One of the major causes of cellulite, repeated over months and years, is binge-eating and binge-drinking, regardless of dieting/fasting later. Why would that be? One would think that if the total balance of calories during the day or during the week is neutral, then weight should stay the same, right? Right. Absolutely correct. The overall weight should roughly remain the same. However, the…
RF and ultrasound treatment: does total joule count mean anything?
Back in the early 2000, when RF treatments were static (using the “stamp” or “pulse” method), counting the total amount of energy applied on the skin (as measured in Joules, kiloJoules to be precise), meant something: it signified how strong the treatment was on that particular area. Today this stamp/pulse method is only being used for one ultrasound treatment, one RF treatment and for RF microneedling and HIFU…
Radio frequency treatment for cellulite and skin tightening: what is it and how does it work?
When to have a course of cellulite / skin tightening treatments for maximum results before holidays
If your cellulite treatment is a clay body wrap, lymphatic massage, mechanical massage with vacuum suction or anything similarly short-lasting, yes. Have the last session just 1-2 days before your holidays and hopefully that will last you up to one week into your holidays. However, if you are having a real cellulite / skin tightening treatment that aims for long-term results, such as deep-acting, high-power radiofrequency or high-power ultrasound cavitation, the best thing to do is finish your sessions about a month before your holidays or thereabouts…
Cellulite creams vs cellulite treatments
This is a common question we hear at the clinic. Cellulite creams are much more economical than treatments, so if they do work they make more sense, at least economically. On the other hand, many people do not believe that creams are even absorbed or they believe that their benefits are due to massaging the cream on the legs, two myths that we addressed in detail in previous articles. Of course a good cellulite cream is absorbed; and the effect of massaging the cream into the skin is negligible. On this article we are looking at the pros and cons of cellulite treatments vs cellulite creams.
Are radiofrequency / ultrasound safe for dark / black skin?
Unlike lasers, which work by heating melanin or other chromophores (light absorbing chemicals or structures inside the skin), radiofrequency works with electricity and ultrasound works mechanically, with sound.. The electrical properties of the skin are exactly the same in light skinned or dark skinned people, so skin colour plays no role in radiofrequency treatment (RF is basically high frequency electrical currents). In much the same way, the mechanical (acoustic) properties of the skin are exactly the same in light skinned…
Does radiofrequency treatment have anything to do with radiation or radioactivity?
Cellular senescence, due to high temperature cooking, causes skin aging and cellulite
Cigarette smoking and high temperature cooking of carbohydrates and fats leads to the creation of various chemicals detrimental to health, two of them being glyoxal and methylglyoxal (MGO). These chemicals eventually lead to the creation of Advanced Glycation End-products (AGEs), which cause whole body ageing, whole body and facial skin ageing and cellulite…
Deep cellulite vs superficial cellulite
Cellulite refers to fat pockets within the skin that are attached to and/or surrounded by fibrotic (hardened) collagen strands. The fat pocket tries to bulge out of the surface of the skin, while the collagen strand pulls the adjacent skin down. The combination creates the cellulite peaks (fat pocket makes skin “pop out”) and troughs (collagen strands keep skin down).
Cellulite can appear at three depths inside the skin:
At the dermal level (superficial cellulite)
At the hypodermal level (medium cellulite; most common cellulite)
And at the subcutaneous fat level (deep cellulite; not true cellulite)
We will look at each of them in detail…
Avocados, avocado oil and cellulite
Avocados are fruits rich in fat and in fibre - they contain about 15% fat, with 10% being oleic acid, a monounsaturated, omega-9 fatty acid. Avocado oil, being a fatty extract of the avocados, contains 100% fat, of which about 70% is monounsaturated oleic acid. Monounsaturated fat is a neutral fat that, from a health point of view, can be consumed in high quantities without the negative aspects that too much omega-6 fat can have on…
Forskolin, lipolysis and cellulite creams
The ultimate anti-cellulite drink (I): turmeric, cocoa and collagen protein shake
Cocoa, protein and turmeric for firm, healthy cellulite-free legs. There are hundreds of ideas for drinks, juices and shakes that may be good for diet, weight loss and overall health, so one might wonder why these three ingredients? The idea behind this shake is its simplicity, taste and impact it can have in the health of your legs. Indeed, this shake is one of our 10 top tips for fast cellulite reduction…
Can I exercise after RF treatment?
Absolutely. You can do any exercise you want before or after treatment. In fact, if you are having RF for cellulite reduction, vigorous exercise right before or right after treatment will increase the effectiveness of the treatment. This is because the noradrenaline produced during exercise will maximise the lipolysis (fat release) stimulated by the treatment…
Gotu kola / centella asiatica: how it works for cellulite and other skin conditions
Centella asiatica (gotu kola) is one of the most important herbs for skincare and skin diseases, due to its multifunctional action. This review summarises the main modes of action of gotu kola on multiple aesthetic and medical skin conditions: acne, acne scars, burns, atopic dermatitis, vitiligo, fibrosis, hair loss and cellulite…
Do cellulite creams work? Facts vs marketing hype.
In a previous article we have discussed the differences, merits and drawbacks of cellulite creams vs cellulite treatments. On this article we are focusing a bit more on why a good, concentrated, multi-ingredient cellulite cream can play an important role in cellulite reduction, more than what most women assume.
Fibrosis, cellulite and fibrous cellulite: what is the connection?
Fibrosis is one of the most important aspects of cellulite, together with fat accumulation, water retention, inflammation and skin laxity. Fibrosis in cellulite refers to excess accumulation and contraction of collagen in the skin ligaments (retinaculae, also known as septae) that connect skin with the fascia underneath. Fibrosis occurs at the deepest skin layer called the hypodermis…
EGCG from green tea: an essential anti-cellulite cream active
Green tea is widely researched for it lipolytic, skin firming, microcirculation-boosting, ani-inflammatory, anti-glycation, antifibrotic and antioxidant action, i.e. it directly acts on all seven aspects of cellulite. The health benefits of green tea are due to its polyphenol content, especially EGCG. EGCG, or EpiGalloCatechin Gallate, is the most important active molecule in the green tea plant (camellia sinensis) and it is widely researched with literally thousands of studies.
Does sugar cause cellulite?
It is said that "sugar is the new smoking" - and for good reason. Consumption of sugar, found in pastry, desserts, cakes, chocolate, muffins, cocktails, juice drinks, jam, honey, fizzy drinks etc, is one of the worst things you can do to your eyes, teeth, blood vessels, pancreas, skin and, for the purposes of this article, your legs and bum….
Pterostilbene, resveratrol and hyperpigmentation
Pterostilbene is a chemical found in plants that has strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. These properties make it potentially useful for preventing skin cancer and other skin conditions. However, until recently, there had not been any research examining the effects of pterostilbene on pigment production in the skin…
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…