Understanding Cellulite
To remove cellulite from the body, you first need to understand it. Here is what you need to know:
Causes of Cellulite
Cellulite can form for various reasons, and it is most commonly present in the thigh area. An excess of fatty tissue can also cause cellulite to become more apparent on the skin. With that in mind, here are the most common reasons why cellulite appears:
- Estrogen imbalance
- Age
- Tissue inflammation
- Genetics
- Collagen Loss
- Thinning epidermis
- Poor lymphatic drainage
- Poor circulation
- Unbalanced diet
- Wearing tight clothes
It is always a good idea to figure out the cause of cellulite so that you can determine a treatment plan.
How Cellulite Forms in the Body
Cellulite forms when the septae underneath your skin tighten. Septae are collagen bands that connect the muscle to your skin, holding the subcutaneous fat back. When those bands tighten, they start pulling at your skin, and the underlying fat you have there will go upward. This creates the appearance of dimpled skin, which looks more or less like an orange peel.
Different Types of Cellulite
There are three types of cellulite, all of which have different appearances. These are:
- First Degree Cellulite: Also referred to as soft cellulite, the dimples are superficial with an orange peel aspect.
- Second Degree Cellulite: Dubbed as hard cellulite, this one has deeper ripplings and looks more or less like cottage cheese.
- Third Degree Cellulite: Known as edematous cellulite, this is the most severe type of cellulite and has multiple skin depressions and a mattress-like look.
Each type of cellulite can eventually be treated. However, the faster you catch it, the easier it will be to eliminate.
Lifestyle Changes for Cellulite Removal
While there are homemade scrub treatments to remove cellulite, certain lifestyle changes are more effective to help keep it away. Try putting these practices into place to see if you notice a difference.
1. Eating a Healthy and Balanced Diet
Your diet significantly affects how cellulite manifests. Studies show that a diet rich in salt, fats, and carbohydrates can make your cellulite worse. This is because fats lead to inflammation, carbs break down the collagen in your body, and salt can encourage the retention of water in your body.
A healthy diet can help you reduce the appearance of cellulite. Meals that are rich in unsaturated fats, fruits, and vegetables can help you keep the cellulite under control or even reduce it. Vitamins D, A, and C are also effective at preventing and reducing cellulite.
2. Exercising Regularly
When you exercise regularly, you increase the amount of muscle in your body while decreasing the fat ratio. This will make your skin look much smoother and firmer, therefore reducing the appearance of cellulite. All types of exercise can help reduce cellulite, but fat-burning routines (like cardio) have proven to be most effective.
3. Staying Hydrated
Just like the rest of your body, your skin cells will need water to work properly. Water is the main ingredient that allows your skin to keep that plump appearance. Ideally, you should drink around 2.7 liters of water every day, which includes the water that you get from food.
4. Maintaining a Healthy Weight
While people of any weight can develop cellulite, it is more common among those who have excess weight. The more fatty tissue you have, the higher chances you will have of developing cellulite. The extra weight can also increase the visibility of your cellulite.
5. Avoiding Smoking and Excessive Alcohol Consumption
Alcohol is very high in carbs, whereas smoking breaks down the formation of collagen. Excessive consumption of both can cause cellulite to appear or worsen a current condition.
Medical Treatments for Cellulite Removal
Cellulite can be treated in two ways: invasive and non-invasive. Some invasive treatments, such as Cellulaze™, are actually minimally invasive and don’t require complex surgeries. It is ultimately up to you to determine the kind of treatment that you desire.
Non-Invasive Treatments
Non-invasive treatments are those that do not pierce the skin or need any kind of surgery. They treat the problem from the surface, often using specialized massages and radiofrequency heating.
- Radiofrequency Therapy: It reduces cellulite by heating it.
- Ultrasound Therapy: It targets and destroys fat to destroy cellulite.
- Laser Therapy: It triggers collagen production and breaks up fat formation underneath the skin.
Several sessions are required for these treatments to work, and massage therapy is also recommended.
Invasive Treatments
As the name suggests, invasive treatments go deep underneath the skin to solve the issue. These can include:
- Liposuction: This is the process of using a needle to surgically remove small amounts of fat from your body.
- Fat Transfer: Through this procedure, fat is taken from different areas of your body and added to the depression points.
- Cellulaze™: This is a minimally invasive laser treatment to address all causes of cellulite appearance. A small laser tube is inserted underneath your skin, which heats up and melts the pocket of fat. It also cuts through the collagen bands that pull the skin, reducing cellulite dimples. Cellulaze™ encourages collagen growth, which can improve the elasticity of your skin.
Choosing the best method to eliminate cellulite is essential. Before you choose highly invasive surgery, you should first try minimally invasive methods such as Cellulaze™. At Dermacare San Diego, we prefer this method because of the quick results and minimal downtime that it offers. Most patients notice their results a few days after their treatment, and Cellulaze™ can last up to three years.
Schedule Your Consultation to Treat Your Cellulite
Cellulite can become more problematic as you get older, and as your skin loses its elasticity. Addressing this issue sooner rather than later with exercise and a good diet should help you keep matters under control. But still, if changing your lifestyle doesn’t help, you may want to have Dermacare assist. We are ready to help you get the smooth, dimple-free skin you desire!
For more information about Cellulaze™, please call Dermacare Laser & Skin Care Clinics. If you are in San Diego, please call 858-230-8040. If you are in Carlsbad, please call 760-206-8926. You may also fill out our online contact form.