Did you know that the dreaded cellulite effects up to 80% of women, whilst only being a problem for approximately 10% of men? It also targets all body types, so it doesn't matter if you are slim and toned, or curvy and soft, cellulite can be present no matter what shape and size you are because it is not related to diet and exercise. Cellulite is governed by the body's endocrine system. . A number of factors contribute to its development including loss of skin tone, lack of exercise, weight gain, stress, and poor nutrition. It can make many women feel self-conscious, particularly in the summer months, and it’s also an issue that doesn’t always go away with a strict diet and exercise.
What is cellulite?
Cellulite is fat that is trapped between the connective tissues of the skin, causing these fats to dimple and ripple as these connective tissues 'pull down' on the fat cells. The reason why women have more cellulite than men correlates to the amount of adipose tissue women have, and the shape of these adipose tissues. Women have up to 80% adipose tissue, men have up to 10% (see our Blog Fat Reduction verses Weight Loss'). Female adipose tissue is more columnar, whereas male adipose tissue is more cross-hatched in shape and structure. This means that when men put on weight and the fat cells enlarge, the extra weight is evenly and firmly distributed across the body. When a woman puts on weight, the fat cells are enlarged and, because of their columnar structure, result in the appearance of cellulite.
How can we treat cellulite?
Cellulite is very hard to get rid of, although losing wieght and toning up can certainly help with the apperance of cellulite. Other strategies to use include non-surgical aesthetic interventions, using cutting edge technologies such as Radio Frequency, Acoustic Wave Therapy and LED, where the industry is seeing amazing results in reducing the appearance of cellulite.
Radio Frequency - is used to heat the fat cells to over 40 degrees celcius, resulting in a disruption of the fat cell membrane. This causes the contents of the fat cells to leak out (the triglycerides) and get used up for energy or excreted naturally from the body. This process of lipolysis will help reduce cellulite, water retention and oedema, resulting in firmer, smoother looking skin. And with Radio Frequecny being responsible for helping stimulate new collagen and elastin, the results are cumulative and long lasting.
Acoustic Wave Therapy - works by stimulating the fat breakdown, collagen synthesis, and lymphatic drainage. This approach works by placing a probe up against the areas of cellulite and as it passes over the area it emits radial waves through the skin. For cellulite, sound waves stimulate the microcirculation within the fat layer,increasing the metabolic function of the area and increasing cellular membrane permeability. Free fatty acids and glycerol are released from the fat cells and sit in the intercellular
space. Lymphatic movement and increased blood supply remove these waste products from the body.
For skin tightening, sound waves stimulate blood and lymphatic circulation within the area. They also
stimulate the connective tissue and septa mobility, giving the skin a firmer tone and reducing the dimples within the skin.
LED -red LED light was first used by NASA to grow plants in space and was later used to help maintain astronauts health. It went on to be used by the US Military to aid in wound healing before being adopted as an effective skin therapy by the aesthetics industry. Red light helps the body produce fresh collagen and elastin, the building blocks of firmer, tighter skin. The appearance of cellulite is worse in skin that has lost its tone and elasticity. Therefore combining LED red light therapy with other modalities to help break down cellulite will help improve the overall apperance of the area being treated, leading to improved confidence and raised self-esteem for those of us whose cellulite is a concern.
Treating Cellulite at DermalEssence Aesthetics Clinic
At our multi award winning clinic, we tackle the appearance of cellulite head-on. Using one of the industry's leading body sculpting machines, the 3D-lipo Ultimate Pro, we combine the modalities of radiofrequency, acoustic wave therapy and red LED to break down the apperance of cellulite and tighten the surrounding skin. We help our clients explore their diet and lifestyle choices and identify where changes could be made to help improve the overall body shape and appearance. Goal setting froms a large part of how we support and encourage our clients, and regular weight and inch tracking helps keep them focused on their end goal.