What is it?
Cellulite is a cluster of fat cells that gives the skin a padded and irregular appearance comparable to the texture of an orange peel. It manifests mainly in the thighs, buttocks and abdomen and affects almost exclusively women.
Did you know?
Nearly 9 out of 10 women will develop cellulite in their lifetime, regardless of their size, versus 1 man out of 50!
What are the causes?
Cellulite is a normal physiological phenomenon that results from the combination of several factors:
Hormones
Female hormonal changes are the main cause of cellulite, especially at the time of puberty, pregnancy and menopause. During estrogenic hormone outbreaks, fat cells that are responsible for storing fats are overfilling so that they compress the blood and lymphatic vessels. Water retention, poor circulation and elimination of toxins follow, causing a bulging “quilted” appearance on the surface of the skin.
Physiognomy
The structure of adipose tissues, which comprises all fat cells, differs in both women and men. The partitions of human adipose tissues are criss-crossed and form a kind of lattice difficult to puncture. In women, these partitions are thinner and arranged perpendicular. When there is an increase in adipose tissue, the fat cells stored there are forced upward and are compressed between partitions – such as balls compacted in a net. This is how an irregularity is created on the surface of the skin.
Age
Collagen is a protein present in the body that ensures firmness, suppleness, cohesion and hydration to the skin. From the age of 25, the natural production of collagen slows down gradually. The surface of the skin is weakened and loosens, accentuating the appearance of cellulite.
Other
Other factors may promote the emergence or development of cellulite, such as: heredity, overweight, lack of physical activity, poor diet, stress, problems with blood or lymphatic circulation, smoking and alcohol.
How to prevent?
Practice a sport regularly to activate blood circulation and strengthen muscles. Focus on activities that solicit the muscles of the buttocks, thighs and abdomen such as swimming, biking, running and skating.
1-2 litres per day for better blood and lymphatic circulation. Avoid sparkling water that promotes fluid retention.
Adopt a balanced diet low in refined sugars and fats. Include green cabbage, onions and peppers – which eliminate toxins and promote the metabolism of fats; leeks and Pineapples – to counteract water retention; eggplant and other fibre-rich foods – which stop fats assimilated during a meal by absorbing them; red berries – which promote blood circulation; and green tea, with a thousand and one anti-cellulite virtues!
Avoid the consumption of salt in your food, which also promotes water retention.
Avoid tight clothing that compresses and immobilizes the tissues and slows down blood circulation.
Daily massaging of the legs helps to stimulate circulation and promote the elimination of toxins.
How to treat?
Venus Freeze/Venus Legacy
Combining pulsed magnetic fields with multi-polar radio frequencies, the Venus Freeze/Venus Legacy continuously heats the skin from the inside. Pulsed magnetic fields allow cellulite to regress by at least one stage, stimulating the production of lipase, the enzyme responsible for the reduction of fat cells. Radiofrequency remodels the body by stimulating the production of collagen, elastic fibers and supporting tissues. The treatment targets subcutaneous fat to help reshape body contours and to reduce the appearance of cellulite and creating smoother and firmer looking skin.
This treatment should be done in multiple sessions for optimal results. However, there is an improvement in skin appearance as early as the 4th or 5th session.
Thermage
Thermage offers a non-invasive approach to improve the appearance of mild to moderate cellulite, thanks to a unipolar RF-based technology. The treatment simultaneously allows the tightening of the skin structure and stimulate the production of new collagen. Visible improvements to the skin surface and remodeling are observed as the body follows its normal cycle of collagen regeneration.
In most cases, only one session is required to observe results.
