skin tightening

Pilates, weight training, running and inflammation

Pilates, weight training, running and inflammation

A client asked me a few days ago if this “advice”, given to her by a complementary health practitioner, is true: “You should not do any other exercise than Pilates, otherwise you will inflame your body”. This, of course, is an absolutely preposterous statement which goes against all common sense. You can only imagine the millions of inflamed athletes - or just billions of inflamed active common people - since the dawn of humanity all the way until the 1920s, when Joseph Pilates developed a method of exercise that would not inflame the human body…

Amazing "body transformations" with 1-4 sessions? Good luck with those, you will need it...

Amazing "body transformations" with 1-4 sessions? Good luck with those, you will need it...

Instant miracles and “amazing cellulite transformations” do not exist, no matter how expensive the treatment - don’t be naive

There is a lot of misinformation on cellulite, due to a mix of urban myth and marketing hype. And there are many things that you should not waste time doing when it comes to cellulite removal. In fact it is not a coincidence that we devote as many articles on what not works for cellulite on our “How to get rid of cellulite” guide, as we do on cellulite myths…

What is the best herbal tea for cellulite?

What is the best herbal tea for cellulite?

Most herbal teas, or tisanes, being botanical extracts of herbs, spices, flowers, fruits, or roots rich in phytochemicals (antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, anti-glycation, anti-fibrotic, anti-lipogenic, collagen-boosting, circulation-enhancing and other bioactive compounds), are great for cellulite prevention primarily but can also contribute to cellulite reduction too. The following two lists are roughly ordered by significance, based on the presence of phytochemicals with anti-cellulite properties…

Natural butt lift with deep tissue radiofrequency treatments and gluteus maximus exercises

Natural butt lift with deep tissue radiofrequency treatments and gluteus maximus exercises

A Brazilian bum: everyone would like to have one, yet few would be prepared to go for surgery to achieve it, hence the popularity of so many “non-surgical bum lift treatments”. Lack of exercise, excess calorie intake, sugar intake, sitting down for long periods of time and normal ageing, all result in skin looseness, the accumulation of excess fat, cellulite and water retention on the buttock area. The result is a saggy bottom with puffy, spongy skin…

Fibrosis reduction with radiofrequency or RF microneedling: does it work?

Fibrosis reduction with radiofrequency or RF microneedling: does it work?

Over the last 24+ years I have seen countless clients with post cosmetic surgery fibrosis - and even after harsh non-surgical procedures and as such procedures become more and more popular, the number of people with fibrosis increases. Body cosmetic surgery (such as liposuction, cellulaze, vaser, smart lipo etc) as well as harsh non-surgical treatments (such as RF microneedling, extreme intensity HIFU, cryolipolysis, extreme intensity radiofrequency etc) can result in fibrotic lumps or entire fibrotic regions of hard skin around the stomach, thighs, buttocks etc. Fibrosis refers to previously inflamed hardened skin or other connective tissue (or even hard lumps) comprising of scar tissue-type, randomly aligned collagen fibres. This is in contrast to firm, healthy skin, which is comprised of functional, properly aligned collagen fibres. This is sometimes the result of a surgeon doing a bad job; sometimes the result of your body reacting really badly to even the best surgeon’s work; and sometimes the procedure itself being unsafe. After all that I have seen over the decades, I would never undergo…

How to tighten up your skin naturally

How to tighten up your skin naturally

Thousands of pages can be filled with information about the theory and practice of skin tightening but it all boils down to six crucial points: plenty of protein; impactful physical activity; polyphenols, carotenoids and vitamin C; deep-acting, high-power radio frequency; no crash dieting / yoyo dieting; no sugar, smoking or fried food. Now let’s examine these six points in more detail…

How long should a radiofrequency / cavitation session be?

How long should a radiofrequency / cavitation session be?

Deep-acting, high-power radiofrequency is the strongest SAFE treatment for cellulite reduction and skin tightening. However, even with the best treatment in the world, a protracted amount of time is needed to provide tissues with sufficient stimulation and effect change. So treatment duration for a high quality, strong RF treatment is 20-40’ per side, per area…

Radiofrequency treatment is like massage: each therapist does it differently

Radiofrequency treatment is like massage: each therapist does it differently

Deep-acting, high-power radiofrequency is the best and safest non-surgical skin tightening treatment and the joint best/safest cellulite reduction treatment (together with deep-acting, high-power ultrasound cavitation) and far more effective and safe than the undeservedly hyped-up HIFU or RF microneedling. Because radiofrequency treatment is provided with a machine, most people think that all treatments with a specific machine are provided identically and as a result they embark on “researching” what is the best RF machine on the web - as well as on instagram and tiktok 😂...

How often can you do radiofrequency skin tightening on stomach, thighs or face?

How often can you do radiofrequency skin tightening on stomach, thighs or face?

With any effective body treatment, it is good to leave one, two or more days between sessions in order to allow for the skin to recover. So with a deep-acting, high-power radiofrequency treatment, you must leave at least 2-3 days between sessions. With ineffective, low power RF treatments, you can leave less time between sessions (as little…

Western diet, civilisation diseases and cellulite

Western diet, civilisation diseases and cellulite

A 2019 paper published in the journal ‘Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity: Targets and Therapy’, examined the profound impact of Western diets and lifestyles on the global epidemic of obesity, and chronic non-infectious degenerative conditions, collectively termed "civilisation diseases" - to which we might incllude the aesthetic condition of cellulite, as the exact same causes of civilisation diseases also result in cellulite development. These conditions/diseases include type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), cardiovascular diseases (CVD), cancer, autoimmune disorders, Alzheimer’s disease, and others. The paper argues that these conditions (to which we include cellulite), are rare or absent…

Why does my cellulite look worse in the summer?

