Who Kneads Cellulite?

The design of Blue Medi Spa is a fitting metaphor for its transformative services. Outside, the spa has preserved the historic façade of the La Reina theatre. Inside, it's George-Jetson modern, with spotless white surfaces and subtle blue lighting, creating a calming environment for clients seeking treatments a bit more extreme than a typical massage.

Proprietor Ronda Nofal and her team of trained aestheticians and dermatologists provide a Hollywood-leaning clientele with the specialized treatments known for keeping skin looking cover-shoot fresh.

We opted for Endermologie, a cellulite-squashing process that promises to make unsightly dimples a thing of the past. Unfamiliar with this process, we entered the treatment room a little wary, but our friendly specialist, Christine, put us at ease right away by explaining the process step-by-step.

After slipping into a full body stocking (our "Endermologie outfit"), we laid on a massage table and let Christine get to work. She used a specialized machine outfitted with a series of rollers that knead uneven skin into submission. The treatment takes about 45 minutes and covers the entire body – front, back and both sides. It feels like a deep-tissue massage, with a little more suction than pressure.

While results are often not common until the sixth or seventh treatment, we immediately felt the energizing effects of the procedure, which can increase circulation by 200 percent, flush toxins from the lymph nodes (the same toxins that contribute to cellulite) and help the body shed excess water. When it was over, our muscles were relaxed, our whole body felt a bit tingly, and we swear our rear looked a little better in our jeans.

Review originally published 5/29/2008.