Shop Localista: Just Be Smooth

When most people hear the word ‘dimples,’ they think ‘cute.' I think ‘suit,’… as in ‘bathing. ’ Dimples also make me insist that my shorts are anything but, and when it comes to covering the other sort of butt, I’m staunchly more sarong than thong. Yup, I’m leading up to the ‘C’ word of the season: cellulite.

While I don’t exactly look like I’ve been utterly pelted with cottage cheese, I can tell you that certain dressing room lighting can turn swim suit shopping into a Xanax situation. So when a Groupon popped up in my email advertising a deal too good to miss on endermologie at on Essex Street, I jumped, and within a week found myself standing in front of the owner and practitioner Beth Geller.

After filling out a quick medical profile Geller explained exactly what cellulite is, and what endermology can do to lesson it:

Basically, the loathsome lumps are caused by fat deposits poking through the honeycomb structure of connective tissue that covers muscle. Women are more prone to pronounced presence of the pesky stuff because male connective tissue is angled, which keeps the bumps at bay.

Endermologie is a sub-dermal approach that helps smooth the appearance by breaking down and redistributing deposits through suction and rolling (positive and negative pressure) which increases lymphatic drainage and collagen production.

After my tutorial we began the examination portion of the process. While it did feel rather odd to stand in front of a near stranger,
nearly naked, rationally discussing my cellulite (after forcing my husband and closest friends to assure me – for years – that my cellulite barely existed) it’s a sincere compliment to say Beth made the whole thing easy. She was both comforting and reassuring as I listed my litany of reasons for why I really shouldn’t have it: I just ran a 5K! I don’t eat anything fried! I’m a good person!

“You don’t have a huge amount - and I can tell you that most of my clients are thin gym rats that eat right and are in great shape,” consoled Beth. “It’s genetic.”  

And after blaming Aunt Edna for your textured tush, Beth says you can turn your attention to your salt shaker.  “Sodium will absolutely make the appearance of cellulite more pronounced,” she warns. Sigh…Guess I’ll be passing on pretzels and Diet Coke from now on…

After putting on a somewhat ridiculous looking sheer white bodytard
I was up on the table receiving treatment. The apparatus feels like a roller attached to a suction source, both lifting and smoothing problem areas. The sensation is much more soothing than shocking, which in and of itself was a bit shocking -  I guess I thought a more violent approach was needed to ward of such a stubborn nemesis. Turns out it isn’t as much about pressure as it is persistence:

“I advise my clients not to even look in the mirror until the 14th session,” she explains. “After that point, you’ll start seeing changes.” Geller estimates that the percentage of people who experience
significant improvement to be about 75 percent.

One such successful scenario was coming in for her 14th treatment as I was leaving from my fourth. “I really like the way it makes me feel,” reports "D." from West Orange. “I’m also slimmer in areas I didn’t expect. This week I put on my bra and realized my back fat was gone! And my skin and cellulite on my legs is also much smoother.” She also reported that the biggest changes were in the mirror, not on the scale. “For me it hasn’t been about weight loss,” she says. “But my pants are definitely fitting better.”

To compliment the procedure, Geller instructs her clients to up their water intake, BIG time. “Half your weight and then drink that number,
in ounces, a day – every day,” advises Beth. “Cut out salt and up the water and you’ll start to see a difference right away.” As for splurging on other anti-cellulite extras? “Don’t waste your money on potions and lotions, they don’t work,” she advises, but does say that self-tanning cream can make a marked visual difference.

Having had four treatments I can report that I do see an improvement, albeit a slight one. Still, I feel like I’m proactively dealing with my dimple dilemma, which has given me more confidence – and that does help my swimsuit look a lot better – in any lighting.

Bottom line: Endermologie isn’t inexpensive (The minimum
amount for optimal results is 14 treatments, but most opt for 20. Individual treatment cost $100, with packages of 14 running $1,190 and 20 $1,600). Still, based on my experience after four visits, I’ll definitely be back to get my backside in better shape. Plus, I actually miss my treatment time chats with Beth!

Just Be Smooth: 276 Essex Street Millburn (973) 376-8889