We Tried It: SmoothSculpt Cellulite Removal

Whether it's in preparation for swimsuit season or just a desire to look better naked, many of us wish we could make at least one area of our body smoother and wrinkle and cellulite free.

This past week, I was able to try out a new procedure by Satin Smooth called SmoothSculpt, a noninvasive approach to skin rejuvenation that removes cellulite, reduces wrinkles and releases built-up toxins. At 7:45 in the morning before work, I headed over to Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa on Fifth Avenue in New York City with the promise of a half-hour cellulite treatment session.

I'm not going to lie; the limited bit I knew about the procedure made me uncomfortable. The method uses mild suction, pulsing and homeopathic extracts to cleanse cellular debris, reduce puffiness and promote a healthy immune system. Even though I was told it would be similar to the cupping method, which is painless and leaves no marks on your body, I was still hesitant.

When asked by certified aesthetician Marina which part of my body I wanted to focus on, I was slightly confused. What other area besides your upper thighs have cellulite? While I have only a small amount of cellulite on my body, I thought that the SmoothSculpt procedure would be a great time to get rid of anything resembling the pesky, dimpled skin on the back of my thighs. But even though the thighs are one of the most popular areas, Marina said other areas for SmoothSculpt are your rear end, stomach, and even the wrinkled and sagging skin on your face.

As Marina explained to me, the SmoothSculpt machine has two settings, slow and fast. Each setting is done four times on each leg after the beautician puts on an organic smoothing cream. The suction felt a bit like someone lightly pinching your skin and only started to get a bit sore toward the end of the procedure on more sensitive areas like the backs of the knees and sides of the thighs (I think this was due to the fact that there was less skin to suck in these areas). While I'm not one for frequent massages (but not so secretly love them), it was totally relaxing -- and, because it was early in the morning, I was even able to get a few extra minutes of sleep. While I was booked for about a half hour, Marina said that to do a thorough job, it generally takes around an hour for the procedure.

She also kept hitting home the fact that people really need to come a few times to see results. In fact, it's recommended that you go for about six to seven sessions for a 50 percent reduction in cellulite. The SmoothSculpt also promises to help you lose an inch off your legs and tighten sagging skin.

I waited until I got home from work that night to see the results in a full-length mirror. While one session certainly didn't take an inch off of my thighs, I could see that the area between my upper thighs and butt were definitely smoother and had the appearance of being tighter -- a plus for bathing suit season!

Would I do it again? Maybe. But first, I would rather invest in other, more necessary beauty regimens and maybe a new workout class or two before committing to additional SmoothSculpt sessions.

The Pros
This procedure cleanses cellular debris, reduce puffiness and smooths your skin. And, hey, it's great if you like a massage!

The Cons
The procedure runs around $75 per area per session. While this doesn't totally break the bank, it can run you a pretty penny if you go the recommended six or seven sessions.

The Takeaway
If you're a workout fiend and still suffer from particularly bad cellulite or sagging skin, this could be a great option for you -- especially since it's noninvasive and pretty all natural.

Here are 15 more ways to fight, fix and minimize cellulite!