Cellulite treatments compared: why February is the month to start
Start in February. From February 1 to Memorial Day, May 31, 2027, you have 17 weeks: enough for a starting month of Endermologie and three monthly visits. Lead time matters more than the treatment name. Some options take months to show, and studio results fade within weeks of stopping, so no single treatment is right for everyone.
Published · Written by Kay Woodson · Results vary.How much lead time does each option need?
Timing figures come from the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) and, for Endermologie, from LPG. Where a source gives no figure, the cell says so.
| Option | Who does it | Visits | How long the change lasts | At Karisma |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LPG Endermologie | Studio or clinic, with a device | LPG: 2 a week for a month, then monthly | AAD: cellulite tends to return within 1 month of stopping | Yes, $150 a session |
| Subcision (Cellfina) | Physician, with a needle under the skin | AAD gives no count | AAD: 2 years and possibly longer | No |
| Vacuum-assisted precise tissue release | Physician | AAD gives no count | AAD: up to 3 years in a small study | No |
| Laser under the skin (Cellulaze) | Physician, with a laser fiber | AAD gives no count | AAD: a year or longer, more research needed | No |
| Acoustic wave therapy | Clinic, with a device | AAD: several sessions | AAD gives no figure | No |
| Retinol cream, 0.3% | You, at home | Every day | AAD: 6 months or longer before you may see a little change | No |
AAD page read on October 29, 2026. Physician procedures carry their own recovery time: ask the practice before you set a date.
Why lead time decides more than the treatment name
Search for the top cellulite treatment and you will find lists that rank devices by name. The AAD sorts them by evidence instead, and the gap between options is as much about the calendar as about results.
Two numbers set the plan. Retinol cream needs about 6 months of daily use before the AAD says you may see a little less cellulite, so it belongs in a November start, not February. Studio treatments like Endermologie work in the other direction: they show within a series, and the AAD notes cellulite tends to come back within a month of stopping. Start too early and stop, and the effect is gone before summer.
A February to Memorial Day plan with Endermologie
- 1Late January: book the first visitThe first Endermologie visit at Karisma is $160 and includes the consultation with Kay. You leave with a plan and one session done. Ask her about your dates before you commit.
- 2February: the starting monthLPG's FAQ describes 2 sessions a week for the first month. Starting the week of February 1, that is about 8 sessions by March 1. Kay's own pace is a little different: a booster week of 2 sessions, then weekly or close to it, beginning at least 3 months before your date. February 1 to Memorial Day gives you that.
- 3March to May: keep it upLPG then moves to one session a month, with the last one close to your date. Kay tends to keep clients nearer to weekly through spring, since hydration, activity, age and steady visits all change how fast it goes.
- 4May 28 and after: summer arrivesThe National Weather Service puts the median start of Melbourne's wet season on May 28. If you want to keep the look through the hot months, keep the monthly visit going.
What that plan costs, paying per visit
A worked example using Karisma's listed prices, not a quote. Prepaid packages do not lower the cost here: on GlossGenius they work out to $150 or $160 a session (for example 10 for $1,500, 5 for $800).
| Item | Math | Total |
|---|---|---|
| February, 8 sessions | $160 first visit + 7 × $150 | $1,210 |
| Endermowear suit | Once | $45 |
| March, April, May | 3 × $150 | $450 |
| February 1 to May 31 | $1,705 |
Prices from GlossGenius, read October 29, 2026. Payment over time is available through Cherry. Payment options through Cherry Technologies, Inc. See every package on the pricing page.
The right option depends on your goal and your date
If you want a change that lasts years, the AAD points to physician procedures such as subcision, which Karisma does not offer. If you want smoother-looking skin for a season without needles, Endermologie is the studio option with an FDA-cleared cellulite claim, and its effect is temporary. Results vary.
Planning questions
What is the best cellulite treatment?
There is no single answer, and be careful with anyone who gives one without data. The AAD lists acoustic wave therapy, certain lasers, subcision and vacuum-assisted tissue release among the options with the strongest results so far. Each fits a different budget, timeline and tolerance for recovery.
How long before summer should I start?
It depends on the option. Retinol needs about 6 months. An Endermologie series that starts in February fits a late-May date, as long as you keep monthly visits going after the first month.
Is March too late to start?
Not for Endermologie. Starting March 1 still leaves 13 weeks before May 31, 2027, enough for the first month at 2 sessions a week and two monthly visits after.
Does cellulite come back after treatment?
With studio treatments, yes. The AAD notes that with Endermologie, cellulite tends to return within a month of stopping. Physician procedures report longer results in the AAD summary.
- Cellulite treatments: What really works?, American Academy of Dermatology, checked October 29, 2026
- LPG frequently asked questions (body treatment pace), checked October 29, 2026
- Wet and dry season start dates, National Weather Service Melbourne, checked October 29, 2026
- FDA 510(k) K990445, LPG Therapeutic Massager, decision January 18, 2000
- Karisma Esthetics booking page and prices, GlossGenius, checked October 29, 2026
- Karisma Esthetics Endermologie packages, GlossGenius, read October 29, 2026