Cellulite affects many women, regardless of age, size or weight. "Orange peel skin" is difficult to eliminate despite a balanced diet, regular exercise, or the regular use of massages or anti-cellulite creams.
To permanently eliminate cellulite, there are effective medical treatments that can be combined to achieve the best possible result. Among the most effective treatments for eliminating cellulite are ONDA Coolwaves, cryolipolysis with Coolsculpting, and skin treatments with Keybody-Skin.
What is cellulite?
Cellulite refers to compartmentalized excess superficial fat responsible for the "orange peel" appearance on the surface of the skin. Cellulite is often located on the thighs and buttocks. Cellulite affects the majority of women, regardless of age, size or weight.
The 3 stages of cellulite
There is a medical classification describing the different stages of cellulite based on the appearance of the skin in the affected areas.
- Stage 1: Orange peel skin only appears when the skin is pinched.
- Stage 2: Orange peel skin is spontaneously visible, only when standing.
- Stage 3: Orange peel skin is spontaneously visible, both standing and lying down.
What causes cellulite?
Cellulite is caused by several factors that may not carry the same weight for each patient. Understanding the causes of cellulite in a given patient is necessary before offering a suitable treatment.
Four main factors contribute to cellulite:
- Excess fat
- Thickening of the fibrous walls surrounding fat cells
- Water retention
- Skin laxity.
Excess fat contained in fat cells:
Cellulite is first caused by excess superficial fat (the fat contained in the layers of the skin).
In the case of cellulite, the tissue walls surrounding fat cells are oriented parallel to one another and perpendicular to the skin surface, creating the "orange peel" appearance.
Thickening of the tissue surrounding fat cells.
Fat cells are surrounded by collagen tissue that is normally thin. In the case of cellulite, this tissue becomes stiffer. The skin loses its elasticity, giving it a rigid appearance. It becomes difficult to pinch in areas where cellulite is located.
The fat becomes "trapped" in this rigid tissue and becomes particularly difficult to eliminate despite weight loss. This mechanism is called fibrosis.
Water retention
Blood and lymphatic vessels are responsible for "recovering" water from the extracellular space and returning it to blood circulation. When these vessels malfunction, water remains between cells, giving cellulite its "waterlogged" effect.
When blood and lymphatic circulation decreases, waste products are less well filtered and attack the tissues that support the skin. Excess fat further compresses the vessels. A vicious cycle of water retention, excess fat and tissue deterioration sets in, promoting the formation of cellulite.
Skin laxity
Skin laxity reduces the support of fat cells and therefore promotes the appearance of orange peel skin.
Skin laxity increases with age, which may explain why cellulite often worsens with age (even though young women can be affected too, notably due to genetic predispositions).
Aggravating factors for cellulite
Estrogen, the female hormone, promotes the localization of fat in certain areas such as the saddlebags, thighs, buttocks or knees. These hormones also promote venous circulation disorders and lead to water retention.
Being overweight is an aggravating factor for cellulite, as excess of certain fats and sugars promotes fat storage and can worsen cellulite.
Skin laxity can be worsened by tobacco use and intensive sun exposure.
Why is cellulite difficult to eliminate?
Since the origin of cellulite is multifactorial, there are no non-medical methods or lifestyle rules that can reduce cellulite on their own. It is often necessary to address all the causes and aggravating factors together to achieve good results.
Adopting a balanced diet
To fight cellulite, you must first adopt a balanced diet. In case of being overweight, a low-calorie diet is an essential first step in eliminating cellulite.
To specifically fight cellulite, it is advisable to limit intake of saturated fats and refined sugars. These are poorly eliminated by the body and are therefore easily stored. Fat intake should also be limited to avoid an increase in fatty tissue.
A suitable diet is essential to get rid of cellulite. While a balanced diet is essential to get rid of cellulite, it is, however, not sufficient.
Ideally, this diet should be combined with regular exercise. So-called "cardio" sports will help with fat loss. Sports that work the lower body, tone the buttocks and thighs, and have a draining effect should be favored (for example: fitness, running, swimming, aquabiking, elliptical training…).
The limited effectiveness of anti-cellulite creams and massages
Combined with massages, slimming or draining creams can limit fat storage and water retention.
Firming and moisturizing creams and oils help fight skin laxity. The skin becomes smoother, more supple and appears more toned.
Regular lymphatic drainage or "palper-rouler" (roll and pinch) massages improve lymphatic circulation and fight water retention. Combined with a balanced diet and exercise, these massages and creams promote the reduction of cellulite.
However, if you do not notice a significant reduction in cellulite after several months, you may consider medical treatments that achieve a more significant elimination of cellulite.
Keybody-Cellulite: a combined protocol to eliminate cellulite
Since the causes of cellulite are multiple and complex, there is no "single" medical treatment that would permanently eliminate cellulite. However, recent advances in aesthetic medicine have led to the development of several treatments that can effectively reduce cellulite.
To achieve the best possible result, it is often advisable to combine certain treatments. Depending on your anatomy and wishes, a tailored therapeutic approach can be adopted to target superficial fat (ONDA Coolwaves), deeper fat (Coolsculpting) and/or skin laxity (ONDA and Keybody-Skin).
