Let’s talk about cellulite and the best cellulite treatment available today. It happens to almost every woman, in fact about 90% of all adult females experience it. We look in the mirror one day to see how our new bathing suit looks and YIKES… we see it, the dreaded enemy – cellulite!
Some of us think to ourselves, “I watch what I eat and I exercise, my BMI is where it is supposed to be, how can this be?”. Then, there are the rest of us who know many reasons why lumpy deposits of body fat may be there, but we still do not like it. We start asking ourselves, “What can I do to get rid of it? If I lose 10 pounds, will the dimpled flesh go away? Are there any treatments that can help me get rid of the cottage-cheese skin?”.
The good news is that there are several cosmetic therapies available to help reduce or eliminate cellulite, even the kind that has been resistant to diet and exercise. The better news is that these treatments require no surgery or extensive recovery period!
What Causes Cellulite?
Cellulite is not directly caused by being overweight or by excess fat. Many treatments that remove fat, such as liposuction, are not effective in addressing cellulite. The root cause of a dimpled appearance of a certain area of skin lies in the tissue structure located within the fat layer that lies beneath the skin.
The skin is made up of several layers: muscle, fibrous connective tissue, the fat layer, and then the skin on the very top. In the fibrous layer, women have tissue bands septa that run vertically and house fat into little compartments that resemble a honeycomb pattern. These bands can thicken over time, which creates tension on the skin residing above it.
Also, women’s fat cells are naturally larger than the ones found in men, so when these larger fat cells push upward into the skin, while the tension of the fibrous bands pulls downward, this results in the dimpled look of cellulite.
Men’s fibrous tissue patterns resemble a tighter knit, crisscross pattern, making fat less likely to dimple and cause cellulite. Compared to the 90% of women who experience cellulite, only 10% of the adult male population develop cellulite. Lucky guys!
Factors That Contribute to Dimpled Fat Appearance
- Hormone surges due to pregnancy;
- Menopause due to lower estrogen and collagen production, and thinning skin;
- Unhealthy eating habits;
- Slow metabolism;
- Genetic predisposition.
Cellulite Ranking
This skin condition that causes lumpy, dimpled flesh is often categorized due to severity from 0 to 3:
- Grade 0 being very little or no occurrence;
- Grade 1 is mild, compared to an orange peel;
- Grade 2 is moderate and compared to cottage cheese, and could be accompanied by sagging skin;
- Grade 3 is considered severe sagging and is known as the “mattress” look. People with Grade 3 conditions normally has more than 9 deep dimples and is accompanied by significant skin sagging.
What You Can Do About Cellulite
First, let’s talk about the things that do not work to get rid of dimpled fat. Sometimes it can be reduced through diet and physical activity but unlike muscles, fat cells do not typically respond to sports exercises, so many times your workout efforts may be unsuccessful.
Some sources talk about massage therapies for reducing an uneven surface of the skin caused by fat cells, and while the area treated may look better after a massage, it is usually due to the flushing of excess fluid; cellulite reappears fairly quickly.
Then, there are the medicated beauty creams that promise to reduce cellulite and reveal smooth, toned, sleek skin but have no scientific evidence indicating these remedies are effective against this skin condition. In addition, some of these creams contain aminophylline, a drug often used in the therapeutics of asthma. It works by temporarily narrowing the blood vessels and pushing hydration out of the skin. First, this is only a temporary solution that lasts maybe a day, if you are lucky, and second, this drug can cause an allergic reaction and adversely affect people with circulatory issues.
Before you get discouraged, there are several treatments that do work, and have been clinically proven to reduce or eliminate cellulite so read on to learn more.
What Treatments Really Work to Get Rid of Cellulite?
QWO
QWO treatment is a fairly new option that is available at select cosmetic practices and is a treatment that was created solely to treat cellulite through a series of injections. These injections contain a prescription medication called collagenase clostridium histolyticum, which initiates the redistribution of existing fat cells when injected into areas ща dimpling skin. It works by breaking down the vertical fibrous bands that lie beneath the skin creating the cellulite rippling effect.
