Almost 90 % of women suffer from cellulite, making the airbrush in the editing of a models photo shoot an invaluable tool. But it’s a fact that most of us are unaware of. Cellulite is like a swear word in woman talk. Although it’s something most of them have, it’s not something they like to admit to. Those unsightly dimples that just will not shift no matter how many squats, leg thrusts or star jumps you do are not exactly a hot topic of conversation on a girl’s night out.
But what exactly is cellulite?
“Cellulite is the term used to describe superficial pockets of fat that gather in the subcutaneous fat layer, which, cause uneven dimpling or “cottage cheese” skin mainly on the upper thighs, buttocks and upper arms” Says Dr David Price. These pockets of fat actually form during puberty but are not visible at this stage because of the elasticity of younger skin. Its only as we age and this elasticity decreases that the dreaded dimples appear. Men tend not suffer from this problem as their subcutaneous layer is made up of smaller pockets that are unable to hold as much fat as a woman’s.
There are literally hundreds of products including creams, body wraps and pills on the market all promising the same thing, blemish free younger looking skin. But do any of these treatments actually work? Are we better off saving our money and going under the knife? Or can we shift it with a simple diet and exercise?
Creams
Creams and gels make up the bulk of cellulite treatment. A quick ‘Google’ search for cellulite creams will pull up thousands perhaps hundreds of thousands to choose from. Most of which are not even worth a click. “Its important to do your research” says Dr Price “there are many bogus products out there that promise all sorts of wonderful things and end up being a basic moisturiser”. But according to “Cellulite-treatment-study.co m” some are worth giving a go. They have compiled a top five list of creams after studying the effects on hundreds of different women. They are all packed with chemicals such as ‘Retinoids’ which are a Vitamin A derivatives or ‘Alpha Hydroxy Acids’ (AHA) which can be found in certain plants and fruits, including citrus fruits, apples, grapes, tomatoes even sour milk. Both have been proven to help smooth wrinkles and are now being used against the effects of cellulite. The problem is that creams and gels only fight the appearance and not the cause making any positive effect temporary. Another draw back is that not all of these treatments work 100% of the time in every person, but the top end creams tend to give you a free trial, allowing you to see the results for your self but after that you can expect to pay top dollar. A lot of people swear by these creams, but it can take a lot of trial and error on top of wasted money.
Body Wraps
Health spas and salons all offer this as a form of cellulite reduction, a body wrap usually consists of plastic or rubber worn around the waist, hips, thighs or even most of the body. The one thing that all of these different wraps promise is, an almost instant loss of inches rather than pounds. Many health experts agree that this is in fact the case, but it is due to profuse perspiration making any loss temporary as the fluid is soon replaced. Many people though, still believe that this is a new break through treatment and are quick to jump on the bandwagon. But it was over two decades ago when government watch dogs reported “Who can resist ads for body wraps that promise ‘to burn away fat while you sleep’ to ‘lose four to six inches in the first day?” But don’t be totally put off, body wraps are extremely relaxing and what woman doesn’t deserve to be pampered, to just do nothing and get waited on hand and foot every now and again.
Pills
Diet pill s seem to be the new craze, again who can resist the idea of losing weight doing nothing more strenuous than popping a pill. But while some of these pills can do great things in the battle against unwanted or dangerous weight, by increasing your metabolism, suppressing your appetite or even preventing the absorption of carbohydrates or fats, they have little effect on cellulite. Some of the new “best ever” weight loss supplements have even been proved to be dangerous. So always consult a doctor before starting on any weight loss pill and make sure you know exactly what you’re taking, and the effect it is supposed to have on your body.
Liposuction
Although liposuction is the most common form of cosmetic surgery, it is not seen as a suitable procedure for cellulite. Liposuction is not typically performed in the subcutataneous fat layer, which is where cellulite originates. This is because of the secondary effect that can occur, such as, profuse bleeding, swelling or scaring. Liposuction is very effective at removing unhealthy fat quantities from the reserve fat layers. In cases where large amount of fat are removed cellulite can often appear worse.
