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3 ways to reduce the appearance of cellulite
What’s good about the seasons changing from summer to fall?
Most of us think it’s the cooler temperatures and beautiful foliage.
But sadly, there are a lot of people, mostly women, who are glad to see swimsuit and shorts season go.
Why? Cellulite.
Nearly ninety percent of women over age 20 (and less than five percent of men) experience cellulite. And for most it’s a frustrating thing they wish they could change.
In this article I’ll tell you what I’ve learned about cellulite and what I believe are the best ways to treat it.
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What is cellulite?
We all know what it looks like, but what exactly causes that dimpled, lumpy skin appearance — much like an orange peel — usually on the thighs and buttocks?
Basically, it has to do with the complex formation of fat pockets in the fat layers beneath your skin…
These fat pockets become surrounded by connective tissue bands, called septae — which are rigid collagen cross-links, arranged into chambers, which give the undesirable appearance of cellulite… and they are not something you can just diet-away.
In fact, cellulite is not more prevalent in obese people — cellulite actually tends to be less prominent in overweight and obese people because their extra deep reserve fat layer supports and smooths any cellulite layer above it closer to the skin’s surface.
As water is retained, fat cells enlarge, which causes the fat chambers to expand against the non-flexible septal bands. Then there is decreased lymphatic drainage and decreased venous flow due to inelasticity of the chambers. The swelling in these chambers, along with protein deposits over time that further harden these septae, worsen the dimpled appearance as the tighter connective tissue bands pull down on the dermal skin layer.
What contributes to cellulite?
Although we can attribute most of the cause to a genetic predisposition (most prevalent in people of white European ethnicities), there are lifestyle and hormonal factors that play a role:
- Poor diet chronically (contributor to inflammation in all body tissues)
- Smoking (decreased oxygenation of fat layer)
- Lack of exercise (promotes congestion of cellular metabolism byproducts)
- Predisposition to superficial venous insufficiency (lack of blood return from fat)
- Multiple pregnancies (hormonal changes and venous insufficiency)
Read: Is there an answer for cellulite after 50?
The best treatments for cellulite
There are several treatments for cellulite that have limited or no long-term effectiveness. However, these can be used to help the two best treatments work better. They include creams (containing some of the mesotherapy ingredients discussed below), lymphatic massage (similar to foam rolling, which I describe below), wraps (with seaweed, aloe vera, clay), mechanical cell stimulation (endermologie), and cryotherapy.
Mesotherapy
One of the two best treatments for cellulite is mesotherapy injections. The solution contains ingredients to break down fat and help metabolize it:
- Hyaluronidase: a naturally-occurring enzyme that breaks down hyaluronic acid
- Caffeine or Aminophylline: activates fat-burning effect
- Pentoxifylline: Decreases blood thickness to improve peripheral blood flow
- L-carnitine: an amino acid that shuttles fat into the mitochondria for processing
- Melilotus: improves lymphatic drainage, converts naturally to a blood thinner
- Lidocaine for local anesthesia
The traditional treatment course requires 200 – 500 injections per thigh, placed 4 mm deep, done weekly, for 10-15 weeks. You can expect no more than a 1 grade improvement with a treatment course. Maintenance treatment is done every 2-6 weeks.
Newer treatments are to use microneedling to inject Platelet Rich Plasma (autologous platelets containing concentrated growth factors to stimulate new healthy tissue growth) 1-2 mm deep.
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Radio Frequency (RF)
RF energy It is a type of electromagnetic radiation with longer wavelengths, lower frequencies, and lower energy levels than ionizing radiation, and therefore is safe. It heats body tissues below the skin (in the hypodermis) to increase blood microcirculation and metabolism, with a subsequent natural lipolysis and shrinking of the fat cells.
There are numerous companies who have perfected this technology. Some add Infrared radiation to the RF energy.
In my office we use multi-Radio Frequency channels with vacuum suction (stretch-relaxation model) by Viora (www.vioramed.com) to help reduce cellulite to give firmer and tighter skin. Vacuum action enhances lymphatic drainage (waste removal, reduces intracellular edema), gives a deeper depth of penetration of RF energy, improves local blood circulation, and improves elasticity of the connective tissue by mechanical stretching.
Another option: Self-Myofascial Release (MFR) or foam rolling therapy
MFR is a technique developed to treat skeletal muscle immobility and pain by relaxing contracted muscles. It helps improve blood and lymphatic circulation. Since lymphatic drainage is decreased in the presence of cellulite, many people believe using a foam roller on the trouble spots can help. It may, but as a solo solution, results would be very slow-going even for a dedication practitioner.
The important thing to remember is that we all have our little imperfections and we are all beautiful, despite them. But if it would make you feel better to reduce the appearance of cellulite, now you’ve got some choices.
To long term health and feeling good,
Michael Cutler, M.D.
Sources:
- Cellulite Reduction — Viora
By Dr. Michael Cutler
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