What is cellulite?
Cellulite is a very common disorder that affects the appearance of the skin due to the accumulation of fat, usually in areas such as the thighs, buttocks, and abdomen. Its characteristic feature is the appearance of orange peel-like skin with small dimples and bumps in the affected areas. Today, there are several effective treatments available, some more invasive than others. Special attention should be paid to cellulite massage because intense and repetitive stretching of the skin can lead to sagging.
Cellulite is usually classified into three categories. In the first category, cellulite is not visible when standing but becomes apparent when pressure is applied, for example, when sitting. In the second category, the orange peel-like appearance is visible even when standing without pressure. In the third category, the appearance is more intense, with areas that have bulges along with dimples.
What are the contributing factors?
In our bodies, fat cells accumulate in groups separated and enclosed by fibrous septa consisting of connective tissue and collagen. These septa are less soft and elastic than fat cells and often change due to fat accumulation within them, as well as swelling caused by hormonal imbalances, diet, and inflammation. In women, where the subcutaneous skin is generally thinner, this disorder becomes more visible with the appearance of cellulite. Additionally, hormonal cycles and fluid retention are factors that make this disorder more pronounced in women. For this reason, cellulite becomes visible after puberty and more intense during pregnancy.
Another theory is that in women, the fibrous septa that connect the skin to the underlying muscle tissue have a parallel pattern, forming fat lobules, while in men, this pattern is more chaotic with a criss-cross distribution.
Finally, over time and with skin relaxation, the problem becomes more pronounced as elasticity and firmness decrease due to changes in the quality and thickness of excess skin.
Cellulite is mostly an aesthetic problem. In severe cases, however, there may be discomfort due to pressure at the affected area. This is due to inflammation and intense stretching of the fibrous septa between the fat cells.
Where does it appear?
Cellulite most commonly appears in areas where fat accumulates and the skin is thin. For this reason, in women, it is usually found where fat deposits are located due to human evolution, namely in the abdomen, thighs, and their inner parts, and of course in the buttocks. Overweight individuals have a more pronounced problem and may develop cellulite in many other areas, although cellulite often affects individuals with a normal BMI (body mass index).
What is the role of hormones?
It is characteristic that 80 to 90% of all women after puberty have cellulite, while the percentage in men is less than 10%. Therefore, hormonal changes due to the influence of female hormones during puberty are decisive, as well as hormonal imbalances that can lead to fluid retention, which can make the appearance of cellulite more intense. These hormones also determine the distribution of our fat stores. Thus, in men, fat accumulation is most commonly in the abdomen, behind the abdominal muscles, and therefore not visible on the skin. In contrast, in women, fat accumulation occurs superficially on the skin, especially on the thighs, where the skin is thinner and thus more visible.
How is it treated?
Any treatment of cellulite should start with a discussion about diet, weight stability, and factors leading to fluid retention and edema.
From our perspective, we can help significantly with both non-invasive and minimally invasive methods. Although there are several machines promising cellulite improvement, we relied on serious research and evaluation conducted by independent scientists, which concluded that shockwave therapy has the best result among non-invasive machines.
In our clinic, we have a shockwave machine that is the optimal non-invasive choice, it does not cause pain, and the session is very short. It also does not involve the risk of causing relaxation like some other methods with massage and intense skin stretching. It is important to emphasize that after the initial sessions, there will be an initial worsening of the cellulite appearance followed by natural improvement.
To reduce this phenomenon and achieve even better results, we can combine radiofrequency (RF) therapy in the same session. The thermal energy of RF helps both in tightening and in the production and remodeling of collagen, as well as in the drainage of edema by increasing blood flow and circulation. Even skin tightening alone from radiofrequency leads to cellulite improvement and therefore acts both synergistically and complementarily for the best result.
Between these sessions, lipolytic enzymes and substances can also be injected, as well as decongestant substances for even better results. In some cases, mesotherapy alone with these substances has an effect.
Even more effective and with even longer-lasting results are slightly more invasive methods. These methods mainly involve the subcision of fibrous septa, releasing the groups of fat cells located between them so that they come more uniformly to the surface of the skin. Finally, there is the possibility for this to be done after liposuction so that after releasing the septa, the dimples can be filled with your fat and the stem cells it contains.
