Orange-peel skin, cottage cheese thighs – call it what you will – most of us have cellulite and would love to get rid of it, especially now it’s bikini season.
As a skincare expert with 20 years’ experience, I’ve seen first- hand that the curse of cellulite can affect any woman, regardless of her shape, size or income, and we’ve all seen the celebrity pictures to prove it.
And you can diet and exercise all you like but cellulite still seems to linger, leaving you reaching for that sarong on holiday.
The good news is, there are some treatments out there that really do work and can give you the smooth skin you’ve always dreamed of…
Just what is it?
Cellulite is simply a fancy name for pockets of fat stored just under the skin’s surface.
These pockets push against the mesh of connective tissue that holds the skin together, causing it to dimple and pucker – a bit like jelly straining through a sieve!
The truth is, whatever new fat-busting ingredient they contain, creams cannot penetrate deeply enough into the skin to enter fat cells and break them down.
As someone who’s worked on developing skincare products myself, believe me, if there was a safe way of getting a chemical that deeply into the skin, I’d have done it!
So, what DOES make a difference?
(1) DIY help: What you can do yourself
BODY BRUSH
Using a firm body brush every day will boost your circulation, helping flush away toxins. It can have a mild to moderate effect on improving the look of cellulite.
Always brush towards the heart, using circular movements and follow up with this… Alternate the shower temperature (safely) from hot to cold, using the most powerful jet.
Saunas followed by a plunge into a cool pool at the gym are great circulation boosters, too.
EAT RIGHT
Drinking eight glasses of water a day helps reduce water retention and prevents toxins being stored in the body. Try to eat six small meals rather than three large meals to keep your metabolism working efficiently, and eat plenty of leafy greens, tomatoes, lettuce, celery, cucumber and peppers. They act as diuretics and help shift excess fluid from the body.
(2) In the salon: The treatments I’ve found work
TRI-ACTIVE CELLULITE TREATMENT
How it works: A nifty triple action device combines mechanical massage, laser stimulation and localised cooling to stimulate the deep, fat layers of the skin.
The results: Smoothing and tightening of cellulite can be done in most parts of the body. Circulation is improved to give skin a healthy glow and banish blotches.
Cost: From pounds 100 per session
VELASMOOTH
How it works: This combines radio frequency, infrared, vacuum and roller massage to break down fat painlessly and help the body drain it away.
The results: It hits cellulite with everything we know can help zap it to achieve fast and effective results.
Cost: From pounds 120 a session.
ENDERMOLOGIE
How it works: A session involves slipping into a tight body stocking and lying down while the therapist uses an electrically- powered machine that sucks, pulls, and squeezes the skin. The idea is to jiggle around all the toxins that encourage cellulite and boost lymphatic drainage.
The results: You need about 10-16 treatments for good results then monthly maintenance, but it gives pretty good results. (Visit www.consultingroom.com for a clinic near you).
Cost: From pounds 50 per session
MESOTHERAPY
How it works: This involves injecting the area with fatbusting vitamins and herbs.
The results: The jury is still out on this for me. It leaves lots of bruising but some of my clients say it works for them. As with all treatments, results depend on the experience of the therapist doing it.
Cost: From pounds 300
(3) Under the knife: Can surgery cure cellulite?
As far as I’m concerned, the best method to bust cellulite fat cells once and for all is the minimally invasive procedure Smartlipo. Unlike standard liposuction, which uses a much larger canulae (suction tube) to remove fat, Smartlipo gets close enough to target the thin fat layer where cellulite lurks.
How it works: A laser probe is inserted under the skin under local anaesthetic to gently suction cellulite away.
The results: Smoother, dimple-free skin. Leaves some bruising and swelling, but the results are worth it.
Cost: From pounds 500