Cellulite

Cellulite can often give the appearance of ‘orange peel’ or ‘cottage cheese’ skin. This concern is most commonly seen affecting the thighs and buttocks, but can also appear on the stomach, upper arms and hips. Both men and women can be affected by the dimpled look of the skin that cellulite causes, although women are more likely to experience this concern. Cellulite is not a harmful condition and its burden is mainly aesthetic. It is a condition that has a reputation of developing on people who are overweight, however the truth is it can appear on slimmer people too.

The formation of cellulite is thought to be associated with the relationship between the skin, its connective tissues and the layer of fat that lies just beneath the skin (subcutaneous fat). As the connective tissues work to pull the skin downwards, fatty tissue pushes up, causing the characteristic dimpled or rippled look on the surface. It is thought that women experience cellulite more than men as their internal connective structure is arranged vertically, whereas a man’s is arranged in criss-cross fashion. Other factors, including hormones, genes, lifestyle and age are considered to be associated with a person’s chance of developing cellulite, as they can influence skin elasticity and circulation.

A healthy lifestyle and an active body can help to reduce the amount of cellulite that a person experiences and there are many creams and lotions available that describe being able to reduce its appearance. These remedies are not certain cures and how efficient they are is often questionable. Reducing fat stores under the skin is one way that the appearance of cellulite can be reduced and at Reshape & Restore, liposuction or cryotherapy can help to do this. A smoother look to the skin’s surface can help to restore confidence when a more pleasing look is also achieved.