I’ve repeated the mantra “Beauty is Pain!” through clenched teeth in a doctor’s office on more than one occasion. Whether it’s a Botox injection, some chin filler or an in-office chemical peel, I’ve tolerated a few discomforts to address something that’s bothering me. When Delray Beach, FL dermatologist Dr. Janet Allenby asked me to try her new cellulite protocol, of course I said yes—but I didn’t expect Kim Kardashian and Eva Longoria’s favorite body treatment to be so powerful. Regardless of how many Morpheus8 reviews you’ve read, don’t skip this one.
Embarrassing Cellulite
For as long as I can remember, cellulite has been a source of embarrassment and insecurity in my life. It seemed like an unrelenting companion, always there to make me feel self-conscious about my body. The dimpled skin on my thighs and buttocks made me want to hide, even on the hottest summer days when everyone else was confidently flaunting their skin.
I would avoid wearing shorts, skirts, or anything that exposed my legs, no matter how stifling the heat became. Beach trips were dreaded because they meant revealing my cellulite, and I’d constantly compare myself to others, envying those with smoother skin.
Over time, I learned to embrace my body, cellulite and all, and to focus on being healthy and happy rather than striving for an unattainable beauty standard. While the embarrassment still lingers at times, I no longer let it control my life, and I’ve become more comfortable in my own skin. But, that doesn’t mean I still don’t want to attain smoother skin if it’s possible. And Dr. Allenby assures me it is.
What is Resonic?
Dr. Allenby’s cellulite-smoothing approach includes a soundwave-based cellulite treatment called Resonic, followed by a Morpheus8 radio-frequency microneedling treatment two weeks after. Resonic is a nonsurgical device that effectively smooths cellulite using targeted acoustic wave technology. It stimulates collagen production, increases blood circulation, and improves lymphatic drainage. This results in improved skin texture, reduced dimpling, and a more toned appearance, without incisions.
In total, I’ve undergone three Resonic treatments and they are completely pain-free and easy to undergo. Each dimple is targeted and treated individually, allowing for a bespoke treatment that addresses the dimples that are deepest and bother me the most.
What is Morpheus8 Body?
Kim Kardashian calls Morpheus8 “a game changer!” and her favorite laser (it’s not really a laser). “It’s painful, but worth it!” she recently posted and she is right. While it’s a total game-changer for remodeling skin, it also had me squirming in the treatment chair like nothing else.
“It’s called Morpheus8 because while it has the ability to penetrate down to seven millimeters, the the zone of where it affects skin can actually reach down to eight millimeters,” Dr. Allenby explained. The Morpheus8 handpiece consists of 40 thin, gold-coated microneedles that heat up tissue using radio-frequency energy. “It targets tissue at three levels in millisecond intervals,” she said. “It’s a great skin-tightener and I like to pair it with other modalities for cellulite or fat reduction.” Morpheus8 can be done on various parts of the body including the thighs, abdomen, upper arms, butt, knees and even in the bra roll area.
What to Know Before You Go
A few weeks after the Resonic acoustic cellulite treatment on my outer thighs, I was ready for my Morpheus8 follow-up with Dr. Allenby. Before we got started, I learned a little more about what to expect and the slight discomfort involved. For a more tolerable treatment, my outer thighs were numbed with cream and I was also offered Pro-Nox, a mix of nitric oxide and oxygen that you breathe in during your treatment. Once we got started, even with the Pro-Nox, I really felt the microneedles as they stamped my outer thigh. Once we got started, I asked for a few breaks in between passes.
Repeating my mantra, I was able to get through the first thigh treatment relatively unscathed. As we continued with multiple passes, the pain management meds really kicked in and we moved through the second leg in a much less squirmy fashion.
Morpheus8 Reviews
I’ve undergone three Resonic and Morpheus8 treatments now and I can say I’m a believer now. You can really target your cellulite and see smoother, firmer skin without an invasive approach. “Ideally, you’d want three treatments spaced six weeks apart. It’s usually around the second treatment that you really start seeing it,” Dr. Allenby explained. She was right, although I completed her protocol, I was convinced after the second round I didn’t need more. However, the third session of each treatment really helped give my skin the smoother look and feel that took me back to my pre-cellulite shorts wearing days.
It’s exciting to see my skin and dimples improve at each stage. To boost results, Dr. Allenby advised I use Alastin’s Body TransForm cream ($205) which helps accelerate the body’s natural removal process of broken-down fat cells, and I slather that on once a day. As I’m seeing my final outcome develop, I know if Kim can do it, I can do it, too. I’m just a few more “Beauty is Pain” mantras away from smoother-looking thighs and I agree, it’s worth it.
