Although you may think of cellulite and weight as being linked, this isn't necessarily true. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the causes of cellulite range from hormones to the thickness of your skin. It's difficult to eliminate cellulite completely, but losing weight is a popular way to reduce its appearance.
Identification
According to Lionel Bissoon, author of "The Cellulite Cure," cellulite is a collection of fat cells that pushes through the collagen beneath your skin's surface. As you age, your skin naturally loses moisture and collagen--these are responsible for keeping your surface skin plump and smooth. As they decrease in volume, it's easier for subcutaneous fat cells to bundle together and push their way through the existing collagen. Cellulite's dreaded "orange peel" texture is simply a visible bundle of fat cells.
Effect of Weight Loss on Cellulite
According to the Mayo Clinic, a combination of weight loss and muscle strengthening in cellulite-prone areas can make your cellulite less noticeable. Generalized weight loss reduces the quantity of fat on your frame, shrinking the fat bundles that push through collagen fibers. Converting fat into muscle shrinks them even further, because muscle fibers are smaller and denser than fat cells. However, the Mayo Clinic says that once you have it, cellulite "won't go away completely." The American Society of Plastic Surgeons says that there is "no surefire cure" for cellulite.
Lifestyle-based Cellulite Treatments
Bissoon believes cellulite stems from three treatable causes--too many fat deposits, lack of collagen and lack of circulation. Losing weight addresses only one of these categories. To address the others, Bissoon suggests emulating the women of non-industrialized nations, whom he claims rarely have cellulite. Physical exercise, a balanced diet and non-constrictive underwear go a long way toward eliminating cellulite production. Bissoon blames pantyhose and constrictive elasticized underwear for most cellulite development across the buttocks.
Cosmetic Cellulite Treatments
The Mayo Clinic says that radiofrequency and laser treatment can be far more effective than liposuction for treating cellulite--liposuction can actually make cellulite even more visible. Bissoon recommends a combination of laser treatments and massage therapy. The lasers heat the fat, while massage and rollers break it up and disperse it. He also says that subcision surgeons can cut skin away from its connective tissue to restore its smooth surface.
Considerations
According to Bissoon, approximately 90 percent of women and 10 percent of men have cellulite. Keep your expectations reasonable when deciding on a weight-loss plan or cosmetic-surgery treatment. Don't expect to "eliminate" cellulite. A healthier goal would be managing your cellulite with a healthy diet and regular exercise, supplemented by a cosmetic procedure if you and your doctor feel it's necessary.
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