Medicine
Fact-checked

At WiseGEEK, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.

Learn more...

Is There a Way to get Rid of Cellulite?

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Women are typically bombarded with various miracle cures that promise to get rid of cellulite forever. The only trouble with these cures, even medical ones like liposuction, is that they don’t work. There is no currently accepted method that will allow you to totally remove cellulite. At best, some treatments may for a brief time reduce the look of cellulite. The best possible outcome for dealing with cellulite is to minimize its appearance.

Cellulite typically accumulates at the stomach, thighs and buttocks, and it has a dimpled appearance that some people call orange peel skin. In some cases you may not even notice cellulite unless you pinch the skin together, at which point you may notice little bumps or dimples. Other women, even women who are relatively thin, may notice cellulite without having to pinch the skin. Unfortunately, current standards of beauty decree that cellulite is not attractive.

Massage may help reduce the appearance of cellulite, but the treatments must be repeated on a regular basis.
Massage may help reduce the appearance of cellulite, but the treatments must be repeated on a regular basis.

Regardless of such beauty decrees, a small to large degree of cellulite tends to be relatively normal. Women do have higher deposits of fat in the above-mentioned areas as reserve, and for the purpose of storing energy. This reserve energy could be used if a woman were pregnant, and though some women never plan on being pregnant, women’s bodies are still biologically designed so that they can produce children.

Cellulite often accumulates in the stomach area.
Cellulite often accumulates in the stomach area.

Cellulite is a special type of fat, which lies between cords that tether the exterior layers of skin to inside structures. Obviously, greater weight gain can mean greater accumulation of cellulite. Therefore, one method to get rid of cellulite is to exercise, and work on losing extra fat deposits. Well-built, well-developed and smooth muscle tissue often helps hide the skin dimpling caused by these fat layers. In addition to weight loss through diet and cardiovascular exercise, many doctors recommend strength training to build and strengthen muscles in order to mask cellulite appearance. While this won’t completely get rid of cellulite, it can help make it less noticeable.

Weight loss through proper diet and exercise is one way to get rid of cellulite.
Weight loss through proper diet and exercise is one way to get rid of cellulite.

Other proposed suggestions for getting rid of cellulite have been shown not to work for any lengthy period of time. One method advocated to get rid of cellulite is regular massage. Massage can briefly reduce look of cellulite, but you would have to maintain ongoing massage treatments in order to maintain the look. Another method is various creams promising to remove cellulite. Again, these may help for a short time, but you’ll need to use most of the creams regularly to get best results. Liposuction, which many think would be a workable solution, removes fat below cellulite layers. This can actually make cellulite appear more dimpled and worse, since it doesn’t remove cellulite.

Wearing slimming undergarments can help minimize the appearance of cellulite.
Wearing slimming undergarments can help minimize the appearance of cellulite.

The strong desire to get rid of cellulite has led to extensive research and there are a few methods which may ultimately prove helpful, though temporary. One method uses a combination of deep tissue massage, and pulses of radiofrequent and infrared light in a series of treatments. You generally must undergo numerous treatments, and the cellulite reduced look can last for half a year. Another method for getting rid of cellulite at least temporarily combines treatment with lasers and deep tissue massage. Like the light and massage treatment, you usually must undergo several sessions before results are seen and the results are temporary. Still these newer treatments potentially suggest that ultimately we might have a way to permanently get rid of cellulite, and to many women who have battled with this issue all their lives, a potential cure to orange peel skin is a very good thing indeed.

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent WiseGEEK contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent WiseGEEK contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

pleonasm

@KoiwiGal - I don't think I even realized I had cellulite for a long time, because it had never occurred to me to look for it. And I was happier not knowing. I don't try to get rid of it or anything, and I try not to even be self conscious about it but sometimes you just can't help it.

The problem is that not only are we holding ourselves to an impossible standard, the rest of the world is as well.

KoiwiGal

@umbra21 - Well you can always use the same method that they do. Wear clothes to cover it up whenever possible and use Photoshop to get rid of cellulite fast in photos.

Not that it is the models or stars that are usually doing the modification of their images. The magazines and websites themselves often seem to want to present an unreasonable body standard that no one could possibly live up to, at least without perfect genetics.

But I guess it's their job to sell copies and if they managed to actually solve any of the problems they claim to be able to solve on their covers then they wouldn't be able to sell next month's copy.

umbra21

Losing weight in general will help to reduce cellulite as well, just because it makes the fat deposits smaller. But even supermodels have cellulite, which you can see if you look at those candid photographs that often get published in tabloids of "stars in their bikinis".

If they can't get rid of cellulite, even though they are rich and have access to all the latest treatments, then I don't think there's any hope for the rest of us.

Post your comments
Login:
Forgot password?
Register:
    • Massage may help reduce the appearance of cellulite, but the treatments must be repeated on a regular basis.
      By: gofasadi
      Massage may help reduce the appearance of cellulite, but the treatments must be repeated on a regular basis.
    • Cellulite often accumulates in the stomach area.
      By: Barabas Attila
      Cellulite often accumulates in the stomach area.
    • Weight loss through proper diet and exercise is one way to get rid of cellulite.
      By: Andres Rodriguez
      Weight loss through proper diet and exercise is one way to get rid of cellulite.
    • Wearing slimming undergarments can help minimize the appearance of cellulite.
      By: photo25th
      Wearing slimming undergarments can help minimize the appearance of cellulite.
    • A routine of cardiovascular exercise is one of the best ways to get rid of cellulite.
      By: puhhha
      A routine of cardiovascular exercise is one of the best ways to get rid of cellulite.
    • Cellulite cream may or may not be an effective treatment.
      By: Picture-Factory
      Cellulite cream may or may not be an effective treatment.
    • Having some cellulite for energy reserves can be used if a woman is pregnant.
      By: Alena Ozerova
      Having some cellulite for energy reserves can be used if a woman is pregnant.