hard and rigid;
- Both blood and lymphatic circulation has slowed down; and
- Fat cells have begun absorbing excess fluids and enlarging.
How cellulite develops anatomically
Here's how these four causes of cellulite develop anatomically to produce the cellulite condition:
Dimples
As the skin weakens or becomes damaged (#1 above), it cannot
withstand the pull of each of the hardening collagenous fibrous bands (connective tissue) (#2 above).
This pulling on the skin creates the dimpling appearance. (#2 above)
Bulges
Excess fluids collect within the interstitial space as a result of the slowing of the blood and lymphatic circulation (#3 above).
Subcutaneous fat cells absorb the excess fluids, which causes the fat cells to
swell and enlarge. This creates the ‘bulge’ of the dimples (#3 and #4
above).
Bulges and Dimples
These conditions worsen and become more pronounced as the fibrous bands become increasingly rigid and the skin becomes increasingly weakened, as the fat cells continue to expand and as the circulation continues to slow (#1,2,3 and 4 above).
Next, a quick review of the technology.
II
What is Whole Body Vibration Therapy?
Vibration Therapy is a holistic technology that applies mechanical vibrations affecting the entire body in multiple positive ways.
Patients simply stand on the vibration machine platform for ten to twenty minutes and enjoy getting ‘their exercise.’
This ‘passive exercise’ technology delivers vibrations that work in three ways:
1 FORCE (Gravity)
The whole body vibration machine produces a vibrating up-and-down, side-to-side and back-and-forth motion generating forces upon the body.
2 MUSCLE MICRO-ADJUSTMENTS
When your patient stands on the vibration machine, every muscle in her body is forced to react in a continuous flow of micro-adjustments...contracting...then relaxing...rapidly, repeatedly and reflexively.
3 NEUROMUSCULAR STIMULATION
The rapid-firing of your patient’s muscles causes a neuromuscular response that flows through her entire body, which leads to multiple beneficial physiological changes. We’ll discuss those changes in Section III.
Next, check out the clinical evidence and the science showing how vibration therapy addresses each cellulite condition, and it's efficacy for cellulite.
III
Explaining the science behind vibration therapy for cellulite:
Why vibration therapy?
- Vibration therapy provides multiple benefits that together, lead to cellulite reduction.
Vibration Therapy increases circulation
The 3-way oscillating motions stimulate circulation, which assists in healing damaged skin cells and tissue.
The increased blood flow brings more nutrients and oxygen to the skin and all the underlying tissue.
The science:
- Studies have shown that vibration therapy increases peripheral blood flow in healthy adults.
- Other researchers looked specifically at blood flow to the skin and found that vibration therapy significantly increases blood flow to the skin.
Vibration Therapy increases lymphatic flow
The mechanical vibrations of vibration therapy stimulate lymphatic flow assisting the body to more efficiently eliminate excess fluids, toxins and other debris.
This action, in turn, assists in decreasing the size of the fat cells by reducing the amount of fluids the fat cells can absorb.
The science:
- In this study, vibration therapy sessions were added for patients with lymphedema who were already receiving lymphatic massage treatments. The researchers found that the addition of vibration therapy brought about improvement in lymphatic drainage.
Vibration Therapy stimulates collagen production
The oscillating force of vibration therapy boosts collagen synthesis.
In turn, this increased collagen synthesis leads to stronger, more elastic skin.
The increased collagen production also strengthens the fibrous tissue.
The science:
- In a study focused on examining how to speed healing in injured achilles tendons, researchers discovered something unexpected. They found that vibration therapy stimulated collagen synthesis and it also brought about an increase in collagen expression.
Vibration Therapy increases fat metabolism
The vibrations can lead to fat reduction all over the body, including the area affected by cellulite.
The science:
- Studies have concluded that vibration therapy is 54% more effective in causing reduction of visceral fat than aerobics and strength training.
