Today, many people undergo cellulite treatments as part of a holistic approach to improving their looks and their health. As more and more people exercise, the need for cellulite treatments is more likely to increase. Of course it is not as if cellulite did not exist before these activities, it is simply that more people care that they may have cellulite somewhere on their body and they want to get rid of it. In fact, one might include cellulite treatments in a list of cosmetic treatments, as opposed to medical procedures. Getting rid of cellulite with one of the typical cellulite treatments may not help you live any better; however, it simply might make you look better, and of course there is some systemic value to that. Of course, cellulite treatments that do more than just treat the skin may actually have some real value and provide some systemic value to the human body.
Self-Assessing Your Need for Therapy
Cellulite is very easy to find. It looks like little clumps of fat and skin, and that is exactly what it is. It is typically found on the rump, or on the back of your legs. Pretty unsightly for those folks who display those parts regularly, but not necessarily a problem for the majority of the population. However, there are enough people who regard the unsightly lumps of fat and skin as a problem, and hence the need for cellulite treatments. Indeed, as part of your self-assessment, your job may be an important factor. Certainly if you are a bathing suit model and you have a significant amount of cellulite, it might be a good idea to look at a variety of cellulite treatments that might reduce the severity and quantity of your cellulite. For the majority of the rest of the population, cellulite may be more a vanity issue than anything else. However, that should not be overlooked as a reason for seeking treatment as there may actually be a secondary benefit resulting from the treatment selected.
Vanity
It may be said that vanity is a vice, and it may be so, but in this case if it drives you to choose a treatment that has some systemic value, then it might actually be a good thing. For instance, let us say that you select cellulite treatments that work by increasing your blood supply and general cardiovascular condition. What can be wrong with that? Indeed it is true that most cellulite treatments are topical and not systemic in nature, however, there are some treatments that involve toning the skin and body as one. Should your vanity drive you to selecting such a cellulite treatment, then the results may not be what you expect, but you might end up living long enough not to care. Such is life.
Common Cellulite Treatments
Cellulite is a problem faced by many women the world over. There are many different treatments and solutions that are advertised and easily available on the market.
Treatments can be classified into two main categories, which are conservative and radical solutions.
Conservative solutions include exercise, a diet plan, dietary supplements, creams, herbal body wraps, and massage therapy, while radical solutions include laser therapy, mesotherapy, liposuction, and collagenase injections.
Conservative solutions
Exercise is thought to reduce lumpy skin, because it improves skin elasticity, stimulates the metabolism (which helps to burn fat stores faster), and increases the circulation of blood under the skin. Exercise also helps to tone, shape and smooth problem areas.
A balanced diet plan is also thought to help improve cellulite. Lack of fiber, fatty, and salty foods are considered as contributing factors that worsen skin dimpling.
Dietary supplements can also be incorporated into meal plans, which also have the effect of improving circulation, stimulating the metabolism, and slowing down the visible signs of skin aging.
Creams are also a safe and popular choice, because they are easy to use and affordable, and accessible to the average consumer. Creams often include chemicals called methylxanthines, which include aminophylline, theophylline and caffeine. These chemicals are known to help burn fat, but only in small amounts. This means that using creams will only reduce the appearance of rippled skin. It will not prevent nor completely remove it. It also means that using creams as a mode of treatment will take more time than other modes. Some experts recommend the use of creams for at least 6 weeks to see visible and substantial improvements.
Herbal body wraps are offered by many salons. These wraps are aimed at improving the overall health of the skin through detoxification.
Massage therapy is also used to combat uneven skin. Machines with rolling cylinders are used to massage, pull and squeeze the affected areas. 10 to 12 sessions are recommended, which last for about 30 to 45 minutes each. This method redistributes the fat instead of eliminating it making constant maintenance necessary to keep the problem at bay.
Radical and, or invasive solutions
Laser therapy combines massage therapy with light therapy to tighten and tone the skin, which decreases the appearance of uneven skin. Laser therapy is expensive but effective, albeit only temporarily. Similar to massage therapy, it also needs multiple sessions and maintenance for more permanent changes.
Mesotherapy is an invasive and controversial solution. It involves injecting chemicals and other cosmetic products directly into the problem areas. The controversy from the use of this method comes from the fact that the substances injected are not approved by the FDA as safe to use for cellulite treatment. The substances are often FDA-approved medications for other cosmetic uses, which usually consist of various herbs and vitamins.
Liposuction is the most expensive and dangerous solution of them all. It is also no longer recommended by many experts. Liposuction undoubtedly removes the fat and the lumpy appearance it causes. However, post-operation the problem often comes back even worse.
Lastly are collagenase enzyme injections. This method has been proven effective but is still considered very much experimental. Information about the long term effects and other possible side effects of the injections are still not readily available.
