Top Methods for Dealing with Cellulite in 2018
Understanding Cellulite
As women age, our bodies go through significant changes. Our metabolism slows down, our skin loses its elasticity, and age spots and wrinkles begin to form. Through all the age-related changes to our bodies, there’s one thing all women dread: the formation of cellulite.
Women have always struggled with cellulite, proven by the plethora of products claiming to be the cure. With so many options to choose from, it can be impossible to know what will work and what won’t. This article provides general information on cellulite, describes the most popular treatment methods available in 2018, and attempts to help you understand the best way to deal with cellulite.
What is Cellulite?
If you’ve seen cellulite before, you might attribute it to aging, but the fact of the matter is that all women—93%, in fact—have some form of cellulite. That percentage includes the young and old of varying shapes and sizes, from petite models and super fit actresses, to Olympic medalists. The amount of cellulite you see depends on several factors, such as your age, your health, and the amount of excess bodyfat you have. So what is cellulite exactly?
Cellulite isn’t an issue with your skin, but rather the structure underneath it. Underneath your skin, there are pockets of fat that squeeze between bands of tissue, called septae. The result: bumpy, uneven flesh. It is less common for men to have cellulite because their septae criss-cross in a way that results in flatter fat, giving their skin a smooth appearance, no matter their size. Of course, genetics play a part in cellulite. If your mother is predisposed to cellulite, then there’s a high chance you are, too. Cellulite can be found where high percentages of fat are stored, like in your thighs and under your arms. It isn’t harmful to your health, but it can be unappealing in appearance.
Cellulite can worsen because of a few things, one being age. As you age, your collagen production goes down, meaning your skin loses its structure as the elasticity of your skin gradually weakens. Cellulite can also be affected by excess body fat. Unfortunately, dieting won’t rid you of cellulite entirely, as skin stretched from weight gain and then weight loss can sag and be more prone to cellulite. Avoid rapid weight loss, as this can cause cellulite to appear more pronounced. It’s best to lose weight slowly, with a regimented weight loss plan.
Now, understanding cellulite is great, but what can you do to minimize the appearance of it?
Cellulite Treatments
Exercise & Diet
Nothing beats a healthy lifestyle, and the more structure you give your muscles through working out, the less cellulite you’ll see as your body tones up. Through weight lifting, your muscles will grow, and you’ll lose weight, resulting in firmer skin and body tone. However, as mentioned earlier, if you lose weight too fast, then loose skin can develop and make cellulite more noticeable.
Getting rid of cellulite through exercise may take time, but the effects are worth it—your calves will firm up through running or jogging, and exercises like squats will strengthen your thighs. You’ll walk away with more energy, a better body, and a stronger sense of confidence.
When it comes to your cellulite on your arms, weight lifting is your best bet. Continually testing the limits of your strength will exhaust your muscles, then giving them a chance to repair and grow stronger will result in burned fat and decreased cellulite.
Your diet is extremely important to reducing the appearance of cellulite, and as they say, you are what you eat. Make sure you’re not eating an abundance of grease or sugar. Eliminate any fast foods in your diet and stick with healthy, lean home-made meals that incorporate lots of vegetables.
It’s also a good idea to replace sugary soda or juices with water. Not only will this save you calories, but will save your skin. Hydration is key to flushing your body of toxins and it helps your skin remain balanced as well. Toxins in the body don’t help your skin look younger, so kicking bad habits like smoking or drinking alcohol will help you say goodbye to cellulite.
Cellulite Creams
There are many creams on the market claiming to be the cure for cellulite – both synthetic and natural. Many of these products use caffeine, claiming it has properties that increase blood flow and firms up the skin, as it flushes out excess moisture. True to that, the market is smattered with products that have caffeine in their ingredients.
Other cream based products use skin-tightening agents such as retinol and aminophylline that can help smooth out the appearance of cellulite. The main issue with all creams is that they don’t reach deep enough to effectively treat the appearance of cellulite.
So, what does?
Medical Treatments
Laser treatment is highly regarded, but it has its downsides. It can be invasive and expensive. Cellulaze is one such procedure. It uses a small laser tube that is inserted under the patient’s skin. This laser heats up and consequently melts the fat pockets and softens the septae, reducing the appearance of cellulite. This, however, does not rid you of cellulite completely. The costs run up into the thousands and it can be a time commitment for larger areas. It can be painful, and the recovery process requires patience and delicate care as the skin heals—it can take up to a week or longer. Cellulaze isn’t an option for those with time or money constraints.
Another option is acoustic wave therapy, or radial treatment. Using a device called zwave shockwaves stimulate collagen production underneath the skin, resulting in increased connective tissue. It reportedly reduces the appearance of cellulite within a few treatments. The downsides: it requires multiple treatments for the effects to appear and can only be found at salons. You have to book an appointment for sessions, and sessions can end up costing a great deal.
Cellfina is another medical treatment. This procedure involves your dermatologist inserting a needle underneath your skin—this needle breaks up the connective tissue that cause you to see cellulite. Of course, the skin is numbed beforehand, but there may be discomfort following the procedure. The treated skin reportedly remains smooth for years after, and is entirely safe. The downside: cost. On top of being invasive and involving downtime, this procedure can range from $3500 to $6500—and for some, this simply isn’t realistic.
Home Tightening Technology (HT)
Luckily, there are other alternatives that come with all the benefits—smoothing out your skin and reducing cellulite—allowing you to get the most effective treatment for the least amount of fuss and cost. FDA approved devices such as the Silk’n Silhouette tighten your skin, and come recommended by dermatologists.
Unlike invasive laser treatments, devices such as these can be used in the comfort of your own home and are gentle, painless procedures that you can do on your own. Sounds great, right? But how does it work? Cellulite reaches deeper than the surface of the skin, and Silk’n’s technology has been tuned for exactly that. It penetrates deep into the skin tissue with three energy sources: Bi-Polar RF, LED light therapy and IR heat energy.
Combined, they promote the production of collagen levels deep within the tissue and rejuvenate the skin’s surface by increasing cell renewal with LED light therapy. This flattens out cellulite and increases the blood circulation, firms up the skin, and improves the texture and structure of the skin.
Using the Silk’n Silhouette cellulite treatment device is easy, but like any at home treatment, it’s essential to keep up with regular sessions—spanning 10-20 minutes each, twice a week over 10 weeks—otherwise, you may not achieve the desired results.
Check out the Silk’n Silhouette cellulite treatment device video to learn more.
Conclusion
Whether you choose a medical option, or something less invasive, or even elect to mix from the above methods, make sure you do your research before jumping in.
Read reviews from real people who have used the treatment your considering - it will help you understand how it’s supposed to work, and how effective it was for other users. YouTube has become a great resource for this, so be sure to take advantage of it.
Whatever method you ultimately choose, we hope you make an informed, educated decision, and can say goodbye to your cellulite!
