Cellulite Treatments & Its History

Women have constantly experienced cellulite - that lumpy, orange-peel looking areas of skin that occur most frequently around the hips, thighs and butt. The problem was very easily ignored, however, as long as fashions dictated that those areas were always enclosed. The creation of swimming suits, shorts and higher hem lines prompted the hunt for effective cellulite therapies.

The Search for the Cause

One of the first methods to locating a medication was to try and discover what was creating the issue. At first some physicians referred to cellulite as a skin disease, but this belief was soon changed. Other people postulated that cellulite has got to be resulted by hormones; after all, it was primarily a female problem and females have much higher levels of estrogen. The truth, though, is that lower levels of estrogen actually make the difficulty more obvious. Estrogen actually helps the skin remain thick and moist. As women approach menopause and their estrogen production drops, their skin normally gets dryer and thinner, conditions that make cellulite more pronounced.

Cellulite is caused by fat cells, so it was only natural to assume that obesity will be at the root of the issue. Other people claim that eating habits is the sole culprit. People who hold to these theories consider the most effective cellulite treatments involve low-fat diets, weight loss and exercise. The problem with these ideas is that it does not account for all the women who already workout, maintain a proper weight and eat correctly yet still struggle with cellulite. In fact, over 80 percent of all women have this issue and they are not all obese. Obesity does make the cellulite more visible, but it is certainly not the cause.

Skin Structure

The actual culprit is skin structure. In ladies, the layer of fats directly under the skin is contained in rows of rectangular cells split by vertical strands of connective tissue. Over time these strands start to constrict, pulling down on the skin. The body fat in the cells is obviously compressed and starts to bulge upward. As skin becomes thinner and dryer with age the lumps are more apparent. This issue is much more prominent in men than women not because of hormones, but because the fat cells in men are shaped in a different way.

Finding a Cure

An internet search for cellulite treatments will result in a myriad of products; topical lotions, ultrasonic treatments, laser, massage, injections and even surgical procedure. Some of these offer temporary help with cellulite, but they usually only address one aspect of the problem and must be continued indefinitely in order to uphold any advancements. Creams, for example, usually work on improving dry skin or block receptors in the skin to help prevent the formation of fat. Sound waves, radio frequencies and massages attempt to break up fats but do not address the constricted connective tissues. Injections are meant to melt the fats, but the FDA warns that this unapproved medication could be unsafe and has been identified to cause permanent damage, and cellulite removal using customary surgery will be painful and leave scarring. Until lately, there has not been an efficient way to smooth and tighten cellulite permanently.

Cellulaze™, the Latest in Cellulite Technology

In January 2012 the FDA approved Cellulaze™, the very first laser technology to address all three factors; the skin, fat and the constricted connective tissues. In reality, this is the only product which can resolve cellulite permanently - with just one medication. Cellulaze uses a patented side laser that is inserted through small incisions in the affected areas. The laser cuts through the taunt tissues, releasing the strain on the skin. Heat from the laser gently melts some of the body fat, enabling it to be pressed out of the body. Lastly, the laser is directed at the skin to stimulate collagen production. Research show this works, and women routinely experience a 25% growth in skin thickness and a 30% development in skin flexibility in the first year following a treatment. What will make this even better is that the improvements appear to be enduring. Sufferers who had the treatment 2 years ago still report that they are cellulite free.