Shock wave treatment for cellulite: what to ask before a session

Before booking shock wave treatment for cellulite, ask which device will be used, what changes you can expect in your skin and how those changes will be measured. It’s also worth asking how the session can be adjusted if you feel uncomfortable, what the full programme will cost and when you’ll review the results. A promise of smoother skin alone isn’t enough to make a decision.

Bring your questions to the appointment and jot down the answers. The practitioner should explain the treatment clearly; you don’t need to work out the device settings yourself.

The device and treatment being offered

“Does the device use radial or focused waves?”

“Shock waves” can refer to radial or focused devices. Ask for the device name and why that technology has been chosen for the area you want treated. Calling a device “professional” tells you little about what the session involves.

Find out who will carry out the session, what qualifications they hold and who will check whether the technique is suitable for you before treatment starts. Experience treating tendon problems with shock waves doesn’t, on its own, demonstrate effectiveness against cellulite.

If you’d like some background before your appointment, our article on shock wave treatment for cellulite explains the technique.

“What exactly does the proposed programme include?”

Ask which areas will be treated and how many appointments are planned. How far apart will they be, and when will you first review the results? Check whether the programme includes another technique alongside shock waves: this affects the cost and makes it harder to tell which results come from shock waves alone.

Ask how the plan can be adjusted depending on your response, rather than accepting a package that is the same for everyone.

Changes you can reasonably expect in your skin

You could ask: “Are you aiming to improve the dimpling in this area, and how will you measure the change?” Improving the appearance of cellulite isn’t the same as losing weight. A change in thigh circumference alone won’t tell you whether the dimpling has changed.

What the studies can tell us

A 2015 meta-analysis of shock waves and cellulite brought together eleven clinical trials involving 297 women, including five randomised controlled trials with 123 participants. It reported favourable results for cellulite severity with both radial and focused devices.

The quality of the publications varied, and follow-up data beyond one year were lacking. These findings can’t guarantee how your skin will respond, or that cellulite will disappear completely or permanently.

The studies generally involved six to eight sessions, once or twice a week. That doesn’t mean you should automatically follow the same schedule. Ask why the proposed programme suits your situation and what evidence supports it.

Agreeing how to measure the results

Agree on this before you start. Your impression in the mirror, or a photograph taken under different lighting, can be misleading.

If photographs are suggested, ask how they will be stored and used. Try writing down what you hope to see in one sentence. At the review, you can return to it together and check that you’re still discussing the same goal.

Questions to ask about comfort and aftercare

The session may not be painless. Ask what it will feel like, what reactions may occur and how to let the practitioner know if you’re uncomfortable.

Tell them about any current treatments, relevant medical history and any irritation or skin damage in the area to be treated. They can assess the precautions you need; you don’t have to work through a list of contraindications on your own.

• “Can the session be stopped or adjusted if it becomes uncomfortable?”
• “What signs after the session should prompt me to contact you?”
• “When can I resume my usual skincare, massage and activities?”

Make sure you know how to contact the practitioner afterwards. Don’t plan a firm massage or a cupping session immediately after the appointment.

The financial commitment

Ask for a quotation with separate costs for the initial assessment, treatment sessions, any additional treatments and the review. Check what’s included and what happens if the programme needs to be stopped or changed.

If you’re weighing up other options, our comparison of anti-cellulite techniques may help. A higher price doesn’t guarantee a better result.

Where massage at home fits in

Massage by hand and manual massage tools don’t emit acoustic waves, so they aren’t equivalent to a shock wave session. Ask when you can resume massage. Our guides to pinch-and-roll massage and choosing and applying a massage oil cover massage at home.

The product referenced in the French article, Huile Massage Cellulite (French product page), is a cosmetic designed to help hands or manual massage tools glide over intact skin. Its two-phase formula must be shaken before use. It is intended for adults and is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

This oil isn’t a coupling gel for a shock wave device. There is no evidence that it is equivalent to shock wave treatment or produces its clinical results. Before using it to massage a treated area, check with your practitioner that you can resume massage.