Guide to Cellulite and Treatment Options

Cellulite is an unfortunate condition of the skin that can seriously impact the appearance of the areas that it affects. Following this, the condition has the potential to impact one’s self-esteem and quality of life. Below is our guide to cellulite and treatment options.

Fortunately, there are several options available for those who are interested in having their own cellulite pockets treated. Knowing the ins and outs of the different types of treatments can help inform you which one would be the best for your personal situation.

If you have a problem with cellulite and are interested in having it resolved by a plastic surgeon, take a look at this guide to the treatment options available for you.

What Is Cellulite?

Cellulite is a skin condition that manifests itself most commonly as a pattern of dimpling and depressions where it is prevalent. This condition is quite common and only becomes more so as one ages, appearing in an estimated 80%-90% of female patients.

The presence of cellulite is mostly found to be a psychologically distressing condition rather than a medical one. That being said, most patients would rather live without it.

The exact cause of cellulite isn’t entirely certain and may be attributed to several different factors, with many of the causes varying from patient to patient. The same level of variability is present in the overall efficacy of treatments.

That being said, there have been some major advancements in the efficacy of the available treatments for cellulite. Here are some of the more notable ones.

Possible Causes of Cellulite

There is not a clear single cause for the development of cellulite. Cellulite can be found in many different areas of the body, but is most commonly found in the gluteal region of the body. There is a significant gender disparity in terms of the prevalence of cellulite, with the condition appearing not quite as often in men as it does in women.

This is somewhat strange, as even obese men have a much smaller chance of developing profuse amounts of cellulite than a woman of average weight. This is hypothesized to have something to do with the amount of septal connections in the subcutaneous gluteal architecture, or the layer of fat just below the surface of the skin.

Aveli Treatment

Aveli is considered by far the most effective current treatment on the market for reducing the appearance of cellulite in women. Aveli delivers long lasting results with very little margin for error and accidental alterations to one’s appearance.

During your Aveli treatment, your doctor will apply a local anesthetic to your target area to eliminate the possibility of experiencing any pain. Once the treatment is applied, it is effective and non-invasive enough for the patient to return home on the same day.

Topical Agents

Topical Agents are considered one of the first lines of defense for treating cellulite. There are many different gels, creams, and other topical agents available either for over-the-counter use or for medical prescription.

These agents can either be applied as a cream or taken as an oral supplement. The chemicals used in these oral supplements can include common substances like caffeine and retinol. Herbal supplements such as Ginkgo biloba are also commonly used in these oral supplements. Topical agents have performed well in studies when compared with placebos.

Massage

Massage is one of the most practice and familiar methods for reducing the presence of cellulite in patients. Many different methods of massage can be useful in this regard, ranging from manually applied massage from a therapist to mechanical massage machines.

Manual massage isn’t typically applied in an allopathic clinical setting, and can be sought after through a holistic practioner with an independent practice. There are some mechanized massage therapies available in the doctors office. In clinical trials, massage has sometimes performed better than other methods for certain expressions of cellulite.

Applying just 30-45 minutes of massage per week has the potential to significantly improve the appearance of a patient’s cellulite.

Oral Supplements

As mentioned above, there are many different oral supplements that can be utilized to improve the appearance of one’s skin and diminish the presence of cellulite. Some of the most common ones are listed below:

Centella asiatica
Melitotus officinalis
Fish oil
Gingko biloba
Borage oil

These various supplements have the potential to induce a number of beneficial effects on a patient, including enhancing cellular metabolism, reducing edema, and improving microcirculation. Oral supplement over the course of a 6-month period has the potential to drastically improve the appearance of one’s cellulite-afflicted areas.

