How can I get rid of cellulite?

There are still no permanent cures, unfortunately.

Endermologie was the first therapy really proven to work and is now time honored. My office added Endermologie when it first became available in this country and the same Endermologie therapist is still with me. She has incredible experience, having been trained at the beginning and having perfomed so many treatments over all these years. The results she is able to achieve are excellent.

With so much disagreement about what REALLY treats cellulite, it is obvious that nothing is perfect!  The new Thermage NXT Cellulite therapy has done well in our office.  We love using it in combination with SmartLipo and mesotherapy.   NBC recently aired a story on us performing this treatment.

If so many different modalities are combined to achieve optimal results, providers all claiming that a different device is the best or WORST. . .and not a true consensus. . .it's a wonder anyone sees any improvements at all!

Cellulite affects up to 90% of adult females in the United States.  That's crazy!

I'm sure we will continue to be on a quest to find the perfect cellulite solution until bikinis and swimsuits, tight dresses, and anything else "clingy" goes completely out of style. . .hopefully not in my lifetime :-)  LOL.  (just kidding, seriously. . .don't be offended)

For now, the new Thermage NXT Cellulite treatment seems to offer the most hope as a single treatment option.

Cellulite is not very easy to treat. If you read the answers to this question by the experts, you will see there is very little agreement. Some docs think Thermage works great, yet Thermage ranks dead last on the realself.com "Was It Worth It' list. There are no standards and no well controlled formal studies on mesotherapy. Most of the results from the best equipment from the best companies produce a temporary reduction in the appearance of cellulite. That is technobable for "they don't work".

The problem with cellulite is that we are not even sure what we need to treat. Those ugly puckers are the result of connective tissue bands pulling on some, but not all of the skin. To fix the puckers, you have either cut all of the bands or pull all of the skin that is not already being pulled by the connective tissue bands. At this time, we don't have a technology that does either very well. Some women with perfect bodies have cellulite. Even underweight women can have cellulite. Creams and lotions are also pretty close to useless. A good spanking will reduce the appearance of cellulite, and I certainly don't recommend that either!

My advice is to save your money until some new technology for cellulite becomes available.

Michael Sinclair, MD

www.epilution.com

Cellulite is very resistant to treatment and requires combination of clinical treatments with agressive lifestyle changes for optimum results. There are some studies linking cellulite to high levels of circulating Insulin levels putting this condition in the same category as metabolic syndrome.

• I my office we perform No needle mesotherapy for cellulite, This treatment is a three step process. The first step uses Laser to pretreat skin . The second step uses Aquaphoresis to transport prescription Anti-cellulite medications into the deeper layer of skin and finally in the third step, a specialized probe stimulates muscle fibres to tighten skin. The proceudre is quite comfortable, takes about 35 to 40 minutes per area and is done twice a week for minimum of 6 weeks for optimum results. The cost varies at different treatment centers from $1800 to $2400 for 6 sessions per area.
• A balance diet low in simple sugars, with moderate protien and moderate "good fats" is essential for better results
• An exercise program consisting of Aerobic exercise 20 to 30 minutes 5 to 7 days a week , and strength training 30 to 40 minutes 2 to 3 times a week tremendously helps improve outcome of any clinical treatment.

I recommend the Accent XL to treat cellulite.  It uses dual radiofrequency energy -- unipolar and bipolar -- to treat two distinct depths of tissue. While bipolar energy is applied to the skin’s delicate outer layer, unipolar energy is used to warm the skin’s deeper layer of tissue. Taken together, these dual-layer energies stimulate collagen and contract fat cells and connective tissue. The benefits are immediate:

• Fat cells are contracted and the “orange peel” or "dimpling" look of cellulite is smoothed away
• New collagen is produced, and sagging skin is tightened and improved in both tone and texture
• One to three inches of girth can disappear after 3-6 treatments, with excellent long-term results
• Hips and thighs appear slimmer, abdomen is flatter and bulges are reduced

Results are usually visibile immediately after the first treatment. Accent treatments are non-invasive, non-ablative, and don't require anesthesia or prolonged recovery.

The treatment process is simple and has been described by patients as feeling like a “warm massage.” The treatment is safe. In May 2007, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Accent XL for use for tightening and toning. Unlike liposuction, there’s no operation or prolonged recovery time required.

There is now an excellent FDA-approved, non-surgical treatment for temporary reduction of cellulite and temporary reduction of thigh circumference called VelaShape.

VelaShape uses a combination of light (infrared) and bi-polar radio frequency (RF) energies (elōs), as well as mechanical rollers and vacuum suction, to manipulate the superficial fat tissue layer that contributes to cellulite and fatty deposits. The heat from the light and RF energies increases metabolism of this fatty layer and shrinks the size of fat cells. The mechanical rollers and vacuum suction act on the blood vessels to increase circulation to the local area, as well as massaging the skin to achieve a smoother, less dimpled surface appearance, and reduced thigh circumference. A series of four to six treatments can greatly change the look of cellulite.

There is no way to actually get rid of cellulite although there are treatments to reduce its appearance. All of the following treatments have been touted for their effectiveness in either decreasing or eliminating cellulite:

• Thermage
• Liposuction
• Endermology
• Topical creams

Unfortunately, as you may have found, reports tend to be anecdotal and without any hard scientific basis.

