ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of ultrasound and the technique of phonophoresis with hyaluronidase in patients with cellulite edematous type II in the gluteal region. METHODS: Forty-two individuals, all females, were selected and randomly divided into two groups with 21 patients in each. Group I was treated with ultrasound without hyaluronidase and Group II was treated with ultrasound with hyaluronidase. To evaluate individuals, inspection, palpation, photography data and diagnostic ultrasound were performed before and after the treatment. The gluteal region was divided into four areas of 2.5 cm(2); each area received an application of ultrasound. RESULTS: After 10 days of application, both treatments were effective in improving skin appearance and reducing its thickness (epidermis and dermis), as well as that of the hypodermis (p > 0.05). Ultrasound with hyaluronidase induced a larger reduction in skin thickness in the upper medial quadrant and in the lower lateral and medial quadrants, compared to treatment without hyaluronidase. Moreover, there was a significant reduction of the hypodermis in the upper lateral quadrant with hyaluronidase (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Both treatments effectively reduced the thickness of skin and the hypodermis; however, the group treated with hyaluronidase-associated ultrasound showed more significant results than that treated with ultrasound only.