- Other published studies have shown vibration therapy sessions lead to a reduction in fat mass.
- Studies have also shown that after just two weeks, those who participate in whole body vibration sessions burn more calories.
Studies that conclude Vibration Therapy reduces cellulite
- The studies delineated above examined the benefit of vibration therapy on certain bodily systems, i.e. the individual causations of cellulite.
- The following studies differ. These researchers evaluated the specific hypothesis that vibration therapy is effective for cellulite reduction.
The science:
- A recent study looking at changes in skin temperature caused by vibration therapy, found that vibration therapy sessions led to a significant decrease in the grade of cellulite.
- Another study revealed a 26% reduction in cellulite after participants used vibration therapy 2 to 3 times a week, for a period of six months.
- Other researchers noted that vibration therapy reduces fat tissue, enhances blood flow and improves lymphatic drainage, and concluded saying that vibration therapy played a large role in diminishing cellulite.
Next, our advice on implementing vibration therapy for cellulite in your business.
How to use Vibration Therapy to become the cellulite expert in your market
- By incorporating vibration therapy into your practice, you’ll deliver optimal results and save your patients time and money.
- And you’ll set yourself apart from your competitors.
- So get certified in Vibration Therapy and add it to your cellulite protocols!
We’re faculty for the Body Contouring Academy and we offer a course on vibration therapy!
In the course you’ll learn how to implement and profit from Vibration Therapy.
Get the details of our online Vibration Therapy certification course!
IV
Tips to implement vibration therapy for cellulite in your practice
Vibration therapy is a versatile treatment to add to your cellulite treatment protocols (1) to augment results and (2) to extend results by stretching the time period needed for maintenance treatments.
- Cellulite affects 85-98% of women over the age of 20.
- And body contouring providers know cellulite can be stubborn to treat.
- Adding vibration therapy to your cellulite protocols helps you deliver better results.
- Plus, after a series of cellulite treatments from technologies like cavitation, lipo laser, radiofrequency or vacuum therapy, a Maintenance Program is a must.
- That’s because results will not be maintained without continued treatments.
- Which is costly and time consuming for patients.
- Whole body vibration therapy for cellulite provides a great solution.
Here’s why…
- Vibration therapy is an affordable add-on to augment your cellulite protocols.
- And it’s an affordable way to extend time between treatment series while maintaining results.
- Plus! It's easy for you…and your patients.
- No need to block out your treatment room for a Whole Body Vibration Therapy session.
- You can simply allow sessions on a ‘walk in’ basis.
- Vibration Therapy sessions are short, just ten to twenty minutes…and do not require the privacy of a treatment room or a block in your schedule.
And here’s an added benefit…
- By encouraging your patients to come in as often as possible,
- Not only will you get better cellulite results, but the frequency of these visits allows you to build stronger patient relationships.
- That makes your patients happy…and builds your business!
3 ways to use vibration therapy for cellulite in your business
Vibration Therapy can be used as
- A single therapy
- To incorporate in your cellulite protocols to enhance results
- To extend results of your cellulite protocols, thereby stretching the time needed for maintenance treatments (and saving your patients time and money).
Detailed steps to implement vibration therapy in your business!
We’re sharing our secrets! Get the steps on how we use vibration therapy to build our medspa business in our blog, Use our secret tactic to increase revenue and grow your medspa.
Final Thoughts
- The cellulite condition arises from multiple systems: skin, fibrous tissue, detox overload and fat.
- Body contouring providers’ cellulite treatments should address each of these issues.
- Vibration Therapy does. You’ve seen the science.
- That’s why we recommend using vibration therapy to augment your cellulite treatments by adding it to your cellulite protocols, plus using it after and between treatment series to extend results.
- Adding vibration therapy to your treatment menu will not only bring you better results, it will save your patients time and money,...plus grow your business!
Enroll in our online Vibration Therapy course and implement vibration therapy for cellulite now!