By Basil Russo, Founder, Bar Beauty Medical, 46 Fort York Blvd, CityPlace Toronto. Reviewed by Julia Barabas, Medical Aesthetician and Glow Specialist.
Cellulite is the dimpled, puckered look skin gets when fat pushes up against the bands of connective tissue underneath it. It’s harmless and very common: Cleveland Clinic puts it at 80% to 90% of women who have gone through puberty, and fewer than 10% of men. No treatment makes it disappear for good. At Bar Beauty Medical in CityPlace we treat the look of it with the Venus Bliss MP2 applicator, which combines radiofrequency heat, pulsed magnetic fields and suction. It’s $250 for a 45-minute session.
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The short version
- Cellulite is fat pressing against tight bands of connective tissue under the skin. It isn’t harmful, and most women have some.
- Cellulite and fat are different things. The American Academy of Dermatology notes that a treatment that removes fat often does nothing for cellulite.
- Nothing gets rid of cellulite completely. Treatments improve how it looks, most results fade, and upkeep matters.
- The options with the strongest evidence, such as subcision and acoustic wave therapy, are not ones we offer.
- Our option is the Venus Bliss MP2 applicator, cleared by the US FDA for temporary reduction in the appearance of cellulite. It’s $250 a session, and we usually recommend 6 to 10 sessions.
What is cellulite?
Cellulite is collections of fat pushing against the connective tissue beneath your skin. It most often shows up on the thighs, stomach and buttocks, and it can be visible all the time or only when you pinch the skin.
The exact cause isn’t known. The skin is held down by fibrous bands that connect it to the muscle underneath. When those bands tighten unevenly, they pull the skin down while the fat layer pushes up, and the surface puckers. One theory for why women get it far more than men is that women’s bands run in parallel, while men’s crisscross. Another points to estrogen.
Genetics, sex, age, how much body fat you have and how thick your skin is all affect how much cellulite you have and how visible it is. Skin loses elasticity with age, and weight gain makes cellulite more noticeable, but very lean people get it too.
The four grades of cellulite
| Grade | What it looks like |
|---|---|
| Grade 0 | No cellulite. |
| Grade 1 | Smooth when you stand, with mild dimpling when you sit. |
| Grade 2 | Moderate dimples when you stand and when you sit. |
| Grade 3 | Severe dimples standing or sitting, with deeper raised and sunken areas. |
Cellulite, fat and loose skin are three different problems
This matters when you pick a treatment. Stubborn fat responds to fat reduction, like the Venus Bliss diode laser. Loose, crepey skin responds to skin tightening. Cellulite is about how the skin, fat and connective bands sit together, and the American Academy of Dermatology points out that treatments that remove fat often have no effect on it. Many people have more than one of the three, which is why we look at the area in person before suggesting anything.
What works for cellulite, according to the evidence
The American Academy of Dermatology has reviewed the main options. Here is where each one landed, and which ones you can get here.
| Treatment | What the American Academy of Dermatology says | At Bar Beauty Medical |
|---|---|---|
| Acoustic wave therapy | Can reduce the appearance of cellulite. Several sessions are needed. | Not offered |
| Subcision (Cellfina) | Shown to reduce dimpling. Results can last 2 years and possibly longer. | Not offered |
| Vacuum-assisted precise tissue release | May be effective. In a small study, results lasted up to 3 years. | Not offered |
| Laser treatments | Cellulaze may reduce the appearance of cellulite. With other lasers, results can last 6 months or longer, but some dimpling usually returns. | Not offered for cellulite |
| Radiofrequency | Some patients see a little less cellulite. The result is short-lived, several treatments are needed, and bruising is common. | Yes: Venus Bliss MP2 applicator |
| Creams with caffeine or 0.3% retinol | Caffeine has to be applied every day. Retinol needs 6 months or longer before you’ll know if it helps. | At home |
| Endermologie (suction massage) | Results vary, and cellulite tends to return within a month of stopping. | Not offered |
| Cryolipolysis (fat freezing) | Not recommended. It can’t get rid of cellulite. | Not offered |
| Mesotherapy | Not recommended. Few studies show it works, and side effects are common. | Not offered for cellulite |
| Supplements | No evidence that any supplement reduces cellulite. | No |
To be upfront: the treatments with the strongest evidence are procedures we don’t do. If deep dimples are your main concern, ask a dermatologist about subcision. If you want a non-invasive option with no downtime, read on.
Our cellulite treatment: Venus Bliss with the MP2 applicator
The Venus Bliss has two parts. Its diode laser applicators are for fat reduction. Its MP2 applicator is the part used for cellulite: it heats the tissue with radiofrequency, adds pulsed magnetic fields, and uses suction to massage the area. In our booking system this session is called Body Contouring.
In the United States, the FDA cleared the Venus Bliss in 2019. The MP2 applicator is cleared for temporary reduction in the appearance of cellulite, and the laser for non-invasive fat reduction on the stomach and flanks in people with a BMI of 30 or less. In Canada, the Venus Bliss holds a Health Canada medical device licence (licence 103608) that covers both the laser applicator and the MP2 applicator.
