RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Cellulite, despite its high prevalence in women, has been subjected to very little research, while the majority has been carried out using unvalidated evaluation tools. OBJECTIVES: To determine the efficacy of capacitive radio-frequency diathermy (CRFD) in reducing buttock and posterior thigh cellulite and to verify its relationship with the reduction of body weight. METHODS: Design: Experimental clinical study consists of two parallel groups. SAMPLE: Totally 54 lower limbs of 27 women (26.41 ± 6.16 years) were considered with each patient's two limbs being assigned one to each group via simple random distribution. First group received local application of CRFD (30 min) and the second received the same treatment followed by a supplementary whole-segment application of CRFD (20 min). Each limb received 20 sessions, twice a week. VARIABLES: Cellulite Severity Scale dimensions score, weight and Body Mass Index (BMI) were taken for the evaluation of the study. RESULTS: A significance of p less than 0.01 was observed for all the variables in both groups, thereby demonstrating the effectiveness of both the treatments; no significant differences were observed between groups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Monopolar static application of CRFD is effective in reducing buttock and posterior thigh cellulite. It appears that there is not necessarily any relationship between weight loss, decreased BMI and reduction in cellulite.