Is it possible to get rid of cellulite?
People of all body shapes have cellulite. It’s natural, but it looks puckered or dimpled because of the way that fat pushes against your connective tissue. You can’t completely get rid of it, but there are ways to improve its appearance.
What gets rid of cellulite?
A combination of exercise, diet and treatments can reduce the appearance of cellulite. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also approved several treatments for cellulite, including Cellfina®, Cellulaze® and Qwo®. These can improve the appearance of dimples on your skin.
Cosmetic surgeons also use a variety of treatments to reduce the appearance of cellulite temporarily. These treatments include:
- Deep massaging to puff up the skin.
- Acoustic wave therapy to break up cellulite with sound waves.
- Laser treatment to help thicken the skin.
- Liposuction to remove fat. However, it’s deep fat, not necessarily cellulite.
- Mesotherapy, in which a needle injects drugs into the cellulite.
- Subcision, in which a needle inserted under the skin breaks up tough bands causing cellulite.
- Creams and lotions containing caffeine or 0.3% retinol.
- Spa treatments, which can temporarily make cellulite less noticeable.
- Vacuum-assisted precise tissue release to cut tissue and fill out dimpled skin.
- Radiofrequency, ultrasound, infrared light or radial pulses to heat skin.
Can exercise get rid of cellulite?
Exercise can help improve the appearance of cellulite. Regular exercise increases your muscle mass, which flattens cellulite. It also increases blood flow to certain areas of your body, which speeds up fat loss. The following activities can help improve the appearance of your cellulite:
- Running.
- Cycling.
- Resistance training.
What can’t I eat if I have cellulite?
You can eat what you like if you have cellulite, but bad eating habits increase your risk of developing cellulite. A high-calorie diet that features a lot of carbohydrates, fats, preservatives and salt may contribute to the development of more cellulite.
Can any traditional medicines or treatments reduce the appearance of cellulite?
Ginkgo biloba is an herbal product frequently used in traditional Chinese medicine. Studies show that ginkgo biloba may cause an increase in blood flow to many parts of the body. An increase in blood flow in your stomach, legs and butt may reduce the appearance of cellulite.
Grape-seed extract comes from grinding up grape seeds. Traditional European medicine has used grape-seed extract for a long time. Like ginkgo biloba, grape-seed extract may increase blood flow to many parts of the body, which can reduce the appearance of cellulite.
Cupping is a form of traditional Chinese and Middle Eastern medicine. A healthcare provider places cups on parts of your body, and suction force pulls your skin upward. Small studies show that cupping may decrease the amount of cellulite in your body. However, there’s not yet enough research to draw definite conclusions.
Dry brushing involves using a dry, stiff-bristled brush to massage your skin. When you dry brush your skin, your skin temporarily puffs up due to increased blood circulation. There are claims that dry brushing can reduce cellulite. However, there isn’t any proof that dry brushing reduces the appearance of cellulite. Cellulite appears to go away, but it’s likely a temporary reduction because your skin has puffed up.
Many people use handheld massage devices, foam rollers or cellulite rollers to try to break up cellulite. There isn’t any evidence that suggests these tools improve the long-term appearance of cellulite.
How soon after treatment will I start to see results?
It’s important to remember that your body is unique. Your results will depend on what treatments you and your healthcare provider decide are best. For example:
- Acoustic wave therapy may require six weeks of treatment, and the results may last for two to six months.
- Subcision treatment may yield results as soon as one month after the first treatment.
- Retinol creams require at least six months of use before you see noticeable results.
- Exercise may take at least two to three months.
