Everything You Need To Know About Cellulite Removal
Ever been bothered by the uneven or dimpled skin appearance on your lower legs? You could be experiencing cellulite. Cellulite is a benign and common skin condition.
Cellulite manifests as uneven appearance on the skin that resembles orange peel. Common areas that cellulite tends to appear are the buttocks, thighs, hips, and abdomen. Cellulite is more common in women than in men.
Cellulite usually appears at the
- hips
- thighs,
- knees
- abdomen
Actually, cellulite can happen anywhere as long as there is enough fat present at the area.
Factors causing cellulite
Cellulite is more common in women than in men and here are several reasons to this:
- Hormonal
Men generally have more testosterone than women. As such, the male skin collagen structure tends to be thicker. When the collagen structure is tougher, it is much harder for the skin to dimple and cause the uneven appearance that is cellulite.
Large fluctuations in hormone levels can also cause cellulite. Specifically, an increase in estrogen levels as estrogen can lead to water retention, fibroblast and fat accumulation. One will have high levels of estrogen when she is pregnant or obese. As such, female bodies tend to store more fat than men.
- Genetics
The next factor that contributes to more women having more cellulite than men is due to the different number adrenergic receptors present in the cells. There are two types of adrenergic receptors – the alpha receptors and the beta receptors. Alpha receptors cause fat production, while beta receptors cause fat loss. Women have more alpha receptors than men. As such, this leads to higher chances of cellulite formation.
Therefore, in women who have higher chance of fat storage in the skin, the fat cells can then press against the relatively weaker skin collagen structure as compared to men collagen structure, leading to easier dimpling of the skin, resulting in cellulite.
- Aging
With aging, the skin loses its elasticity and also the collagen production of the body naturally slows down, leading to weaker skin collage structure and therefore higher chances of cellulite formation.
- Poor diet
Diet can play a role in cellulite formation. Processed and packaged foods contain estrogen-mimicking ingredients that can lead to fat production and storage. Diets high in fat also create more fat cells as too much sugar expands fat cells because it gets deposited there. Too much salt intake can make the appearance of cellulite worse because it causes you to retain fluids.
Why do some women get it while others do not?
This is because every woman is unique and each woman genetic profile is different. Some may have stronger collagen structure genetically. Some may be more resistant to fat deposition. Therefore, genetics do play a part.
Besides genetics and female gender, there are also other risk factors that can lead to higher chances of cellulite appearances. A sedentary lifestyle may also contribute to cellulite formation. It is thought that a sedentary lifestyle leads to poor blood circulation in the body, therefore leading to decreased collagen production. In a similar concept, tight clothing is thought to be lead to higher chances of cellulite formation as tight clothing tends to restrict blood circulation, and therefore decreased collagen production. Aging is also one risk factor.
A misconception to address now is that weight plays a part in cellulite formation. Logically speaking, the more overweight the person is, the more likely cellulites will form. However, both skinny and overweight people can get cellulite. This is because the collagen structure of the skin plays a role in cellulite formation. A skinny person can have weaker collagen structure in the skin, leading to cellulite appearance.
Treatment options for cellulite
There are various treatment options for cellulite. Several treatment sessions are usually necessary to see improvement. They usually involve either breaking down the fibrous septae that hold down the skin, reduce the fat beneath the skin or to strengthen the collagen network in the skin so that it is hard for dimples to appear. This article will explore some of the treatment options available.
Laser: There are different kinds of laser systems that are available in the market that can help with cellulite appearance. Cellulaze is one such system. It involves the use of laser energy that shoots into the subcutaneous fat compartment to heat the fat and help tighten collagen. In the process, the cellulite appearance can be improved.
Radiofrequency (RF) treatment: Used across various therapies such as for acne scar treatments in Singapore, radiofrequency treatment is a non-invasive treatment that involves the use of heat from the RF energy to break down the fat cells, as well as to stimulate collagen production.
Acoustic subcision: This involves the use of a machine prob that uses rapid acoustic pulses to disrupt the fibrous septae that holds the skin down. This is done without thermal damage. There are various machines that can achieve this.
Mechanical subcision: Mechanical subcision, otherwise also known as tissue stabilized-guided subcision, involves the use of an instrument with micro-blade that can direct the blade to release the fibrous septae.
Ultrasound therapy: This involves the uses of a handheld device that sends ultrasound to break down the fibrous septae that is pulling onto the skin.
Injectables: Fillers that made of Poly-L Lactic Acid (PLLA) or Calcium Hydroxlapatite (CaHa) can be used to treat cellulite in the lower legs and buttocks. PLLA is helpful for tone, restoring volume, lifting as well as volumizing the areas of dimpling. CaHa is helpful for a few focal areas that have mild dermal irregularities. There is also another injectable, called Collagenase Clostridium Histolyticum (CCH) that can help with moderate to severe cellulite on buttocks of adult women. It is an enzyme that can help to release the fibrous bands in the skin.
Cryolipolysis: Cryolipolysis, otherwise known as fat freezing, is a non-invasive that can potentially improve cellulite by freezing the fat cells beneath the skin. Cryolipolysis causes the fat cells to die and then be absorbed by the body. Several treatments are needed to dissolve an inch of fat. In the process, there can be an improvement in cellulite appearance.
Topicals: Besides improving the appearance of cellulite, topical products are equally effective for other therapies as well, such as acne treatments in Singapore. Topical products do not eliminate the cellulite. They merely improve the appearance by reducing the visibility of cellulite. One common ingredient in topical cellulite creams is caffeine. Caffeine is said to help increase blood circulation to the skin, thereby strengthen the quality of the skin to make it less likely to dimple. Another common ingredient is retinol. Retinol helps by thickening the outer layer of the skin, making the cellulite appear less obvious.
Surgery: Liposuction is one possible method to improve cellulite appearance. Liposuction involves the placement of a catheter beneath the skin to suck out the fat. In the process, better evening out of the skin can be achieved.