For the last decade a potentially dangerous anti-cellulite device called the Fasciablaster convinced women that they can rub away cellulite (and just about every other medical ailment) with a $95 plastic wand. Restoring youthful vigor is as easy as scraping hard plastic prongs over problematic areas until you are covered with bruises. The self-flagellating cure all has been surprisingly profitable The Fasciablaster’s charismatic wellness guru –a former personal trainer named Ashley Black--promises that the wand is “backed by science,” even as she bragged that she went to market long before she ever considered running a clinical trial.
Since 2014 Black’s wellness empire has brought in between $175-$100 million in revenue–meaning that millions of women have bought into her health explanations. 5-star reviews and testimonials fill her website and private facebook group and her various social media profiles boasts millions of followers. The improbable results come along with a glaring dark side. Tens of thousands of women joined facebook groups [here and here] that highlight how blasting their fascia doesn’t live up to the hype. Included in their posts are testimonials from women who claim that the device has actively hurt them.
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