Subcision

Subcision is a surgical technique that severs the fibrous septal bands that tether the dermis to the subcutaneous tissue. This approach is only recommended for certain types of cellulite. Some patients may not qualify for subcision, and the practice comes with some cautionary elements due to its invasive nature. Some of the currently-utilized subcision methods include:

Vacuum-assisted: Vacuum-assisted subcision uses a vacuum-assisted tissue capture platform to provide precise control of the subcision process.
Chemical: Chemical-assisted subcision uses a mild amount of abrasive chemicals to execute the subcision process.
Laser-assisted: Laser-assisted subcision utilizes subdermal delivery of laser energy to reduce the presence of cellulite.
Acoustic: This type of subcision utilizes rapid acoustic pulses to achieve the desired aesthetic outcomes.

Laser Therapy

Laser therapy works by emitting highly concentrated thermal energy. A physician applies this type of therapy to the target areas of the body affected by cellulite. The heat has been proven to generate microcirculation in the skin, which has the potential to improve cellulite appearance.

Laser light therapy has been shown to reduce the presence of cellulite in at least 6 weeks following their initial treatment. However, this type of treatment is relatively new, and further study may be needed to approve more patients for treatment.

Acoustic Wave Therapy

Acoustic wave therapy is a type of therapy that is used quite frequently in musculoskeletal injuries. It has the potential to treat cutaneous microcirculation, lymphatic drainage, and neocollagenesis. These types of effects are considered beneficial in the mission to make cellulite more apparent on the body.

Acoustic wave therapy uses radial shock waves and focused shock waves to impact the skin, and have been shown to improve the appearance of cellulite in many different patients. These waves are strong enough to impact the appearance of the skin, without actually damaging it in any significant ways.

Which Treatment Is Right for Me?

In order to determine what type of therapy would be most appropriate for your personal situation regarding cellulite. There are several different factors that are taken into account by your physician when making this call, and many different physiological factors from the patient’s own body influencing the process at large. Overall, the treatment is considered to be highly individualized.

Your primary symptoms, in terms of how they interact with your expression of cellulite, will guide your physician to make a call regarding your most effective treatment method. Some of the factors at play as they are paired with the various treatment methods run as follows:

Fibrous Septae: Subcision
Excess Fat: Liposuction, lipolysis
Volume Loss: Injectable fillers, fat transfer
Skin Laxity: Radiotherapy, injectable fillers, laser therapy

In general, subcision is reserved only for the most extreme cases of cellulite, as it is the only manner of invasive therapy on this list. In general, most patients will find that they benefit the most from a combination of therapies.

On top of the therapies that you and your physician select for your personal treatment plan, you might be advised to undergo some lifestyle changes to maximize the benefits from your official treatment. Some of the following are considered to be common suggestions.

Undergo a low-fat and low-sodium diet
Receive regular exercise
Refrain from imbibing excessive alcohol
Refrain from smoking tobacco

In addition, one should be careful about gaining weight too quickly. In addition, losing weight too quickly through excessive exercise might also accidentally compromise your results. Overall, you should count on following your doctor’s advice in order to maximize your results and avoid compromising your results.

Your Pre-Treatment Consultation

Before you undergo any kind of official treatment, you’ll undergo a pre-surgical consultation with your physician. During this consultation, you can accurately describe your exact relationship with cellulite and the goals you have in mind aesthetically for your results.

In addition, you’ll be able to go over any medical issues you suffer from that might impact your treatment. Aside from subcision, which is an invasive treatment, most patients shouldn’t have any issue being approved for whatever treatment is available.

You’ll also go over any recovery period that you might anticipate through your procedure, as well as any tips that your physician has in mind for helping you get through this period and preserve your results in the long run. Overall, you can look forward to a healthier relationship with your appearance.

The Best Plastic Surgeon in Beverly Hills

Gabbay Plastic Surgery offers the residents of Beverly Hills and beyond the finest quality plastic surgery procedures possible. If you’re having issues with cellulite that you need to be resolved, then take a look at our suite of services and contact Dr. Gabbay today in order to schedule your Aveli cellulite removal treatment.