Cellulite is a common concern, and it shows up most on the thighs, buttocks and abdomen. This post explains how the VelaShape III device works, what the published studies actually found, and who it tends to suit. If you are ready to book, everything about our sessions, pricing and locations is on the VelaShape III in Houston service page: $250 a single session, $1,390 for six, at both our Memorial and Woodlands clinics.
How VelaShape III works
VelaShape III is a non-invasive body contouring device that combines four things in one applicator: infrared light, bipolar radiofrequency, vacuum and mechanical rollers. The applicator draws a fold of skin into its head, the rollers massage it, and the light and radiofrequency warm the tissue beneath. Over a course of sessions that warming supports the skin’s own collagen, which is why the treatment leads with smoother-looking texture. In the United States the device is FDA-cleared (510(k) K122579) for the temporary reduction in the appearance of cellulite and for temporary reduction of thigh circumference. Cleared, not approved; those are different regulatory pathways.
What it does, and what it does not do
- Reduces the appearance of cellulite. This is the cleared use and the best-supported effect. The published results are measurable but modest and temporary.
- Temporarily reduces thigh circumference. Also a cleared use. The studies measured results weeks to months after treatment, not years.
- Improves how the skin looks and feels. Smoother, firmer-looking skin over a course of sessions is what most people notice first.
- Does not remove fat or cause weight loss. VelaShape III is not a fat-removal or weight-loss treatment, and we do not present it as one.
- Non-invasive, no downtime. Most people describe it as a warm deep-tissue massage. The area is warm and pink for a while afterwards, then you go back to your day.
What the research shows
A 2005 study by Alster and Tanzi treated one thigh on 20 women and left the other as a control; 18 of 20 improved after eight sessions, judged from photographs by two masked assessors. A 2004 prospective study by Sadick and Mulholland, on the earlier combined optical and radiofrequency platform this device grew out of, reported improvement in cellulite appearance across a treatment course. The manufacturer’s own VelaShape III thigh pilot (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03430245) enrolled 16 people and 9 finished; those who did averaged 2.8 cm below baseline at twelve weeks, with a second device used in the same session. Small studies, modest results, and we say so on the service page as well.
Who VelaShape III tends to suit
- Dimpling on the thighs, buttocks or flanks where the goal is a smoother, slimmer-looking line.
- Clients who want a machine session on its own, or built into our hands-on cellulite treatment: six sessions with two VelaShape III visits is $1,040.
- Not the face, and not loose or crepey skin as the main concern. For those, Venus Legacy leads, at the same price.
Sessions are 50 minutes per area, about a week apart, with six as the usual course. Pregnancy, implanted electrical devices, metal implants in the area, active cancer treatment and active infection rule it out or need a doctor’s clearance; we screen before the first session.
References
- Alster, T. S., & Tanzi, E. L. (2005). Cellulite treatment using a novel combination radiofrequency, infrared light, and mechanical tissue manipulation device. Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 7(2), 81-85.
- Sadick, N. S., & Mulholland, R. S. (2004). A prospective clinical study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of cellulite treatment using the combination of optical and RF energies for subcutaneous tissue heating. Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 6(4), 187-190. PubMed PMID 16020202. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16020202/
- ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03430245. VelaShape III and UltraShape Power for thigh circumference reduction. Sponsor: Syneron Candela, 2019. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03430245
- FDA 510(k) K122579, VelaShape III, Syneron Medical.
Reviewed by Carolina Pintos, PT. Updated September 2026.
This writing is the original and exclusive property of Carolina Pintos and is protected under copyright law. Unauthorized use of the same without the express consent of Carolina Pintos will be subject to prosecution under applicable laws.
