Separate Cellulite Fact From Fiction
With Spring Break coming up, you might be thinking of packing a bikini and heading someplace with sandy beaches and warm ocean waves. But a peek at your thighs after all that holiday indulgence and hiding under winter clothes may have you reconsidering those swimsuit plans.
Cellulite can happen to anyone, whether they are overweight, underweight, or a normal weight. Although it’s a common occurrence, or perhaps because it’s a common occurrence, there’s a lot of misinformation out there about cellulite. Separate fact from fiction and learn what you can do to make your thighs look smooth.
You Don’t Have Cellulite Because of Too Much Fat
Although cellulite is created by fat, it’s actually more of a skin issue than a fat issue. You can get it whether you’re 50 pounds overweight, carry a lot of extra fat on your thighs, or even if you’re an incredibly trim lingerie model.
Cellulite is the fat that’s between your skin and your muscle. Your muscle and skin are connected by various strands of connective tissue. When all is well, the connective tissue is strong and holds your skin and muscle in place, and the fat between them lies flat. But, if the connective tissue is weak, the fat can push up against the skin, creating the tell-tale bumps of cellulite.
Other things that can cause your connective tissue to weaken include weight loss, weight gain, sun exposure and getting older.
Liposuction Doesn’t Work on Cellulite
Since fat plays a role in causing cellulite and liposuction removes unwanted fat from the body, the thinking goes that liposuction can be a cure for cellulite. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. Liposuction focuses on a different type of fat, which is located deeper in the body, while the fat related to cellulite is subcutaneous, or just below the surface of the skin.
Water Doesn’t Work Either
It’s important to drink enough water each day to stay healthy. But, water isn’t necessarily the miracle cure everyone thinks it is. Drink enough water to keep your body properly hydrated, not because you believe it will make the cellulite vanish.
Aging Doesn’t Cause Cellulite
You can get cellulite at any age. While getting older doesn’t necessarily cause cellulite, the aging process can contribute to it by making it more visible. As you get older, your skin loses its elasticity and the connective tissue becomes weaker, which can make cellulite more prominent. Changes in your hormone levels, such as a decrease in estrogen as you age can also play a role in making your cellulite more visible.
There Is Something You Can Do
Since you can get cellulite no matter your age or weight, it can be easy to assume there’s nothing you can do to prevent it or to reduce it once it appears. But there are a few things you can do. One effective treatment option is mesotherapy. Mesotherapy is a minimally invasive procedure that involves a series of injections which are administered into the layer of fat beneath the skin.
Along with mesotherapy, there are a few things you can do to keep cellulite from returning or to prevent it in the first place. A healthy diet and a steady exercise routine will reduce your chances of developing cellulite. Keeping your weight steady can also help you avoid cellulite or keep it from coming back. Some topical products can also be used to reduce cellulite and tighten skin.
Contact Us and Schedule a Consultation
Please contact a patient care coordinator by phone at 281-484-0088 if you would like to schedule a consultation with Dr. Vitenas, during which the doctor will go over your complete medical history, take the time to understand your goals, and answer all of your questions. Computer imaging will be used to help you visualize your own personal results. Dr. Vitenas will discuss reasonable and expected outcomes, and explain the details of the procedure including the technique, the recovery, the risks, the costs, and financing options.
Our office is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. You can also email us anytime, and one of our patient coordinators will get back to you.
We are conveniently located in the heart of Houston. If you are not a local, we can schedule an online consultation. We can also assist with travel arrangements.
Dr. Paul Vitenas, Jr., M.D., F.A.C.S. of the Vitenas Cosmetic Surgery and the Fine Art of Natural Cosmetic Surgery is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and founder of Vitenas Cosmetic Surgery. He has practiced in the Houston area since 1990, and has been named one of Houston’s Top Doctors and America’s Top Plastic Surgeons. He’s also been awarded Houston’s Most Compassionate Doctor and a Top Doctor for Women.