Listen up: Cellulite dimples are normal. Those divots are simply the result of connective fibrous bands pulling the skin inwards toward the muscle. This causes fat cells to bulge around them, hence creating that rippling effect that we’re all so deeply acquainted with. These dimples are so common, in fact, that about 90 percent of all women have cellulite, which — if you ask us — essentially makes them the status quo when it comes to our physical appearances. 

While cellulite isn’t painful or restrictive — and it’s certainly not something that needs to be “fixed” — it can leave those who are bothered by its pitted appearance feeling insecure. For those who wish to minimize their cellulite, effective treatments have been few and far in between. Technology has come around, though: a new cellulite-specific injectable was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last year. And now, a new minimally-invasive device called Avéli has hit the market, and it just received extended FDA clearance for the long-term reduction of cellulite in the buttocks and thighs. Here’s everything you need to know about the new treatment. 

Meet the Experts

• Edward Chamata, MD, a board-certified plastic surgeon at Premiere Surgical Arts in Houston, Texas.
• Rachel Nazarian, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group in New York City.
• Caroline Van Hove, President and CEO of Avéli’s parent company, Revelle Aesthetics.

How does Avéli treat cellulite?

Unlike other cellulite reduction procedures (like Qwo, the aforementioned injectable solution for cellulite), the Avéli device is intended to be a one-time treatment. During the procedure, the provider first slides a small, hook-shaped device through a tiny incision in the skin. This hook then releases a small razor to slice the septa — which are those connective fibrous bands we mentioned earlier — that tug down on the skin. “The device is inserted into the fatty tissue where those fibrous attachments are located, and the device is deployed in order to sever those connections,” explains Houston, Texas-based  plastic surgeon Edward Chamata, MD. Once those bands are severed, the skin lifts upward and creates a smoother-looking appearance.