Cellulite | Medical-Weight-Loss-Guide.com

Because it plagues women who are both thin and overweight, cellulite has been a problem that has been very difficult to cure. An understanding of how it works and what may actually produce benefit will help guide you away from scams and point you toward potential solutions.

Virtually all women develop cellulite after puberty on their hips and legs. There are multiple factors that influence its development. Genetics may play a role as white women tend to have more than Asian woman. A sedentary life style not only causes obesity which enhances the dimpling, but prolonged periods of sitting or standing may decrease blood flow which can affect the tissue architecture. Even the hormone fluctuations of pregnancy can promote its appearance.

The main factor that causes cellulite and that has the most scientific evidence behind it is a disruption of connective tissue in the skin in these areas of the body. Instead of a smooth layer of fibers that holds fat in its place, there are areas of weakness that allow subcutaneous fat to slip outwards (i.e. herniate). This creates the bulging and orange-peal appearance. There may be similar structural problems that cause stretch marks.

Estrogen stimulates fat cells to divide and replicate. The fat cells that respond to estrogen tend to be larger than others, located in the hips and thighs, and more resistant to being degraded. In contrast, fat cells that accumulate in the abdomen (where the majority of fat is on men) are more sensitive to adrenaline which tells them to break down and dissolve their stored fats. The estrogen sensitive stubborn fat is the same that is responsible for cellulite.

Another reason that these areas tend to contain stubborn fat is that the thighs and buttocks are made up of more "white fat" than "brown fat." The brown fat/adipose tissue (BAT) contains more mitochondria and its energy stores are more easily used that white fat (WAT). BAT responds more to adrenaline than WAT does. Each BAT cell is also physically smaller than each WAT cell.

Unfortunately, most of the ways to get rid of cellulite have shown only mild improvement which are not maintained over time. Additionally, the scientific studies that support their use of small and not of the highest scientific quality. However, there are some treatments that may give positive benefits, and as the quest for cellulite removal continues, promising therapies are on the horizon.

Even though women of all sizes are affected, losing weight can decrease the severity of cellulite for most, but there are some women for whom losing weight makes its appearance worse. As one loses weight, individual fat cells become smaller and more sensitive to the positive effects of adrenaline, even in the stubborn fat regions. Weight loss must be a continue process for these changes to be maintained.

The theory is that inadequate blood circulation in fat causes dimpling. Endermologie treatment uses a machine to mobilize fat tissue. The treatments are done twice per week and last 10 to 45 minutes. Despite its high costs, there is little scientific evidence supporting its use and no randomized control trials. One study using only 10 minute treatments showed that it was ineffective, while another study showed that it could reduce thigh circumference.

There are conflicting reports of the benefits of liposuction. Currently, it is not a recommended cellulite treatment. Its lack of success is likely because liposuction removed deep fat and not the fat just below the skin that causes dimpling.

The subcision technique involves using a needle (like ones used for injections) to break apart the connective tissue in subcutaneous fat. The idea is that this would allow the fat tissue to evenly distribute. However, this could theoretically further weaken the layering of fat tissues leading to more herniation and even worse skin dimpling.

Mesotherapy is the process of injecting substances underneath the skin. There have been various compounds used in mesotherapy to treat cellulite, but the most commonly used substance is phosphotidylcholine (soybean lecithin extract). Another popularly used solution contains isoproterenol. Phosphotidylcholine is already being used to treat the abnormal fat accumulation that develops from some HIV medications. The injected substances activate receptors on fat cells that signal then to breakdown and either release or use up their energy stores. The cells in turn shrink. There is some scientific evidence that mesotherapy produces improvement, but dimpling returns after injections a stopped for a period of time.

There are several radiofrequency (RF) devices, but only VelaSmooth is FDA approved for cellulite treatment, and there is scientific evidence that it works. VelaSmooth combines RF with infrared light and massage. The Alma Accent RF system and ThermaCool may also work. The exact mechanism of how these work is not yet known. They may have effects on connective tissue, inflammation, or circulation.

Although it does not have FDA approval, the UltraShape device fat tissue thickness beneath the skin. It uses ultrasound waves to disrupt connective tissue. It may do this by the physical forces of the sound waves or the heat generated by vibrations. These effects are on the microscopic level.

In combination with modified liposuction techniques, lasers can more specifically target fat tissue and can tighten skin. It also makes traditional liposuction less invasive. It is probably best used for small surfaces rather than large areas.

Various chemicals that activate the same receptors as adrenaline have individually been tried as a cellulite cream. Studies have not shown them to be effective. This likely has to do with the fact that fat in the thighs and buttocks is more resistant to them. However, a different chemical, retinol has been shown to improve skin dimpling. The cream Revitol has retinol A in it, as well as caffeine.

Herbal products like Cellasene have also been tried in creams. Studies on Cellasene have that this it does not produce any benefit. It is possible that any herbal product can have plants that may cause allergic reactions.

A cellular receptor called peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) play an important role in metabolism and several diseases such as diabetes. Activation of PPARs on fat cells by peterselinic acid or conjugated lineoleic acid produces several effects, including skin tightening and the prevention of fat cells accumulating more fats.

It is important you discuss any weight loss or exercise plan with your doctor. Only you and your physician can decide what is best for you. Some people have certain conditions that prevent them from doing all exercises, and goal body weights may be different for different people. You need to discuss all these things with your physician before starting any weight loss or exercise program.