The injections also promote an increase in collagen production, which results in smoother-looking skin. QWO can be used with other procedures, such as radio frequency or Morpheus8 procedures to yield maximum results.
BodyFX
BodyFX is a non-invasive body contouring procedure that uses radio frequency, thermal heating, and suction-coupled negative pressure technology to re-shape and contour targeted areas of the body. A special device is applied to the targeted areas of unwanted fat/cellulite for a pre-determined amount of time, which heats the subdermal skin layers, contracts body tissues, and dissolves stored fat under the surface of the skin.
The fat that is exposed to the thermal heat is destroyed and will be eliminated by the body’s lymphatic system. Fat cells that are destroyed during the BodyFX therapy will be gone forever.
FX not only removes stubborn, unwanted fat deposits but also is very effective in reducing the appearance of lumpy, dimpled skin. While removing the targeted fat cells, the procedure also works to jumpstart new collagen production and tighten the skin in the treatment area leaving it smoother, with less noticeable orange-peel skin.
Forma
Similar to BodyFX, Forma harnesses the energy and thermal heat from fractionalized radio frequency to reduce fat, increase collagen production, and tighten skin. Forma can target deep tissue stimulating the production of collagen, toning, and tightening loose skin, and reducing the appearance of an uneven surface in almost every area of the face and body.
Evolve Trim
Evolve Trim targets underlying subcutaneous fat through a combination of deep tissue heating, radio frequency energy, and light vacuum pressure. The body is reshaped, and the skin is tightened as the fat cells melt in reaction to the heat and energy pulses. Evolve Trim can address more prominent areas of stubborn body fat and the dimpled appearance caused by it, with the flexibility to treat multiple body areas at the same time. The procedure is quick, pain-free, and long-lasting with no associated downtime.
Video: Evolve Trim for Cellulite Treatment
Morpheus8
Morpheus8 is a therapy that combines the benefits of radio frequency RF and microneedling to reach into the deep layers of the skin, to promote the production of new collagen, and reduce fat. Morpheus8 delivers RF energy to the three layers under the skin resulting in a smoother, more toned appearance.
While this procedure is molding fat cells and contracting connective tissues, it is also creating tiny micro-wounds, which causes the body to naturally respond by repairing itself. During the regeneration and repair process, the skin creates new collagen and elastin, which results in smoother skin and less cellulite. Morpheous8 is a minimally invasive procedure and does not require downtime.
How Do Nonsurgical Cellulite Treatments Differ from Liposuction?
You may ask, how do the above treatments compare to liposuction? The answer is: liposuction alone is not able to remove cellulite. The added technology that is utilized in the above procedures not only reduces fat but can tighten skin and reduce visible cellulite. Also, traditional liposuction requires a moderate amount of time to recover as opposed to the remedies listed above.
What Is The Best Cellulite Treatment Machine?
Each one of the technologies above, except for QWO, utilizes a special device or cellulite removal machine that delivers a strategically targeted and customized treatment that performs what seems to be magic. A consultation with a qualified cosmetic surgeon like Dr. Angelina will help choose the option that is right for you. Sometimes, a combination of different procedures will be the perfect plan to help you achieve your aesthetic goals.
Where Can I Go to Address My Cellulite?
Cellulite can be a literal pain in the behind, but there are so many options available today to address these unsightly dimples. There is no reason to live with it! Contact SurgiCare Arts & Aesthetics to learn more about body contouring treatments, QWO, and cellulite removal. Dr. Angelina can help you create the perfect plan to address all your cottage-cheese skin concerns.
Dr. Angelina Postoev, MD, FACS, a triple-board certified cosmetic surgeon, and Dr. Christopher Ibikunle, MD, FACS, offer cellulite treatments for women in Lawrenceville, Suwanee, Johns Creek, Buckhead, and the surrounding areas of Atlanta, Georgia.
