Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39547984›Full record

SynthesisAesthetic plastic surgery2025

Comparative Analysis of Cellulite Treatment Modalities: A Systematic Review.

Su Kwan Lim, Gozde Gultekin, Srutti Suresan, Anu Jacob, Yutong Zou, Dinithi D Liyanage, Jvalant N Parekh, Akash K Mavilakandy, Krishna Vyas, Ankur Khajuria

Abstract readSystematic ReviewComparative Study
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Aesthetic plastic surgery, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Facial Overfilled Syndrome: A Narrative Clinical Review.Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology · 2026
    Review
  2. Review
  3. Using High Frequency Ultrasound to Assess the Efficacy of Anti-Cellulite Treatments.Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology · 2025
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Su Kwan Lim *The Manchester Centre for Plastic Surgery and Burns, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester, UK. Su.Lim@srft.nhs.uk.ORCID 0009-0000-3246-7463
Gozde Gultekin *Queen Mary, University of London, London, UK.
Srutti SuresanCarderdale and Huddersfield Foundation Trust, Huddersfield, UK.
Anu JacobRoyal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Exeter, UK.
Yutong ZouDepartment of Natural and Applied Sciences, Hope College, Holland, Michigan, USA.
Dinithi D LiyanageQueen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, UK.
Jvalant N ParekhDepartment of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
Akash K MavilakandyDepartment of Internal Medicine, Leicester Royal Infirmary, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester, UK.
Krishna VyasDivision of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, US.
Ankur KhajuriaNuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, Kellogg College, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundCellulite is a highly prevalent and aesthetically distressing skin condition. Whilst there are a variety of treatment modalities, none are definitively established.

objectiveThis systematic review aims to assess invasive and noninvasive treatment modalities for cellulite management.

methodsThe review protocol was published and registered a priori (PROSPERO CRD42022359334). A comprehensive electronic search for relevant randomised controlled trials, (RCTs) was performed in CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase and Web of Science databases. Study quality and risk of bias were assessed using Cochrane's risk of bias tool, respectively.

resultsOverall, 753 studies were initially identified, of which 24 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) satisfied the eligibility criteria with a total of 2084 patients with a mean follow-up of 3.33 ± 13.4 weeks. Evaluated interventions included mechanical stimulation, topical therapy, shock wave therapy (SWT), laser and light-based devices, radiofrequency therapy, subcutaneous injectables, and ultrasound. SWT emerged as a standout intervention, demonstrating a consistent cellulite reduction score of 2.07 ± 0.39 across four studies. Radiofrequency therapy exhibited a statistically significant reduction of thigh circumference (- 2.09 cm, p < 0.001) and subcutaneous tissue thickness (- 2.23 cm, p < 0.001). Subcutaneous injectables, specifically collagenase Clostridium histolyticum-aaes, demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in the clinician-reported photonumeric cellulite severity scale (17.0%) and patient-reported photonumeric cellulite severity scale (25.7%) (p < 0.001). The overall quality of the studies using the grading of recommendations, assessment, development and evaluation approach was moderate.

conclusionThis is the first methodologically robust systematic review evaluating interventions for cellulite. SWT, radiofrequency therapy, and subcutaneous injectables have shown promising findings in cellulite treatment. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE I: The journal asks authors to assign a level of evidence to each article. For a complete description of Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, see the Table of Contents or the online Instructions for Authors at www.springer.com/00266 .

Indexed as

CelluliteAdultEstheticsFemaleHumansMaleRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicTreatment OutcomeCelluliteInvasiveLipodermatosclerosisNoninvasiveOedematous fibrosclerotic panniculopathy

Identifiers

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.