Alternative procedures
Cellulite treatments are often un-effective or offer only temporary results because they only tackle the skins surface appearance and not the underlying problem. There are always new and innovative ways to tackle the deeper issue, with some more effective than others. Endermologie and Laser Lipolysis are two relatively new procedures that seem to be having a lot of positive results.
Endermologie
Endermologie was originally developed in France in the 1980s as a treatment for adherent scars. But many patients observed reduction in body dimensions and improvement in skin texture. This is a non-surgical non-invasive procedure involving a mechanized device with two motorized rollers and regulated suction. This then creates a symmetrical skin fold, which allows deep tissue mobilization to occur similar to that of a deep massage - only more controlled –, which is thought to help reduce cellulite. Its safety and efficacy have been subject to many trials and tests but on going research is promising.
Laser Lipolysis
Laser Lipolysis was developed in Belgium by Dr Erwin Lemmens promising virtually pain free guaranteed cellulite reduction. It has performed well in America, Europe and Asia with patients reporting “softer dimple free skin”
The new system is less invasive than standard liposuction, only needs a local anaesthetic and can, in most cases, be done as a walk in walk out procedure.
It works by introducing a fine fiberoptic probe (about 1mm in diameter) under the skin directly in to the un-wanted fatty area. This then delivers a laser, which breaks up the fat cells literally melting it in to an oily substance that is then absorbed naturally by the body. In addition it is thought the low power laser helps promote collagen production, which in turn helps tighten skin reducing that unsightly overhang that other operations can leave behind. Karen Kim M.D. of the Laser & Skin Surgery Centre of New York says, “Laser lipolysis provides a great option for people who want to improve local areas of unwanted fat”. The results usually take around a couple of months to show but many patients report significant improvements almost instantly.
But as with any form of cosmetic surgery it is very important to have realistic expectations. Laser lipolysis generally removes around 500mls of fat, which is little more than a can of coke at around 330mls. So is seen, as a way of combating very specific areas where fat is hard to lose such as the chin, ankles, upper arms or buttocks and should not be seen as a weight loss tool. Dr Uncheo Yeo education director of S & U Skin Clinic in Seoul Korea says “as with traditional liposuction, some patients mistakenly think laser lipolysis will rid all their unwanted fat” and feels that the ideal candidate would be one who “is not obese or just has localised fat deposits that they cant get rid of with exercise or diet”
Diet and Exercise
I think every woman out there realises that those stubborn cellulite dimples don’t seem to move no matter what diet you seem to do or how many hour s you put in at the gym. But it has been shown that female athletes with lower percentage of body fat have significantly less cellulite. Dr Len Kravitz says that firming the muscles is essential in cellulite reduction “The subcutaneous fat rests on top of muscle, and if the muscle is weak and flaccid, this can contribute to the ‘bumpy’ effect of cellulite” he recommends that you “Choose a mode of exercise that you enjoy such as walking, jogging, aerobic dance, elliptical training, rowing, cycling, swimming or stair stepping. If available, alternate modes of aerobic exercise to regularly give your body some variety. Perhaps most essential to your exercise agenda is your resistance exercise program”. It is also thought that the well-known cellulite treatment work much better in conjunction with a suitable diet and exercise programme.
Summary
Cellulite is not easy to shift there is no doubt about that, but don’t despair if results aren’t instant, because the good news is cellulite is reversible. It may take a lot of time and effort in the gym and trial and error with creams and other procedures, but it will all be worth it. Here are a few pointers to help you on your way.
. Always consult your doctor before starting any weight loss programme
. Look out for creams and gels with free trial periods
. Steer clear of liposuction (it can often make cellulite appear worse)
. Keep up the hard sweat in the gym
. If all else fails research the number of alternative non-invasive procedures
Roy Skillen
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