Almost every woman has cellulite. In a nutshell, it is fat underneath the skin that causes a dimpled appearance on places like the thighs, buttock, legs and hips. In limited cases it can also be found on the breasts, stomach and arms. Cellulite isn’t a harmful condition but women often feel embarrassed, especially when wearing short clothing or a bathing suit.
The cause of cellulite occurs just below the skin, at the subcutaneous level. As the fat cells become larger they push the skin up. Simultaneously, hard and fibrous connective tissues pull down on the skin. These opposite actions are what cause the dents and dimples that are referred to as cellulite.
Cellulite ranges in severity. The most mild cases can only be seen when the skin in pinched. With these types of cases, many women think they have a more severe case of cellulite when in fact the condition only materializes when they twist to look at their thighs in the mirror – an action which essentially mimics someone pinching the skin. Severe cases can be seen without any pinching of the skin and can feel soft or lumpy to touch.
The main risk factors for cellulite includes aging, weight gain, genetics, stress, an inactive lifestyle and hormones. Cellulite treatments will either target these factors, their symptoms or simply focus on dealing with the fat and fibrous tissues causing the condition.
The most effective treatment for cellulite is a healthy diet and exercise. While excess weight is a risk factor, skinny women can also get severe cellulite. This is usually due to a lack of lean muscle in the problem areas than excess weight. Therefore, a diet and exercise program should focus on losing weight where there is excess to lose and toning the muscles in the areas affected by the condition.
Machines using laser therapy and radio-frequency systems are common for treating cellulite. These machines are designed to assist in lymphatic drainage for cellulite and will need to be used on the problem areas twice per week for several weeks. The results can last up to six months at which point you will need to return for more treatments.
Many women think that liposuction will be able to get rid of cellulite. Unfortunately, this is not the case and such plastic surgery can in fact worsen the condition. Most experts recommend women undergo a diet and exercise program combined with laser and radio-frequency therapy.
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