New York, NY (May 03, 2001) —"The ultimate solution to cellulite might be modern gene therapy," says plastic surgeon Richard A. Mladick, MD, of Virginia Beach, VA, who moderates a panel on current concepts in managing cellulite at the Annual Meeting of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), May 3-9, in New York.

Controversy continues concerning the efficacy of the many current treatments, none of which is a cure for cellulite. "Topical agents, packs, wraps, massage and ultrasound may give some temporary improvement, but nothing has provided consistent, long-lasting results," says Dr. Mladick.

The term "cellulite" refers to ordinary fat deposits interlaced with fibrous tissue bands, giving cellulite its dimpled appearance. Almost all women (and some men) have cellulite, stemming from genetic predisposition, hormonal changes and weight gain.

Endermologie, a nonsurgical treatment using rollers and gentle suctioning to deep massage the affected areas over a series of sessions, causes mild swelling, which may produce a temporary "smoothing out" effect.

A surgical treatment for cellulite, performed by Italian plastic surgeon Marco Gasparotti, MD, uses a V-necked tool to cut the fibrous tissue that gives cellulite its lumpy appearance. Dr. Gasparotti, who presents his technique at the ASAPS meeting, advocates a combination of superficial lipoplasty, fat injection and massage to achieve the final smoother result.