Cellulite is a form of fat that appears in pockets beneath the skin of your thighs, as well as your hips or buttocks. It forms as a result of changes in an associated layer of connective tissue called collagen. In some cases, you may be able to partially or temporarily reduce the appearance of cellulite in your thighs or elsewhere in your body.
Understanding Cellulite
Collagen is a fibrous tissue that connects your skin to underlying muscle, according to the Mayo Clinic. A layer of fat sits between your muscle and skin, in close association with collagen. Alterations in the structure of collagen fiber can allow fat cells to bulge through and press against your skin, creating the uneven surface that is the hallmark of cellulite. Since everyone has the fat layer that causes cellulite, the condition can appear in any individual, regardless of body weight. Depending on your personal circumstances, the presence of cellulite may cause minor or significant changes in your skin's appearance.
Body Fat Reduction
The most effective method of reducing cellulite in your thighs, or elsewhere in your body, is decreasing your levels of excess body fat, according to the Nemours Foundation. You can work toward this goal by establishing an exercise program that incorporates both strength training techniques, such as weightlifting, and aerobic exercises, such as running or cycling. By strengthening your thighs, you can significantly reduce the appearance of cellulite, the Mayo Clinic explains, and you can increase the effects of exercise-related weight loss by eating a healthy diet. Before beginning a weight loss program, consult your doctor for advice.
Radiofrequency and Laser Treatments
You can also temporarily reduce the appearance of cellulite on your thighs or elsewhere with medical therapies that use radiofrequency energy or lasers, the Mayo Clinic reports. Radiofrequency therapy achieves its results in combination with negative tissue massage and infrared light. Laser therapy combines diode laser energy with tissue massage. Whichever approach you choose, you will likely see some reduction in your cellulite levels after undergoing a series of biweekly treatment sessions. Be aware that reductions gained through these methods will typically last for a maximum of six months.
Liposuction Warning
Liposuction, a procedure that involves removing fat cells from your body through suction, is sometimes promoted as a technique for cellulite reduction. However, the Nemours Foundation reports that liposuction procedures remove fat from deeper layers and do not address the superficial layer of fat associated with cellulite. In fact, undergoing liposuction may actually worsen the appearance of your cellulite, the Mayo Clinic notes.
Cellulite Prevention
In some cases, you may be able to prevent cellulite from forming in the first place, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine's Medline Plus. In addition to exercising regularly and eating plenty of fruits, vegetables and fiber, methods of preventing cellulite include maintaining an adequate fluid intake and not smoking. You can also help prevent cellulite by keeping your body weight at a healthy, nonfluctuating level.
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