Five Element Wellness Center

Cellulite and Endermologie®

What is Cellulite?

Cellulite is a common or colloquial term, not a medical term. It is used used to describe the look of superficial pockets of trapped fat, the uneven dimpling or “orange peel” skin. It appears in 90% of post-adolescent women and is rarely seen in men. Common but not exclusive areas where cellulite is found are the thighs, buttocks, and the abdomen. Contrary to popular belief, cellulite is not related to obesity, since it occurs in overweight, normal, and thin women.

Cellulite is the result of fat deposited in pockets just below the surface of the skin, creating its dreaded dimpled or "cottage cheese " appearance where it occurs. Underneath the skin exists three fat layers. Cellulite develops in the most superficial of these layers. This is called the hypodermis or subcutaneous fat layer. This layer is structurally from other fat layers because its fat lobes are organized into chambers by surrounding strands of connective tissue. Hormones, not exercise or diet, regulate fat storage and metabolism in the subcutaneous fat layer.

In women the subcutaneous fat layer is organized into large vertical chambers where an abundance of fat can be stored. The chambers in men are arranged as small diagonal units. These not only store smaller quantities of fat but are also unlikely to result in cellulite formation.

The fat cells within the two reserve fat layers situated beneath the subcutaneous fat layer are spread out in a loosely. Fat storage and metabolism in these layers is controlled by heredity strongly influenced strongly by diet and exercise. These layers have nothing whatsoever to do with cellulite

Even thin people can have cellulite. We all have layers of fat just below the surface of our skins. Without these layers of fat each of us would die very quickly. In addition to the fat, the collagen fibers that connect the fat to the skin contribute to cellulite. The collagen can stretch over time, tear and imperfectly heal, and even pull tight in a seemingly random fashion, allowing the plump fat cells to bulge out here, sink in there and squeeze tightly together in a third place . This creates the infamous rippled look of cellulite.

Other Possible Contributing Factors to Cellulite Creation

Heredity may play a part in whether or not you have cellulite. A poor diet, "fad" dieting, sluggish metabolism, hormone fluctuations, and even dehydration may play a role. Notice the word "may.". That's medical talk for "We don't know."One thing, we all know: a great deal of money is spent by people who want to rid themselves of cellulite. But, no amount money spent on weight reduction, exercise, massage, body wraps, skin cream, nutritional supplements, or surgery has proven to effectively eliminate cellulite once you have it. Liposuction, for instance, is not recommended for cellulite; and, may even make it look worse.

What it All Means

Although many dermatologists and cosmetic surgeons recognize cellulite as a legitimate problem that patients seek to have them "cure", most of the medical community doesn't view cellulite as a disorder. It is considered a normal condition of most women and a few men. Perhaps, if more men suffered from cellulite, the medical community's attitude would change.

In any case, the best way and, perhaps, the only way to avoid cellulite is to be born a man.

One last observation, although cellulite itself isn't a "thing" but merely an appearance, the broken down collagen which contributes to that appearance is susceptible to becoming infected and inflamed by bacteria, a condition called cellulitis. Your doctor will be happy to treat you for this disorder and help restore your cellulite to its normal "cottage cheese" texture.

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Do You Have Cellulite?