Cellulite What Really Works

Just when you thought it was safe to dive back into swimsuit season?

The rising temperatures mean it is time to break out the suntan lotion and head for the beach. Unfortunately, many women will keep themselves covered up, because they are afraid to shed light on their thighs, hips and buttocks. In case you didn't know, these are the areas most commonly impacted by cellulite.

If you have problems with cellulite, you are not alone. Supermodels like Tyra Banks have been known to complain about it. There was even an episode of Ally McBeal in which Callista Flockhart's amazingly thin main character tells viewers about her struggles with the cottage-cheese-like substance.

What is cellulite?

Cellulite actually refers to fat that bulges from under your skin. However, you don't have to be overweight to experience this universally disdained kind of fat. You may have lived a good portion of your life with smooth thighs when, almost out of nowhere, the telltale signs of cellulite appear. What's the deal?

What happens is that the fibers which connect your skin to the layers of fat underneath tend to weaken over time. When they do, fat cells rise to the surface. Cellulite forms when deposits of fat bulge through the strands of connective tissue, separating them into compartments and making them visible through the skin. This creates a sort of "lumpy" look, which many people have unkindly compared to cottage cheese or the outside of an orange peel.

The condition is caused by a complex array of factors that include hormones and heredity. Cellulite occurs in women of all shapes and sizes. It does, however, discriminate by gender. Men rarely have problems with cellulite, because they have thicker skin, which makes the fat less apparent.

According to the American Cellulite Task Force, nearly 90 percent of women past age 20 will develop cellulite -- including dancers, athletes and models. Unfortunately, the fact that cellulite is such a common problem doesn't make it any more attractive or easier to handle.

Here is a general review of the most commonly used methods to fight cellulite:

Over The Counter Products

You'll find many over-the-counter products to fight cellulite on drugstore shelves and cosmetic counters. Many of these creams and herbal remedies can help dimply skin appear smoother. Though they may not always offer a permanent solution, researchers admit that the effectiveness of cosmetic products for fighting cellulite has greatly improved in recent years.

One of the most notable appears to be the Sublime Slim line from L'Oreal, which have become the best-selling anti-cellulite products in Europe. Sublime Slim Day Anti-Cellulite Skin Sculpting Body Firming Gel and Sublime Slim Night Anti-Cellulite Smoothing Body Toning Gel improve the skin's condition and tone by stimulating circulation.

Laser, Heat And Massage Treatments

Based on the theory that massage is an effective treatment for eliminating cellulite, Europeans have been using a procedure called endermology for years. Endermology is a massage technique performed with a machine that uses vacuum-assisted rollers. The vacuum action pulls skin into the rollers. The action is said to improve circulation and to help disperse fat. Endermology has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a treatment that "temporarily decreases the appearance of cellulite" and is available at many plastic surgeons' offices. The average cost of endermology treatments is about $100 each, and patients usually receive two treatments a week for a 10-week period.

A newer device, called VelaSmooth, combines heat and massage in order to smooth the skin. In addition to the rollers, this device uses infrared light and radio frequency in order to send heat directly into the body to break down fat. Apparently, Velasmooth treatments cost about $200 each, and patients typically receive two 45-minute treatments every week.

Though the VelaSmooth device is currently being used throughout Europe and Canada, it is still undergoing clinical trials in the United States. According to recent reports in the Los Angeles Times, it is expected to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration later this year.

A laser device called Triactive was approved for use in the United States last year. It combines massage with a low-energy laser in order to stimulate and tighten your skin. The Triactive treatments can range from $80 to $150 each, and physicians recommend that patients receive a weekly or bi-weekly series of 10-12 treatments. After that, most people continue to appear for one treatment every month.

Mesotherapy

Another popular treatment for cellulite that has been the focus of much media attention is mesotherapy. Originally developed in France, this treatment involves injecting small amounts of drugs or natural ingredients into the fat and connective tissue under the skin.

Mesotherapy treatments cost about $500 each, and patients are usually required to undergo a series of 10-15 treatments with annual follow-up appointments.

The Bottom Line

The "bottom" line: Experts agree: the safest, most effective way to make cellulite disappear is by trading the fat that causes it for muscle. And the only way to accomplish that is with those old standbys, diet and exercise -- in particular, combining aerobic activity, which burns fat, with strength training, which builds muscle. Try walking, running or cycling for at least 30 minutes, three times a week, and alternating with strength-training exercises.

Drinking at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water each day may also help fade the fat by flushing toxins out of the body and helping to fuel fat metabolism.

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