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Cellulite forms large patches of irregular dimpled texture on the body that show whether you are standing or sitting and are hard to cover up, which bothers many people. This article explains what causes cellulite, how to prevent it, and which aesthetic treatments can improve it.
What Is Cellulite?
Cellulite, also known as orange-peel skin, refers to subcutaneous fat pushing up into the dermis; because fat thickness and elasticity differ from one part of the body to another, the skin surface becomes uneven, resembling the skin of an orange. It mostly appears on areas that are hard to work out, such as the buttocks, thighs, and waist and abdomen. In addition, since the fibrous bands under the skin run vertically in women, they develop cellulite more easily than men do.
Cellulite Isn't Only for People Who Are Overweight: What Causes It?
1. Obesity
Excess fat accumulation is a major factor in cellulite formation. Weight loss can improve how cellulite looks, but the skin tissue has already been stretched and compressed and will not recover as a result, so cellulite cannot be eliminated completely.
2. Skin Aging
As we age, collagen and elastin are lost, causing the skin to start to loosen, which can make cellulite more and more noticeable.
3. Hormones
Female hormones are closely linked to fat cells. When estrogen secretion declines, blood flow to the connective tissue under the skin also decreases, leading to less collagen production, while also impairing fat metabolism, causing the skin to lose its elasticity, and cellulite forms as a result.
4. Prolonged Sitting or Standing
Because of lifestyle habits or work demands, modern people often sit or stand for long periods, and holding a fixed posture for a long time obstructs lymphatic circulation, which in turn leads to cellulite.
Are There Grades of Cellulite? How to Tell
Cellulite can be divided into the following four grades:
| Grade | Signs |
|---|---|
| Grade 1 | No clinical symptoms; microscopic examination of the tissue may reveal changes in fine structure |
| Grade 2 | Skin looks paler; when the temperature is lower or after pressure, the skin may feel less elastic or the underlying muscle may feel contracted. No cellulite is visible yet; microscopic examination of the tissue may reveal changes in fine structure |
| Grade 3 | Cellulite is visible at rest, and thin, granular tissue can be felt deep in the skin |
| Grade 4 | More obvious lumps can be felt deep in the skin, and these lumps adhere to deeper tissue. The skin surface shows obvious depressions |
Tips for Preventing Cellulite
1. Stay Hydrated
Having enough water in the body strengthens metabolism and promotes lymphatic circulation, helps the body remove excess waste, and also helps prevent cellulite from forming.
2. Diet and Daily Routine
Eating too many refined starches raises blood sugar and insulin secretion, making fat accumulate more easily, and high-salt, high-sodium foods tend to age the skin; lack of sleep and an erratic routine also affect the body's metabolic function, making cellulite more likely to form.
So in daily life, keeping your diet as light as possible and maintaining a steady routine are effective ways to prevent cellulite.
3. Exercise
Most cellulite is concentrated on the buttocks and inner thighs, areas that rarely move and are hard to train. So regular exercise can help reduce body fat, while using strength training to build muscle, so that the muscle supports the fat layer above it and improves skin firmness, helping fade the look of cellulite.
4. Massage
Extra massage on the areas where cellulite appears increases blood and lymphatic circulation in the skin, and it can also improve skin elasticity. When massaging, we recommend using a cream or essential oil. However, the root cause of cellulite is the uneven accumulation of fat cells, and the fat layer lies beneath the epidermis, so massage cannot treat cellulite at its root.
Three Aesthetic Treatments for Cellulite
1. Radiofrequency Lifting
By heating the deep layers of the skin, it stimulates collagen and elastin to regenerate and remodel, letting the body repair itself naturally, which smooths wrinkles and fine lines and restores skin elasticity, achieving skin-firming, anti-aging results, and it can also improve cellulite.
Recommended radiofrequency treatments: Morpheus8, Thermage FLX
Morpheus8 vs. Thermage FLX
| Morpheus8 | Thermage FLX | |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanism | Microneedling plus radiofrequency to stimulate collagen and elastin fiber production in the skin | Heats the deep layers of the skin to stimulate collagen and elastin regeneration and remodeling |
| Indications | Loose skin, fine lines, cellulite, stretch marks, depressions, nasolabial folds, etc. | Loose skin, fine lines, cellulite, stretch marks, depressions, nasolabial folds, etc. |
| Treatment time | 20-30 minutes per area | 45-60 minutes |
| Pain level | ★★ | ★★★ |
| Price | $$ | $$$$ |
2. Ultrasound Lifting
It stimulates the epidermis and dermis to increase collagen production and firm the skin, and it works deeper than laser or light therapy. It is currently the most effective non-invasive cellulite treatment.
Recommended ultrasound treatment: Ultraformer MPT (4th generation)
Ultraformer MPT (4th generation) uses high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), dual-focus ultrasound technology (MMFU), and micro-pulse technology (MFT) to tighten and lift the skin and to reduce and contour fat. It can be used for facial lifting, firming the lower abdomen and thighs, improving fine lines and cellulite, neck lifting, and more. With 10 transducers and 20 treatment modes in total, it can treat finer areas.
Treatment takes about 30-60 minutes with no downtime, and results last 12-18 months.
3. Body Contouring and Fat Reduction
Destroying excess fat treats cellulite at its root. You can target problem areas with lipolysis injections or muscle-building fat-reduction devices to improve cellulite.
Recommended body contouring and fat reduction treatments: cryolipolysis, Talent-A, lipolysis injections
Body contouring and fat reduction treatments compared:
| CoolTech Define | Z Lipo (ZLipoMed) | Talent-A | Lipolysis injections | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanism / Effect | Uses precise -10°C technology to freeze fat cells so they crystallize and undergo apoptosis; the dead cells are then cleared through the lymphatic system, reducing fat | Treats localized stubborn fat. Taking advantage of the fact that fat is sensitive to cold and self-destructs, patented technology lowers fat temperature with -5 to -10°C cooling, destroying fat cells so they undergo apoptosis and are gently eliminated through metabolism, contouring the body | Increases muscle density, strengthens the pelvic floor muscles, relieves pain | Uses a fine needle to inject medication into the subcutaneous tissue, shrinking superficial fat so the body's cells can circulate and metabolize it |
| Treatment areas | Abdomen, flanks, arms, inner/outer thighs, back fat, chin, knee fat, bikini line, lower buttock line | Abdomen, flanks, arms, inner/outer thighs, back fat | Arms, abdomen, buttocks, legs, back | Face, abdomen, buttocks, legs |
| Treatment time | 60 minutes per area | About 60 minutes per area | About 30 minutes | 10-15 minutes |
| Price | $$ | $$ | $$ | $ |
There are many causes of cellulite, and it is not a skin problem exclusive to people who are overweight or to women. Daily care can help prevent cellulite from appearing. If you want to improve it further, aesthetic medicine treatments can help, but before undergoing any treatment, consult a doctor first and make the decision that is best for you!
This article is for general information only. Results vary from person to person; please consult a doctor in person before deciding on any treatment.
