Cellulite is the skin dimpling and lumpiness seen on the skin surface of the thighs, buttocks and abdomen of nearly all women. It is due to fatty protrusions into the dermis layer of skin. It causes no physical harm but may cause embarrassment.
Who is at risk of cellulite?
The actual cause of cellulite is poorly understood. However, factors that affect the incidence of cellulite include:
Geneticpredisposition
Hormones — insulin increases fat content
Sex — cellulite is more common in females compared to males
Ethnicity — cellulite is more likely to affect Caucasian than Asian women
Diet — excessive carbohydrate intake may enhance cellulite
Obesity — cellulite is often more noticeable in those with high body mass index (BMI)
Weight change — weight gain can accentuate the appearance of cellulite, but weight loss can improve or worsen it
Lifestyle — prolonged periods of sitting/ standing may worsen cellulite
Pregnancy — increase in insulin, prolactin and fluid volume may influence cellulite.
How is cellulite graded?
Cellulite has been divided into three main grades based on the clinical severity.
Grade I
Smooth skin without any dimpling upon standing up and lying down
Mattress-like configuration upon pinching the skin
Grade II
Mattress-like appearance upon standing but disappears in supine position
Grade III
Skin dimpling upon standing and supine position
Skin dimpling is exacerbated by pinching the skin
What is the treatment for cellulite?
Weight loss should be encouraged in those who are overweight, but may not improve the appearance of the affected skin.
The treatment options currently available for treating cellulite are listed in the table below.
Endermologie®
A device used to mechanically massage fat in the affected area
Treatments repeated twice weekly appear to reduce thigh size
Treatment is costly with little evidence of long-term efficacy
Liposuction
Liposuction is effective for removing large areas of deeply placed subcutaneous fat
Fatty tissue of cellulite is close to the skin surface where liposuction may be risky
Lipoplasty is not recommended for cellulite because of poor cosmetic outcomes
Small studies have shown mixed but sometimes impressive results; long-term efficacy is unknown
VelaSmooth® approved by US Food and Drug Administration (FDA); combines infrared light (700–2000 nm), bipolar radiofrequency, suction and mechanical massage
Bipolar devices penetrate >3 mm for better control of localised fatty deposits
Unipolar devices use high frequency electromagnetic radiation with greater depth and breadth of thermal damage but diffuse pattern results in less control
Ultrasound devices, eg, UltraShape®
Ultrasound can destroy fat cells
Efficacy in cellulite is unknown
Laser-assisted lipolysis, eg, Smartlipo™
Certain lasers destroy targeted areas of fat and tighten the skin
Laser assisted lipoplasty using Nd:YAG laser may be suitable for small areas of fat deposition
Efficacy for cellulite may not be as good as when liposuction is used for large areas of fat
Topical medications
Retinoic acid (retinol) used over a period of >6 months has been shown to improve cellulite, probably by increasing dermalcollagen thickness and contour of elastic fibres
Topical aminophylline has not been shown to objectively improve cellulite; however, some patients have reported improvement
Several herbal creams are marketed for cellulite, containing ingredients such as caffeine and botanicals of unknown efficacy; some components may cause contact allergic dermatitis
Carboxy therapy is the injection of carbon dioxide into fatty tissue, and is intended to dissolve fat (lipolysis)
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor agonists are newly discovered nucleartranscription factors activated by petroselinic acid and conjugated linoleic acid; they are being investigated as they appear to improve epidermaldifferentiation, reduce inflammation, increase extracellular matrix components and elicit skin tightening; conjugated linoleic acid can prevent fat accumulation in fat cells
Cryolysis eg, Cryolipolysis™
Cooling the skin surface is being evaluated for cellulite and body contouring, as freezing destroys fat cells
References
Khan MH, Victor F, Rao B, Sadick NS. Treatment of cellulite. J Am Acad Dermatol 2010; 62: 373–84.
