Cellulite is characterized by the National Institutes of Health as pockets of fat just below the surface of the skin. Connective fibers attaching skin to the underlying muscles of your buttocks pull tight as fat accumulates, causing these pockets of fat to bulge and create a dimpling appearance to the skin. Once you develop cellulite, it's extremely difficult to get rid of it. But there are things you can do to minimize its appearance.
Step 1
Limit your caloric intake. By eating fewer calories, you can typically encourage weight loss. Losing excess pounds can often reduce the rippled skin associated with cellulite, advises the Mayo Clinic.
Step 2
Increase aerobic exercise. Aerobic exercise is another way to lose excess pounds and subsequently reduce cellulite. This includes biking, swimming, running, tennis, hiking, cross-country skiing and any other physical activity that gets your heart pumping and accelerates your breath.
Step 3
Target the muscles of your buttocks with strength training. When coupled with aerobic exercise, strength training is one of the best ways to fight cellulite, according to the Nemours Foundation. Lifting weights, climbing stairs, biking and swimming are all athletic pursuits that can strengthen and tone the muscles of your buttocks. With the increased muscle mass and better tone to the muscles, you can minimize the signs of cellulite on your butt.
Step 4
Undergo deep tissue massage, suggests the Mayo Clinic. Deep tissue massage is often coupled with laser, light or radiofrequency therapy to reduce the appearance of cellulite. The action of the massage increases blood flow, while helping to eliminate toxins and excess fluid that may be exacerbating cellulite. Results are temporary, so you'll need a session every six months or so.
Step 5
Talk to your doctor about mesotherapy. In this cosmetic procedure, injections are administered directly into the buttocks to break up the deposits and improve the look and feel of your skin. However, the FDA has yet to approve this form of treatment for cellulite.
Tips and Warnings
- Yo-yo dieting has been known to contribute to cellulite, advises the National Institutes of Health. It's best to maintain a healthy weight to avoid its development.
- According to the Mayo Clinic, liposuction cannot improve the appearance of cellulite. It may actually make the dimpling worse. The solutions used to break down the fatty deposits in mesotherapy are not currently standardized, so solutions tend to vary from one practitioner to another. They may cause infection, rashes and even more dimpling.
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