We all know the signs: "orange peel" dimpling of the derrière; cottage cheese-textured thighs; puckering of the abdomen. Ninety percent of women have cellulite. Even movie stars, as unretouched photos in the tabloids so unflatteringly reveal.
Cellulite is more prevalent in women than in men. This is a function of both anatomy and physiology. Women's fat cells are larger and closer to the surface of the skin in the thighs, buttocks, and abdomen, where cellulite most often appears. (If men get cellulite, it's usually around the love handles.) Collagen fibers, which attach the subcutaneous fat layer to the surface of the skin, form compartments that entrap fat cells. When the collagen fibers stretch or weaken, the fat cells can push through, causing the skin's surface to bulge in the characteristic bumps and lumps of cellulite.
A predisposition toward cellulite is hereditary. Hormones, too, are thought to play a role. Beyond that, diet, fluid retention and excessive fat intake, while not direct causes of cellulite, can contribute to it. Treating cellulite involves addressing these factors simultaneously.
While proper diet, exercise, and restriction of salt intake are important in controlling cellulite, it's also essential to deal with the structural realities of the superficial fat layer. Modifying this critical zone calls for three types of action:
• Improving drainage of lymphatic fluid from the fat, on an ongoing basis
• Increasing the elasticity of the collagen to prevent the fat cells from migrating to the skin's surface
• Increasing the blood supply to the fatty tissue, to remove toxins
To tackle these areas, we recommend two non-invasive procedures. Both can be safely performed in a medical-spa environment by experienced clinical aestheticians. PRESSOTHERAPY
For this treatment, the legs (or arms, if that's where the cellulite is) are encased in inflatable "boots." The pressure of the boots draws the lymph fluid out of the subcutaneous fat cells into the lymph ducts. From the lymph nodes in the groin (or armpits), the fluid is picked up by the circulatory system and carried to the kidneys, where it is excreted.
Although Pressotherapy by itself will not eliminate cellulite, it can significantly reduce the amount of fluid in the limbs and set the stage for the next two components of cellulite control: collagen elasticity and blood circulation. ENDERMOLOGIE
Endermologie, the mainstay of all cellulite therapies, was the first to be FDA-approved. It is a sophisticated technology that improves micro-circulation, fluid drainage, and collagen elasticity in the superficial fat layer. A hand-held device that combines suction with mechanical rollers is moved back and forth over the affected areas, giving the fatty tissue a deep massage. The procedure is painless and leaves no redness or swelling. Used on the entire body, endermologie can not only improve the appearance of cellulite but also decreases the amount of fat in the pockets just under the skin's surface. Endermologie is administered in a series of sixteen treatments, five to seven days apart, repeated every year. Endermologie combines well with Pressotherapy, and is used in conjunction with diet management, specifically, elimination of salty foods, sugar and simple carbohydrates.
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