We've all seen the bumpy-looking dimpled skin on the thighs, arms and stomachs of, if we're lucky, other people, and we're not so lucky, our own reflection in the mirror. We're talking, of course, about cellulite. Sometimes going by the charming name of 'cottage cheese,' cellulite is nothing more than ordinary fat. Bands of firmer, more fibrous connective tissue run through the fat, binding it together and pulling it inward. This connective tissue, also known as collagen fibres, works something like a net. If the layer of subcutaneous fat bulges against this net, you'll get the cottage cheese dimpling effect on the surface of the skin.
The way the bands of connective tissue are arranged and the thickness of your skin will determine the amount and severity of the cellulite you develop. In short, if you have cellulite, you can blame it on your genetic make-up. Slim people also have subcutaneous fat, but the more fat you carry, the more it will bulge against your net of connective tissue. The thinner your skin, the more visible this effect will be. We also need to factor age into the equation. As we age, our nets of connective tissue lose their plasticity, which squeezes the fat and makes any puckering on the surface of the skin more pronounced.
Although men can also develop cellulite, especially across their torso and thighs, it is estimated that 90% of the female population have or will have cellulite. Dieting and exercise are the most often cited ways of keeping cellulite under control, but even these aren't always effective, and they become less so as our skin ages.
It is important to bear in mind that cellulite and liposuction do not always go hand in hand. Liposuction is far from being the best way to treat cellulite. In fact, cellulite may become more pronounced after a routine liposuction operation, especially in the case of elderly patients. Liposuction does not usually improve the appearance of cellulite and in some cases can make the appearance of cellulite worse or "cause" cellulite in patients who did not have it prior to their liposuction. In short, there are effective treatments for cellulite and liposuction is not really counted as one of them. At this point, perhaps it would be a good idea for us to take a look at the alternatives.
Alternatives to Liposuction
Some doctors and beauty consultants believe circulation and connective tissue issues are the primary causes of cellulite. New Age Healers believe that "toxins" are responsible. Some believe it is the pooling of too much water under the skin. Others are convinced that it stems from a lack of drinking water - something that can really upset your body's biochemical balance, so don't buy it. Many others believe it is a combination of genetic inheritance, lack of exercise, connective tissue disorders, the alignment of Jupiter and Saturn at birth and the spacecraft of tiny aliens that crash into our thighs adn remain embedded there for ever. There do exist, however, non-invasive treatments that can aid cellulite and fat removal.
Endermologie
The first of these we'll consider is a French technique known as Endermologie. The Endermologie machine has been used with success since its inception at the end of the 80s. Endermologie offers a non-invasive, non-surgical cure for skin contour irregularities. However, the effects are temporary. The Endermologie machine creates suction to temporarily immobilize and lift your soft tissue while dual "rollers" create deep, subdermal massage to the connective tissue and fat globules to improve the appearance of cellulite. Allegedly, the stretching of the fibrous bands loosens and releases the fat by releasing it from the tight and compact grasp of its connective tissue. The Endermologie™ machine literally sucks the skin up and rolls the skin out resulting in a deep tissue massage. This loosens tightly packed fat from the skin and promotes better circulation. The resultant reduction in cellulite is due to increased vascularity which is thought to improve the removal of waste. The act of massage may also promote new collagen growth. This reinforces the connective tissue thereby prohibiting fat globules from pressing through the net-like structure of the connective tissue itself. An Endermologie session lasts between 30 and 45 minutes. It has been described as feeling like a 'rigorous massage'. Changes can usually be detected after 4 or 5 treatments. However, many patients report significant results after 8 to 10 and even up to 12 sessions. Patients must return for treatments once every few months to maintain the smoothness of their skin, so you can expect this to be a lifelong routine like visiting the dentist.
Superficial liposuction
Some surgeons have achieved good results with cellulite and superficial liposuction, but unless your surgeon is especially skilled in this technique, it may not be safe enough to consider. A botched superficial liposuction treatment can lead to permanent skin irregularities such as discoloration, visible vascularity from superficial angiogenesis and even necrosis (tissue death.
Superficial liposuction is controversial Because skin irregularities can be unpredictable, many of the irregualrities developing in patients post-operatively, superficial liposuction is a controversial treatment. The fact is that superficial liposuction can lead to subdermal rasping, scoring or laser burn, which in turn can cause severe damage to the target area, the formation of excessive scar tissue and irregular angiogenesis. Some surgeons are big believers in it and it's true that some of these surgeons have excellent results. However, not all surgeons know what they are doing when it comes to superficial liposuction.
Laser Lipolisis
Laser Lipolisis is a recent procedure developed in Italy. It is performed using a series of injections similar to the "tumescent" technique followed by the insertion of a fibre-optic laser through very small incisions. As the laser beam only seems to affect yellow body tissue, quantities of fat can be broken down, absorbed and naturally excreted as waste by the body. Although Laserlipolisis was not intended for high volume application, larger volumes of fat can be liquefied and suction aspirated. The odd and slightly disturbing thing about Laserlipolisis is a sound like popcorn popping. This procedure has been reported to help with cellulite.
Laser-assisted Liposuction
Also called Laser Liposuction or Laser Liposculpture, this procedure was pioneered quite by accident by Columbian surgeon, Dr. Rodrigo Neira after he noticed that his device, which had been intended and FDA-approved for pain movement, fat was emulsified and released fat and that increased contouring efficiency was possible. Although the fat was emulsified, the adipocyte's membrane was unharmed so the remaining fat cells resembled deflated, unruptured membranes. Laserliposis is often used with tumescent liposuction but has also been used for smaller fatty areas for emulsification without suction-assisted aspiration. The body can remove a small amount of fat quite efficiently on its own through routine waste removal. This device does not create heat (it is considered a "cool" or "cold" laser) so there is never any detrimental thermal wound responses of any kind.
In Conclusion
There are treatments for cellulite and liposuction is not one of them, at least not yet. Although liposuction can on occasion improve cellulite, getting rid of cellulite is not a good reason to go ahead with such an invasive surgical procedure as liposuction. As my surgeon friends often remark in their unguarded moments, don't go under the knife if you can at all avoid it.
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