Gloss How-To: Get Rid of Cellulite
Posted on March 16, 2011 by GLOSS STAFF
Spring is finally here and with bathing suit season coming up, many of us are cutting back on the carbs and prepping to look our best. One of the big concerns? Cellulite. Many women suffer from the dimply skin — including celebrities who have openly discussed their battles with it including Kim Kardashian, Holly Madison, Tyra Banks and Jennifer Love Hewitt.
What is cellulite?
“The term cellulite refers to dimpling of the skin that results when the fibrous bands attaching the skin to the fascia are pulled tighter – it can happen on its own through weight gain, or it can be simulated when force is exerted on the layer of skin and fat, as when a woman crosses her legs,” explains New York City board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Barry M. Weintraub, spokesman for the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. “What this means is that it isn’t a condition in the traditional sense and since the cause lays beneath the skin, no satisfactory results will be seen with popular treatments like lotions, massages, compression garments, or even lasers.”
So, what exactly can be done to erase the cottage cheese-like appearance of cellulite? Dr. Weintraub shares his tips for reducing the appearance of cellulite.
- Fight fire with fire. Autologous fat injections are the best way to minimize the appearance of cellulite in qualified patients. Also known as fat grafting or fat transfers, fat harvested from the patient’s body is used to fill in the “divots” that together make up the appearance of cellulite. According to Dr. Weintraub, using fat grafts to treat a particularly irksome area of cellulite is a great option. “If done correctly, treated areas will retain their smooth texture permanently,” he says. “Just be sure to work with a qualified plastic surgeon who has done fat grafts before and will share before and after photos for the patient to evaluate the quality of their results.
- Dermal fillers can do for cellulite what they do for laugh lines and wrinkles. Another good option is to use popular dermal fillers to fill in “dimples” the same way fat grafting can. However, the results last only as long as the fillers, and treatment must often be repeated every two to six months.
- A healthy diet and good old-fashioned exercise will prevent and reduce the appearance of cellulite. Dr. Weintraub reminds patients that well cared for bodies are the most beautiful. He explains that eating a healthy diet of between 1,500 to 2,000 calories a day, and regular cardio workouts are key to preventing and reducing the appearance of cellulite. “It’s not always easy, but eating sensibly and exercising are really the best non-surgical methods for fending off cellulite. Toned leg muscles especially keep the skin looking great and cardiovascular exercise pushes blood to your skin, laying down elastin and collagen so skin hugs you closer,” says Dr. Weintraub. He added that the most dreaded signs of aging – wrinkles and sun damage – do a number to the skin all over a person’s body, not just on their face. “Women should be diligent about moisturizing and applying sun screen to the skin on their legs and torso because premature signs of aging only worsen the appearance of cellulite.”
Cellulite is a dreaded fact of life for up to 90 percent of women and is just as likely to rear its ugly head in women who are long and lean as it is in those who are pleasantly plump. “One of the greatest misconceptions is that skinny women don’t have cellulite, which can lead to crash dieting,” warns Dr. Weintraub. “That’s just not the case. Just as every body-type can present cellulite, everybody can reduce the appearance or erase it by taking proper, safe steps to do so. With spring and summer just around the corner, there’s no better time to get started with an anti-cellulite regime than right now.”
