Cellulite Treatments
Cellulite is a fatty deposit beneath the surface of the skin which makes the skin have a dimpled appearance. This is especially prevalent on the thighs and buttocks. The appearance of cellulite is one of the battles women have been contending with for years. There are many treatments on the market that promise to get rid of this problem. From creams to laser therapy the assortment of cures claiming to be effective at battling this problem are many.
When searching for the treatment that will cure or reduce the appearance of cellulite, let us look at the following treatments.
Methylxanthines – This group of chemicals which consist of aminophylline, caffeine, and theophyilline are used in many of the cellulite creams that are on the market today for the reduction of these fatty deposits. There has been some thigh reduction when using these creams for removing cellulite however; the breakdown of the deposits is subject to a high concentration of the cream for an extended period of time.
Dietary supplements – The dietary supplements which are sold with the claim of reducing cellulite are ginkgo biloba, bladder wrack extract, fish oil, and soy lecithin among others. Because these ingredients are beneficial in other ways such as boosting metabolism or improving circulation, so they claim, the disappearance of cellulite may be another benefit of the supplements.
Massage therapy – This is another method that has been used on cellulite. There are special machines with rollers that massage the are where cellulite is present. Endermologie is one of the treatments that have been approved by the U.S. for treating cellulite. The FDA has said this treatment is approved for temporary reduction of the cellulite. This does not mean it will not come back but if you continue the treatment the odds are the reduction will continue.
Laser therapy – Two therapies that have been approved by the FDA. They are TriActive and VelaSmooth. TriActive uses low level laser and suction while VelaSmooth combines laser and massage therapy. These treatments require follow-up for maintenance. However, the VelaSmooth treatment is the most expensive costing thousands of dollars.
Immunotherapy – This treatment is under a lot of controversy at the present time. The use of drugs that are injected into the cellulite are more often than not drugs that have been approved for other uses but not for this particular one. Most doctors do not feel that this treatment has been thoroughly investigated for this use. Therefore many doctors will not approve this method.
Collagenase – A treatment that uses an enzyme that occurs naturally in the body, collagenase breaks down collagen. There have been studies that indicate this treatment may be effective but the long-term effects are yet to be determined. The research is still continuing to ascertain if this is going to be a viable option for treatment.
While many treatments for cellulite may be in the experimental stage and not a lot is known about using them for long term solutions, many have had good results initially. The research will continue into these therapies and treatments to determine if they are safe and effective in the long run. In the meantime, a healthy diet and exercise can help to reduce fat in the body which in turn will help to cut down on the fatty deposits.