BEACHY LEGS

How to prevent cellulite? Fall in love with veggies, salads, seaweed, herbs and spices.

How to prevent cellulite? Fall in love with veggies, salads, seaweed, herbs and spices.

This is one of the most common questions we are asked: “What are the best foods to fights cellulite?”. To which the instant answer is: “Above all else, have as many low calorie, high fibre, high polyphenol/carotenoid foods as you can”. But why is that? Low in calories: no need to discuss this more, it’s pretty obvious. High in fibre: because they fill you up without calories and prevent you from consuming too much fat/carbs; and because they help balance your gut microbiota (i.e. boost the good bacteria in your gut), which has an anti-inflammatory effect and can indirectly prevent water retention. High in polyphenol/carotenoids (what some people would identify as “antioxidants”): because most carotenoids and polyphenols have a multi-prong anti-cellulite effect…

Does coolsculpting get rid of cellulite? Facts vs marketing hype.

Does coolsculpting get rid of cellulite? Facts vs marketing hype.

This a common question we are asked at the clinic. Coolsculpting is the most well-known example of cryolipolysis technology. Cryolipolysis aims to lead to subcutaneous adipose tissue adipolysis (i.e. fat cell death) with the application of extreme cold. Subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) is the fat tissue UNDER the skin, while cellulite is fat tissue inside the skin (hypodermis), so by definition cryolipolysis / coolsculpting do NOT remove cellulite.

How many RF sessions are needed for cellulite removal / skin tightening?

How many RF sessions are needed for cellulite removal / skin tightening?

There are three types of radiofrequency. The one that works and is safe, i.e. deep-acting, high-power radiofrequency. The one that doesn’t work, i.e. superficially-acting and/or low-power radiofrequency. And the unsafe - yet still ineffective…

Do men get cellulite? Why do women get cellulite?

Do men get cellulite? Why do women get cellulite?

It is a common question I am asked at the clinic: “Do men have cellulite?'“ or “Why do men not get cellulite?”. And my answer has always been that women develop cellulite because they have weaker connective tissue and larger fat cells, due to the effect of female hormones…

How to improve skin elasticity naturally

How to improve skin elasticity naturally

In a previous article we discussed what is the difference between skin firmness/tightness and skin elasticity and what gives skin those qualities. Here we offer the most important tips on how to boost elasticity and firmness.

Pre-cellulite vs cellulite

Pre-cellulite vs cellulite

Pre-cellulite: cellulite waiting to happen. Or, how artificial living, combined with estrogen, transforms the absolutely normal pre-cellulite structure into the unhealthy cellulite structure. This is the second of our three articles regarding the nature of cellulite. The first article in the series is “What is cellulite” and the third article is “Is cellulite normal?”. On this article we are presenting cellulite anatomy in detail and also the subject of pre-cellulite.

What exactly is an anti-cellulite cream?

What exactly is an anti-cellulite cream?

So this is what makes a cellulite cream: a fast absorbable cream formulation with - ideally a high concentration of) anti-cellulite active ingredients in it. It’s as simple as that. Without anti-cellulite active ingredients - or with very little in the way of active ingredients - we are talking about a simple body moisturiser. I am sorry to break it to you, but 99% of the so-called cellulite creams on the market are exactly that, basically a body moisturiser…

Apigenin from parsley, chamomile and celery may help prevent cellulite

Apigenin from parsley, chamomile and celery may help prevent cellulite

A new study, published a few days ago (December 2023) looked at the potential antioxidant, anti-aging and anti-cellulite potential of a family of aromatic plants called Apiaceae or Umbelliferae. Common apiaceae plants include ajwain, angelica, anise, asafoetida, caraway, carrot, celery, chervil, coriander, cumin, dill, fennel, lovage, cow parsley, parsley, parsnip and sea holly…

How crash dieting and yo-yo dieting cause cellulite and skin looseness

How crash dieting and yo-yo dieting cause cellulite and skin looseness

Yo-yo dieting is defined as the cyclical weight gain and loss. Cyclical weight loss and gain unavoidable leads to increasingly higher body fat content, loose skin and cellulite. When we put on weight we mainly put on fat. When we lose weight, we do lose fat but we also quite a lot of protein: muscle, skin and even bone protein. When we put on weight again we mainly put on fat and almost never regain the full amount of previous muscle, skin and bone protein. This is because…

Can I exercise after RF treatment?

Can I exercise after RF treatment?