I'm going to be honest with you and let you know that there is no "magical cure" for cellulite. That being said, the genesis of my spa was because of Synergie, a very effective FDA-approved Cellulite REDUCTION treatment. At Advanced Skin and Body Solutions, we offer your first treatment for free and we have hundreds of satisfied clients who have completed the Synergie Cellulite treatment series.

Synergie is a non-invasive treatment where a trained esthetician performs a full body vacuum massage. The patient wears a body suit that we provide (similar to a ballerina's leotard).  The treatment lasts for about 40 minutes, not including the time it takes to change. The technician will treat your entire body with a specialized Synergie wand with a head that provides positive and negative pressure. There are three different sizes of heads, depending on the size of the body part being treated. The treatment is stimulating lymphatic drainage, stimulating collagen, tightening and toning, and detoxing your body.

Our clients typically come twice a week for a series of 8 weeks, or until desired results are obtained. Some clients only need to come around 8 times, and some have completed 2 full series of 16 treatments to get the results they are looking for.

After you achieve the desired result, it is necessary to come once per month for routine maintanence. With the Synergie treatment, you will not lose weight, however, you will improve the appearance of your cellulite AND lose inches. Our clients definitely end up feeling better about themselves.

The best treatment for cellulite is Velashape.

Cool Lipo addresses stubborn fat pockets in the above areas that won't go away with diet and exercise. It allows reduction of the pocket size and fat content, and contouring of the area into a sleeker, more pleasing shape. Cellulite is a combination of tightened connective tissue interspersed with fat. Cool Lipo™ easily and gently severs the connective tissue, letting the skin "pop back up" to be smooth. Any bumpy areas of increased fat can be melted. The overall effect is one of smoothing, getting rid of the ridges and valleys of cellulite.

These are nutrients that may be obtained from food or from intake of dietary supplements. They are the foundation for The Cellulite Solution program. Each one contributes to healthy cells and healthy connective tissue (collagen & elastin) which when they are strong and healthy, the skin is firmer and more hydrated.

• Glucosamine is an amino acid that is the building block for collagen and elastin.
  Take 1200mg of either Glucosamine Sulfate or Glucosamine Hydrochloride every day.
• Lecithin is a vital component to repairing cell walls.
  Lecithin may be found in eggs, soy products, cauliflower, tomatoes and spinach.
  OR you can take 1 tablespoon of lecithin granules, (mix into salads, or shakes) 1725 mg daily.
• Essential Fatty Acids are the oil that lubricates the body’s gears, and maintain water within the cells. They are not naturally produced within the body so to obtain these essential nutrients we need to get them from outside sources.
• Take at least 2.2 – 4.4 grams of alpha linoleic acid (an Omega 3 Fatty acid) per day.
• Also, to get EFA’s in your diet, eat olive oil, cold-water fish and raw walnuts.
• Antioxidants help to prevent damage caused by free radicals. The best sources are from raw fruits and vegetables and basically get as many of these as possible into your diet.
  As a general rule, the darker and brighter the color of the food the more densely it is packed with antioxidants.
• Pomegranates, blueberries, red peppers, blackberries, and citrus fruits are great sources of antioxidants.

Every woman knows what cellulite is and they hate it. You see it in the thighs and buttocks and it is very difficult to treat. Ninety-five percent of what you have heard about cellulite treatment is hype and not science.

In my opinion, creams, massages and ultrasound don't help. Also, in my opinion, treatments such as lipolysis, mesotherapy, and endermologie don't help.

There are two procedures that do help: One is non-invasive, and the other is done together with liposuction.

• First, the non-invasive procedure is called Thermage of the thighs.
  • Energy is delivered to the deep layers of the skin, which tightens and smoothes the skin. We have seen some fairly impressive results. Thermage is extremely safe, and it takes about one and a half hours in the office. There is no anesthesia, no down time, and no scar. So, for many women, it is worth a try.

    (Thermage was also just approved by the FDA for tightening skin around the eyelids).

• The second procedure I call superficial micro-tunneling, and it is done together with liposuction.
  • Once all the desired fat is removed, I make many tiny tunnels just under the skin of the thighs, approaching each area from several directions. When this network just under the skin heals and contracts, the overlying skin is tightened, and cellulite is improved. This is a great approach, but it only makes sense for women who also need liposuction.

It is so unfair that men just don't get cellulite.

Right now, the best procedure for cellulite treatment is a just-FDA approved laser called the Alma Accent. The FDA study I was involved in, that was published in the Journal of Dermatologic Surgery, found that upper thigh skin cellulite can be improved with this new unipolar radiofrequency device, with fewer treatments and longer lasting results as compared to older options.

The older options have typically been bipolar radio frequency and low-level laser devices which have been proven to produce mild skin tightening of cellulite; this new treatment is far more sophisticated.

Unfortunately, many products promise they can get rid of cellulite, but that is false.

Regular exercise and a healthy diet may help improve the appearance of cellulite (which is caused by fat protruding through fibrous bands underneath the skin), but they cannot get rid of cellulite entirely.