ONDA: Eliminating superficial cellulite and orange peel skin
ONDA is an innovative body-contouring treatment based on the action of electromagnetic microwaves from Coolwaves™ technology. These waves, at a frequency of 2.45 GHz, are suited to treating fat, cellulite and skin laxity.
These waves have the characteristic of accelerating the metabolism of fat cells. They "sweat" until they disappear and are then naturally eliminated by the body via the lymphatic system.
Specifically for orange peel skin, the "superficial" handpiece of the ONDA device targets the connective walls between fat lobules in the most advanced stages of cellulite.
The microwaves of the ONDA system cause an immediate tightening of collagen fibers in the dermis and stimulate the production of new collagen. The skin is firmed and toned.
A reduction in cellulite can be visible from the first session. However, 4-6 sessions spaced a month apart are recommended for an optimal result.
The result is not visible immediately after treatment. It appears gradually in the weeks following treatment, as the body eliminates the fat cells. It also takes a few weeks for elastic tissue (collagen, hyaluronic acid, elastin) to reform to tone the skin.
> Learn more about cellulite treatment with ONDA
CoolSculpting: Removing deep fat
Cryolipolysis is an innovative aesthetic medicine treatment based on the destructive action of cold on fat cells. Since fat cells are more sensitive to cold than other cells in the body, they are damaged during treatment and are then naturally eliminated by metabolism.
For several years, Dr. Kron has performed cryolipolysis with the Coolsculpting device developed by Zeltiq. Developed by researchers from Harvard University, the effectiveness of the Coolsculpting device has been clinically proven.
For cellulite treatment, cryolipolysis with Coolsculpting is notably indicated in two situations. First, it can be used to target deep fat when orange peel skin is associated with stubborn fat deposits or excess weight. Second, it can be used in combination with ONDA for a dual action and greater effectiveness: ONDA reduces superficial fat while Coolsculpting targets deeper fat.
> Learn more about cryolipolysis with Coolsculpting
Keybody-Skin: Treating skin laxity to reduce orange peel skin
With age, skin laxity leads to less support for fat cells, resulting in more visible orange peel skin.
Keybody-Skin is an innovative "medical lift" and deep skin regeneration protocol. It draws on the latest advances in aesthetic medicine: LaseMD Ultra, dynamic phototherapy, and custom cosmetic preparations (Universkin).
The Keybody-Skin protocol notably uses the LaseMD Ultra sub-ablative laser, which combines a latest-generation fractional laser with cosmeceutical ampoules. LaseMD Ultra is a particularly effective medical treatment for treating pigmented spots and lesions (melasma, photoaging, lentigos), including spots resistant to other laser or peel treatments, for correcting signs of skin aging, superficial skin irregularities (such as chickenpox or acne scars), and for restoring the skin's radiance.
Generally speaking, the Keybody-Skin protocol is indicated for patients who want deep skin regeneration, to correct skin laxity, and to smooth skin imperfections. With regard to cellulite, Keybody-Skin restores the skin's elasticity and firmness, thereby reducing orange peel skin.
For an optimal result on cellulite, it is often necessary to combine a skin-laxity treatment with a treatment for superficial or deeper fat.
> Learn more about Keybody-Skin
Results of medical cellulite treatments
A combined approach for the best possible results
Since the causes and aggravating factors of cellulite are multiple, it is not always possible to achieve an optimal result with a single treatment. To achieve the best possible result, it may be necessary to combine a fat treatment with a skin-laxity treatment.
ONDA and CoolSculpting treatments dry out the skin by removing superficial and deep fat. A skin-laxity treatment with Keybody-Skin restores the skin's elasticity and firmness. By combining these treatments, a triple action is achieved: the fat cells responsible for cellulite are permanently removed, the subcutaneous connective tissue regains its elasticity, and the skin becomes smoother and firmer, no longer revealing the underlying fat cells.
In some cases, other treatments can be used to best eliminate cellulite. EMSculpt sculpts the buttock muscles and eliminates excess fat in the buttocks. Electro-myo-stimulation sessions with XBody may be indicated to optimize the result achieved. XBody sculpts the silhouette, reduces fat mass and tones the body.
How do I know which treatment is right for my case?
A medical treatment for permanently eliminating cellulite requires a tailored approach to achieve an optimal result. It is necessary to identify the causes of cellulite based on your anatomy, age and lifestyle. It will then be possible to determine the "anti-cellulite" protocol best suited to your case.
To find out if you are a good candidate for a medical cellulite treatment, the practice offers a body-contouring diagnostic consultation. This diagnostic notably assesses which medical fat- and cellulite-removal treatments are most appropriate for your case. At the end of this consultation, you will be given a tailored treatment protocol.
Since several sessions spaced several weeks apart are necessary for genuine effectiveness, Dr. Kron will optimize your protocol as sessions progress, tailoring it based on your body's response to each session.
Before-After: Medical cellulite treatments
Before-after photographs provided by the DEKA laboratory.