Why does my cellulite look worse in the summer?

The single more important reason for cellulite looking worse in the summer is water retention. Water retention, one of the seven aspects of cellulite, can become worse in the heat of the summer due to vasodilation. In turn, water retention makes the cellulite “bumps” to become enlarged and thighs and buttocks, in general, to become puffy. Water retention can also lead to increased low grade inflammation, another one of the seven aspects of cellulite (the other five being fat accumulation, skin laxity, fibrosis, oxidative damage and glycation)….

Targeting the SMAS with HIFU / RF microneedling / radiofrequency ruined my face: learn why

Targeting the SMAS with HIFU / RF microneedling / radiofrequency ruined my face: learn why

Everyone interested in facial anti-ageing these days is talking about the SMAS. Suddenly everyone is an (ignorant) “expert” in the SMAS, just like everyone interested in cellulite or massage suddenly became an (ignorant) “expert” in all things fascia a few years ago. But what is the SMAS, why is everyone talking about it and why is it not such a great idea to target it non-surgically?

Does cavitation tighten loose skin?

Does cavitation tighten loose skin?

High-power ultrasound cavitation is one of the two most effective SAFE methods for cellulite reduction, especially when provided by a well-trained, experienced and knowledgable therapist. Normally cavitation is not recommended for skin tightening, as it only exerts a weak skin tightening effect, when applied as usual…

How oxidative damage can cause cellulite

How oxidative damage can cause cellulite

Oxidative damage is an important aspect of cellulite, with the other six being fibrosis, skin laxity, glycation, poor microcirculation, inflammation and superficial fat accumulation. Oxidative damage or free radical damage refers to cell damage by ‘reactive oxygen species’ (ROS) / free radicals, such as OO- (superoxide radical), -OH (hydroxyl radical) and H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide)…

Can radiofrequency dissolve Botox or fillers?

Can radiofrequency dissolve Botox or fillers?

Radiofrequency increases the metabolism of tissues where it is applied. Increased metabolism will result to increased breakdown of products such as fillers and botox. Furthermore, certain types of radiofrequency, such as high frequency RF, should not be used on fillers, as temperature may increase disproportionately inside the filler, potentially causing damage…

RF / cavitation: gel, cream, serum, glycerol or oil? Which conductive medium is best?

RF / cavitation: gel, cream, serum, glycerol or oil? Which conductive medium is best?

“Radiofrequency” is an all encompassing term for treatment with different types of high frequency electrical currents. Different machines utilise different frequencies, from an extra low of 300kHz to an extra high of 5GHz. The types of physical phenomena at play on those different machines are quite different…

Hypermobility, EDS, skin looseness and cellulite

Hypermobility, EDS, skin looseness and cellulite

Hypermobility is a broad term to describe loose connective tissue which is characterised by weaker/less collagen. This results not only in loose joints but also in loose, thin skin. So hypermobile / very flexible people tend to suffer from skin laxity from young age but especially so from their 40s and 50s, when collagen production decreases. Females suffer more from hypermobility, due to to the action of estrogen on connective tissue. Hypermobility in females increases just before their period and also in the latter…

Can you overdo it with red therapy?

Can you overdo it with red therapy?

LED light therapy, also known as low level light therapy (LLLT), is rightly acknowledged as a very, very safe type of treatment, with minimal and rare adverse reactions. Indeed, treatment with LED light can only go wrong if provided in a very, very stupid way. This is usually the case when extremely high intensity, extremely long treatment times or a combination of both is utilised. Luckily, most home and even professional devices on the market are not strong enough for this to easily occur but it is still possible…

Decoding lipedema: from hidden causes to hopeful treatments

Decoding lipedema: from hidden causes to hopeful treatments

Lipedema is a chronic condition characterised by abnormal fat deposition primarily in the arms, hips, buttocks, and thighs, while sparing the hands and feet. For decades little was known about this condition but in the last two decades and especially since 2015 research into lipedema as well as awareness by doctors and patients has increased exponentially. Lipoedema, first described in 1910 by Irving Phillips Lyon as "adipose" or "lipomatosis," was formally delineated in 1940 by Edgar Allen and Edgar Alphonso Hines Jr. as a distinct syndrome involving fat legs and orthostatic edema. Symptoms include pain, bruising, edema, and subcutaneous nodules, which are resistant…

What is best for cellulite: resistance or cardiovascular exercise?

What is best for cellulite: resistance or cardiovascular exercise?

Weight training is better than cardio for fat loss, right? Wrong. In the past few years people started to believe that resistance exercise is better than cardiovascular exercise for almost everything and especially for weight loss and cellulite reduction. The rationale is that with weight training you build muscle and that that muscle has higher metabolic needs, leading to more calorie burning, “even in your sleep”. However, this effect is exaggerated and the notion that weights contribute so much to metabolism increase could not be further from the truth. Cardiovascular exercise, especially high intensity “cardio”, like HIIT, interval running, spinning etc, burns way more calories than weight training. At the same time CV exercise also leads to long-term calorie burning - not via increased muscle mass, as with weight training - but via increased overall body metabolism and thermogenesis…