Your skin is protected by fibrous connective tissue that attaches your outer skin to muscle. Resting between this tissue is fat. If the fat pushes up through the fibrous connective tissue, this causes the appearance of cellulite. Because cellulite often is likened to the appearance of an orange peel, you may wish to alleviate this cosmetic concern using nonsurgical methods.
Causes
Understanding how to treat cellulite can depend upon what is causing it. One of the biggest contributors is your weight because this determines how many fat cells are present in the body, according to MayoClinic.com. However, genetics also causes cellulite, meaning even the thinnest person can experience it. If you do not regularly engage in physical activity, your risk of experiencing cellulite may increase. Stress and the use of hormonal contraceptives also increases your risk.
Lifestyle Changes
If you have cellulite, losing weight may help. Eating a low-fat diet high in fresh fruits and vegetables can help you to lose or maintain your weight. Regular exercise, such as walking, swimming cycling or other calorie-burning activities can help you lose weight. Exercising also helps you to reduce your overall stress level, which can improve the appearance of cellulite, according to MayoClinic.com.
Mechanical Stimulation
Your skin and fat contains lymph, which is fluid-filled tissue. Excess lymph fluid can increase the appearance of cellulite. Mechanical stimulation through massage or a process called endermologie may help to reduce cellulite's appearance. Treatments that involve wrapping the skin in mud, aloe, salts or seaweed to draw fluid from the skin followed by massage are used to treat cellulite, according to the Consumer Guide to Plastic Surgery. Mechanical rollers are utilized in the endermologie process, which involves the application of mechanical rollers and suction to improve the symmetry of skin. The United States Food and Drug Administration approved endermologie as a cellulite-reducing treatment, according to the American Skincare and Cellulite Expert Association.
Lasers/Radiofrequency
An emerging trend in cellulite treatment, lasers, radiotherapy systems or a combination of both treatments may reduce cellulite, according to MayoClinic.com. The FDA has approved an ultrasound and massage treatment called Med Sculpt to break up body fat and improve skin symmetry. Laser energy and massage also are combined as a cellulite treatment. These treatments typically are performed twice per week for a period of several months before results are experienced.
Misconception
If you attempt nonsurgical cellulite removal methods, yet do not experience desired results, be aware that surgery to remove fat -- known as liposuction -- typically does not improve cellulite's appearance. Liposuction removes fat, but not cellulite. As a result, the surgery can increase the appearance of cellulite, according to MayoClinic.com.
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