For cellulite reduction, it would actually be amazing if you could exercise right before or right after a deep-acting, high-power radiofrequency treatment. Or why not, both before and after! The reason for this is simple. A good, deep-acting, high-power radiofrequency treatment stimulates lipolysis, i.e. the release of fat from fat cells…

Pressotherapy for cellulite: does it work?

Pressotherapy for cellulite: does it work?

Pressotherapy refers to alternate compression provided to your legs by pneumatic garments (inflatable boots and/or arm sleeves) in order to push fluid from the periphery (limbs) towards the heart, with the aim to boost blood circulation and lymphatic drainage…

Escin may reduce water retention and cellulite due to an anti-inflammatory effect

Escin may reduce water retention and cellulite due to an anti-inflammatory effect

Escin may reduce inflammation and oedema by acting as a steroid - without the side effects of steroids. This paper states “the anti-inflammatory effects of escin were related to down-regulation of pro-inflammatory mediators (ie, PGE2, TNF-α, and IL-1β), through the increased expression of the glucocorticoid receptor”. In plain English this means that the horse chestnut extract escin (and most probably its chemical cousin esculin, which has similar activity) acts on the same receptor that corticosteroids act.

What is better, RF or cavitation, for cellulite?

What is better, RF or cavitation, for cellulite?

Let’s see first how each technology works and in which cases it works best. Deep-acting, high-power ultrasound cavitation works by disrupting fat cells mechanically (ultrasound is sound, ie mechanical waves), as well as via heat. This leads to lipolysis (fat release from fat cells) as well as adipocyte apoptosis (accelerated fat cell death)…

Cellulite and glycaemic index (GI): the effect of sucrose, glucose, fructose and glycation

Cellulite and glycaemic index (GI): the effect of sucrose, glucose, fructose and glycation

Glycemic index (GI) refers to the speed with which a certain food raises blood glucose levels. The glycaemic index is a scale from 0-100, with pure glucose set to be 100. A food is considered to have a low GI if it is 55 or less; high GI if 70 or more; and mid-range GI if it is 56 to 69. Some foods and drinks actually have a GI much higher than glucose. For example the GI of beer is up to 119 and that of corn flakes is up to 132…

Cellulite, indoor lifestyle, social media and comfort eating

Cellulite, indoor lifestyle, social media and comfort eating

London is a great, stimulating, inspiring place. I have made London my home for the last 25 years. As a famous writer has said: “When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life.” However, London’s weather is generally moody, probably the most unpredictable weather of any large city. Almost constant cloud cover for most of the year, even in the summer, quite often combined with drizzle, as…

RF microneedling for cellulite and skin tightening: does it work?

RF microneedling for cellulite and skin tightening: does it work?

Microneedling radiofrequency is based on damaging skin with both excessive high intensity RF and the actual needles, hoping cellulite fat tissue will be broken and dissolved and that skin will repair itself and build scar tissue, which will will to skin tightening. As it aims to cause damage, this technique is inherently…

Does radiofrequency / RF microneedling treatment hurt?

Does radiofrequency / RF microneedling treatment hurt?

High-power, deep-acting radio frequency treatment is now indisputable technology for cellulite and skin tightening, especially body skin tightening. But should it be painful to be effective? Absolutely not. Properly applied radio frequency should be a painless procedure and should never require the use of anaesthetic (numbing) cream. Never…

Fartlek training and cellulite

Fartlek training and cellulite

Fartlek training involves the random change of pace while running - anything from sprinting to walking, with random and continuous change of speed every few seconds during your routine. The little known, outside the running world, fartlek training method originated 80 years ago and is a more fun version of interval running - and way better than HIIT (high intensity interval training)…

Is cellulite normal? Is cellulite unhealthy?

Is cellulite normal? Is cellulite unhealthy?

This is a continuation of our two articles about the nature of cellulite: “What is cellulite” and “Pre-cellulite”. On this article we will look into whether “Cellulite is absolutely normal”, “Cellulite is beautiful”, “Cellulite is a made-up condition and it doesn’t exist” and whether you should “Love your cellulite”, as some people say…

Non-surgical bum lift: all the facts, none of the hype

Non-surgical bum lift: all the facts, none of the hype

Everything things you need to know about butt lifts, non-surgical butt lifts and the so-called “non-surgical Brazilian butt lifts”. Lack of exercise, excess calorie intake, sitting down for long periods of time and the normal ageing process all take their toll on the skin, muscles and connective tissues of the buttock area. Liposuction can also leave the bottom area with excess skin. The result is fascia and skin looseness…