Deep cellulite vs superficial 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, 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

Forskolin, lipolysis and cellulite creams

The natural lipolytic chemical forskolin was found in this study to release fat from fat cells, via significant cAMP production in fat cells. This study confirms that forskolin is clearly THE strongest natural lipolytic natural active and it is an ideal anti-cellulite…

The ultimate anti-cellulite drink (I): turmeric, cocoa and collagen protein shake

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?

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

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.

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, 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

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.

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…

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.