How to Get Rid Of Cellulite

WHAT EXACTLY IS CELLULITE? 

Occurring in more than 90% of post-pubescent girls, cellulite is so common that physicians are starting to think that it is a secondary sexual characteristic of women. Our skin is comprised of layers of fat and other connective tissue. These layers function to give insulation and structural integrity to the largest organ of your body — your skin. However, when the septa (a type of connective tissue) that surround fat cells start to tighten down on them or when the fat cells start to swell, because of an increased storage of fat in the body, fat globules can start to invade the top layers of the skin making the skin look uneven. This makes legs look kind of lumpy, like an orange peel.

Cellulite occurs more frequently in women because of the differences in our skin structure as compared to men’s. The septa surrounding the fat cells in women’s skin are perpendicular to the skin surface. This creates depressions or dimples on the skin when fat globules enlarge. Men’s septa on the other hand are in a crisscross pattern that contains fat rather than pushing down on it. Another difference between the sexes is the fact that women, by design, are supposed to have more fat in the body and their fat globules are much larger than men’s.

HOW DO YOU GET RID OF IT? 

Although it has never been linked to any underlying disease and is not typically harmful to humans, cellulite can be unsightly. It is a cosmetic issue that continues to bother many women of today. Here are some ways to improve the appearance of cellulite:

WEIGHT LOSS 

To be clear, anybody can have cellulite, no matter how skinny or how curvy you are. However, since cellulite is mainly caused by fat globules that have tightened up against the septa of the skin, it may be logical to lose the extra stored fat in your body to improve the appearance of your skin. A great way to do this is to do activities and eat food that can aid in lowering your body fat percentage.

CREAMS (caffeine and retinol) 

There is an abundance of creams and salves that all claim to remove cellulite, but can they really? For a very long time medical professionals have always been weary of creams, and with good reason. Creams marketed to remove cellulite used to be no more effective at getting rid of cellulite than the normal moisturizer. With the advent of new technology though, manufacturers have come with some pretty effective topical formulas.

Take for example creams that have caffeine and retinol in them. Although evidence is scant, there is data confirming that caffeine does help shrink fat cells and smoothen out cellulite over time. With regards to the effectivity of retinol, the vitamin A derivative is probably the only compound that has been confirmed to help strengthen skin collagen and fight wrinkles. The fact that retinol can help strengthen collagen fibers and help thicken the skin has linked it to being able to help your skin disguise cellulite.

MACHINES 

There are numerous machines available at the doctor’s office that all aim to improve the appearance of your cellulite. Some machines like VelaSmooth, Thermage and Zerona use either laser or radio waves to apply heat onto the skin. The heat is meant to thicken skin and melt the bulging fat underneath. A new kind of technology – Acoustic Wave Therapy System – uses acoustic waves to break apart the septae bands which cause the dimpling on the skin.

These machines are so effective that those who undergo the multiple sessions needed may expect a 25%-50% improvement. These results may diminish over time.

SURGERY 

Non-invasive machines not doing enough for you? Maybe it’s time to go under the knife. Cellulaze, a cosmetic procedure aimed at reducing cellulite was cleared by the FDA on January 2012. It is a side firing laser inserted into the skin via a tiny incision. The doctor then proceeds to cut the septae bands, the ones that cause the dimpling, in a grid like manner. Pockets of fat are singed along with the septae, further evening out the appearance of the skin.

Word of caution – even if this is still technically a cosmetic treatment, Cellulaze still counts as surgery. Proceed with caution just as you would with a major surgery. Make sure that the doctor you are seeing is board certified and has a spotless reputation.