Soft cellulite is the everyday term that people use to describe cellulite which is accompanied by skin looseness. This is the most common type of cellulite and is usually accompanied by water retention too, as the causes of water retention, cellulite and skin looseness overlap…
Does cellulite go away when you lose weight?
Excess fat accumulation at the hypodermal level (fat in skin’s deeper layer) is the most important aspect of cellulite (with fibrosis, skin laxity and poor circulation being the other main aspects). When weight is lost, with diet and exercise, different types of body fat are reduced at different speeds…
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)…
Monopolar vs bipolar: the pros and cons of each type of radiofrequency
A very common question we are asked at the clinic is what is the difference between unipolar, monopolar, bipolar and multipolar (i.e. tripolar, tetrapolar, octipolar) radio frequency? Which one is best for skin tightening and cellulite? On this article we examine the merits of bipolar vs monopolar RF and…
Forskolin: the most important lipolytic active ingredient
Forskolin, is the extract of the South Asian plant coleus forskohlii / plectranthus barbatus. It has been extensively researched for decades for its lipolytic action and is routinely used in lab experiments when it is needed to stimulate lipolysis in fat cells. (Lipolysis refers to fat release from fat cells, leading to fat cell size reduction and, if sustained, eventual fat cell death.) However, due to its high cost (10x more than the highest quality caffeine) it is rarely used in anti-cellulite creams - although it is way more important than caffeine in this regard…
How does infrared / red light therapy work?
Energy in every single cell of the human body is produced in specialised cell compartments called mitochondria. Mitochondria is where oxygen is utilised to produce ATP, the energy currency of the cell. If mitochondria malfunction then the whole cell malfunctions and underperforms. On the skin, this can lead to aesthetic problems (dull, irritated, inflamed or unhealthy skin). In other organs and tissues this can lead to a poorer state of health, lower energy levels, slower recovery from injuries etc…
Carotenoids, skin and cellulite
Carotenoids, found in carrots, tomatoes, watermelons, seaweed (especially wakame), salmon and green leafy vegetables, among other foods, are important skin nutrients that help prevent UV damage, skin looseness and protect skin firmness and microcirculation. In this article we summarise the benefits of those nutrients and the foods that contain them.
The ideal cellulite reduction plan, without any cut corners or compromises, for maximum results
Here is the IDEAL cellulite removal plan, without any cut corners or compromises, i.e. where the usual time and money constraints are not issue. Most people only have two weeks left before their holidays to do something about cellulite, a limited budget (fair enough), limited time to receive treatments or to apply creams and no intention, energy or time to follow an exercise / healthy nutrition regime. But for those who have the time, money and energy, this is the best possible plan, without gimmicks or compromises.
Best cellulite treatment? Here is a list of the good, the bad and the ugly
A list of the most effective cellulite treatments - in real life, not in the virtual reality of social media
As most women know by experience, most cellulite treatments simply do not work. And when we say they don't work, we mean that they either do not work at all or that they offer so poor results that you would need 20, 30 or 50 sessions to be happy with the results. Here we will review the best treatments, according to effectiveness (more effective treatments are presented first, ineffective treatments are presented last)…
Is radiofrequency treatment safe?
Radiofrequency treatment is based on electrically heating the skin and can be anything from extremely safe all the way to very unsafe (and with a lot of adverse reactions), depending on type of radiofrequency used, equipment and therapist experience/training. If the pain threshold rule is adhered, deep-acting, high-power radiofrequency provided in a continuous moving fashion, should be ~99.5% safe, or better…
Can stress cause skin ageing and cellulite?
Stress, per se, is not a direct or a major cause of skin ageing and, especially, cellulite. There are much more important factors, such as sugar intake, calorie intake, lack of exercise, smoking, alcohol intake etc. However, stress indirectly can indeed have an effect. Stress results in the secretion of cortisol, the stress hormone, which has a catabolic effect on tissues, meaning that it results in protein loss from skin and other organs…
Does skin shrink after losing weight?
Can a TENS unit break up fat or cellulite?
Different kinds of electrical treatments have been suggested the last few decades for skin firming and fat/cellulite reduction, with varying effectiveness. Examples include radiofrequency, high frequency wand treatments, microcurrents, galvanic, HIFEM (electromagnetic muscle stimulation), EMS (electrical muscle stimulation) etc. TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation), used in physiotherapy for pain relief, is not one of them, but…
How to choose the best RF cellulite/skin tightening treatment in your area
There are hundreds of radiofrequency machines on the market, for both home and professional use, and tens of thousands of practitioners worldwide offering it, with varying levels of knowledge, training and experience. Therefore the words ‘radio frequency treatment’ can mean anything and nothing. So not all radiofrequency treatments are the same: effectiveness can range from almost zero to impressive…
Laser vs red light LED vs infrared light LED vs radiofrequency for skin tightening and cellulite
Which is better for body skin tightening and cellulite: laser or radio frequency? Absolutely NOT laser. Laser is way too superficial and also pointless for skin tightening or cellulite. There are two types of lasers: strong, ablative, lasers aim to burn the surface of the skin to stimulate new epidermal growth. Cellulite, however, is found at the deepest layer of the skin (hypodermis), not the most superficial (epidermis), so ablative lasers do not work for cellulite at all…
Collagen vs whey protein for cellulite reduction and skin tightening
Slimming leggings, cellulite, fat reduction and skin looseness
Taking chances with dangerous cellulite/skin tightening treatments for “instant” results? Good luck with that, literally.
The body, including the skin, needs regular strong-but-safe stimulation to change. Plus it needs time between sessions of stimulation to recover and built stronger issue. This is how building muscle at the gym works and this is how skin tightening / cellulite reduction treatments work: by providing regular, as strong-but-safe stimulation to tissues: muscles or skin, respectively. However, the body has its own limits, which precludes too intensive stimulation: If you suddenly use 150kg weights for your squats you will not build a more toned butt faster, you will end up in hospital with a knee injury. Likewise, if you use an aesthetic treatment which is three times stronger than…
Edematous cellulite / water retention on thighs, legs and buttocks: 16 lifestyle causes and 42 tips to reduce it
Microneedling, cellulite reduction and skin tightening: the facts
Microneedling is a popular treatment for skin rejuvenation, with mixed efficacy. It is safe and affective for epidermal rejuvenation, but not so much for dermal rejuvenation. Microneedling uses multiple ultra-fine needles to temporarily create tiny holes in the skin. The holes, comprising an injury to the skin, stimulate the skin’s…