How many sessions you’ll need
Radiofrequency works over a series, not in one visit. For cellulite we usually recommend 6 to 10 sessions. We confirm the plan at your consultation once we’ve seen the area, and because the effect fades, maintenance visits keep it going.
What it feels like, and downtime
You’ll feel heat from the radiofrequency and a suction massage from the applicator. There’s no downtime, and you can go straight back to your day. The skin can look pink for a little while afterwards. The American Academy of Dermatology notes that bruising is common after radiofrequency cellulite treatments, and that it fades with time.
Who should wait or skip it
- You’re pregnant or breastfeeding.
- You have a pacemaker or another implanted electronic device.
- You have metal implants in the area being treated.
- You have an active skin infection in the area.
- You’ve recently had surgery in the area, or recently finished a course of isotretinoin.
We’ll go through your health history at the consultation before booking a series.
BodyFX
We also have BodyFX by InMode, which combines radiofrequency heat with vacuum and pulsed suction for loose skin and the look of cellulite on the body. It isn’t in our online booking system, so it’s quoted at your free consultation.
What you can do at home
- Exercise. More muscle makes the skin look smoother and firmer. Cleveland Clinic says it can take at least two to three months to see a change.
- Weight. Extra weight makes cellulite more visible, and losing weight helps some people. If loose skin develops as you lose weight, cellulite can look more obvious.
- Caffeine creams. They may make cellulite less obvious, but only while you apply them every day.
- Retinol 0.3%. It may thicken the skin a little. Give it 6 months or longer.
- Patch test first. Try any cellulite cream on a small area for 48 hours. Avoid products with aminophylline if you use an asthma inhaler.
- Skip the supplements. The American Academy of Dermatology says there’s no evidence any supplement reduces cellulite.
Cellulite treatment prices in Toronto at Bar Beauty Medical
| Treatment | Length | Price (CAD) |
|---|---|---|
| Venus Bliss Body Contouring (MP2 applicator, used for cellulite) | 45 minutes | $250 |
| Venus Bliss Fat Reduction (diode laser) | 45 minutes | $250 |
| Venus Bliss Fat Reduction + Body Contouring | 105 minutes | $350 |
| BodyFX | Quoted at your consultation | |
| Consultation | Free |
Prices are in Canadian dollars, from our booking system, checked October 12, 2026. See every price on our price list and our body contouring cost guide.
Who does the treatment
Venus Bliss sessions are done by our medical aestheticians, Julia Barabas, Vivian Temesvari and Elizabeth Naranjo, and by Jasmine Saggu, Registered Nurse. Meet the team.
We’re at 46 Fort York Blvd in CityPlace, Toronto, ON M5V 3Z3. Call 416-923-1200, get directions, or book online.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best treatment for cellulite?
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, the best results so far come from acoustic wave therapy, subcision, vacuum-assisted tissue release and some lasers. We don’t offer those. We offer radiofrequency with the Venus Bliss MP2 applicator, which can soften the look of cellulite for a while.
Can cellulite be removed permanently?
No. Treatment can improve how it looks, but nothing gets rid of it completely, and most results fade over time.
Does Venus Bliss work on cellulite?
Its MP2 applicator is cleared by the US FDA for temporary reduction in the appearance of cellulite. Some people see a little less cellulite for a while. It takes a series of sessions, usually 6 to 10, and results need maintenance.
How much does cellulite treatment cost in Toronto?
At Bar Beauty Medical, a Venus Bliss MP2 session is $250 for 45 minutes. Combined with the fat reduction laser, it’s $350 for 105 minutes. Prices are in Canadian dollars.
How many cellulite treatments will I need?
We usually recommend 6 to 10 sessions, then maintenance visits, because the effect is temporary. We confirm the plan at your consultation.
Is there downtime after cellulite treatment?
No. The area may look pink for a little while. Bruising is common after radiofrequency cellulite treatments, and it fades with time.
Is cellulite the same as fat?
No. Cellulite is how fat, skin and the connective bands underneath sit together. Treatments that remove fat often don’t change cellulite.
Does losing weight get rid of cellulite?
It can make cellulite less noticeable for some people. If loose skin develops as you lose weight, cellulite can look more obvious.
Do cellulite creams work?
Some may help a little. Caffeine creams only work while you use them every day, and 0.3% retinol needs 6 months or longer.
Do men get cellulite?
Yes, but it’s much less common. Cleveland Clinic puts it at fewer than 10% of men, compared with 80% to 90% of women after puberty.
Can mesotherapy treat cellulite?
The American Academy of Dermatology does not recommend it for cellulite. Few studies show it works, and side effects are common.
Book Venus Bliss → Call 416-923-1200
Sources
- American Academy of Dermatology, Cellulite treatments: What really works?
- Cleveland Clinic, Cellulite, medically reviewed
- US Food and Drug Administration, 510(k) K190743, Venus Bliss, June 25, 2019
- Health Canada, Medical Devices Active Licence Listing, licence 103608 (Venus Bliss, Body Laser Applicator Bliss, MP2 Applicator Bliss)
- Prices: Bar Beauty Medical booking system, checked October 12, 2026
This page is general information, not a diagnosis.
Questions about this treatment?
Ask us anything before you book. Consultations are free, and we will tell you honestly if a treatment is not right for you.