Your Top Questions About Cellulite, Answered

Cellulite. Cottage cheese. Orange peel skin. There are plenty of names for the symptom that is medically known as cellulite. To some, it’s not much of a concern, but at Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center, we work with patients every day who are tired of their cellulite and have decided to put it behind them.

Curious about your own cellulite and what you can do about it? Our cosmetic specialists are answering all your top questions about cellulite.

What Causes Cellulite?

Cellulite appears because of a combination of factors. There is a layer of fat below your skin, and there are also connective bands that secure your skin to the underlying tissue. Cellulite dimples appear when the fat is pushing your skin up and the connective bands are pulling down on the skin, creating little lumps in between the connective bands.

Of course, you have fat and connective bands throughout your entire life, so why don’t you develop cellulite until at least puberty or adulthood? It’s because your connective bands often become more rigid as you get older, and most people accumulate more fat below their skin in adulthood too. That combination of increased fat and overly rigid connective bands creates the look of cellulite.

Does My Weight Affect Cellulite?

If cellulite is partially caused by fat, does that mean that your weight affects your cellulite? Yes, it does, but only to an extent. According to the Cleveland Clinic, cellulite affects up to 90% of women, and that includes a large percentage of women who are slim.

Losing weight may reduce the fat below your skin and reduce the pressure pushing up against those connective bands to produce cellulite dimples. While this is likely to reduce your cellulite, remember that there are several factors that contribute to cellulite, so it isn’t likely to go away entirely.

Why Do Women Get More Cellulite Than Men?

While cellulite can affect anyone, it’s significantly more common in women than men, and there are a few reasons for this. First, women are more likely to accumulate fat in areas that are prone to cellulite, like the hips, thighs, and buttocks. Men, on the other hand, are more likely to hold most of their weight in their belly, which is less likely to have cellulite.

Women also tend to have thinner skin than men. Thicker skin can mask the appearance of cellulite dimples, so women are more likely to have visible cellulite dimples.

Is Cellulite a Medical Issue?

While many people with cellulite don’t like how it looks, the good news is that cellulite is not a medical issue. It does not affect your health, nor does it indicate that you are overweight. It is solely a cosmetic issue.

How Can I Treat Cellulite?

If you have cellulite and you want smoother, firmer skin with fewer dimples, our cosmetic experts are proud to offer multiple treatment options. At Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center, we offer skin tightening and cellulite reduction by Viora(TM). For a more direct and comprehensive procedure for cellulite, we also offer Cellulaze™ at Southern Plastic Surgery.

Keep in mind that while there are many topical over-the-counter products that claim to reduce cellulite, these have not been found to be reliably effective. In most cases, these products are only moisturizers, and while the hydration can temporarily reduce the appearance of cellulite by plumping the skin, they don’t make any lasting changes to your cellulite.

To take the first steps toward smoother skin, schedule a free consultation at Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center or at Southern Plastic Surgery today.