First of all, let’s get one thing straight about cellulite: It’s something 90% of women (and about 10% of men) will experience in their lifetime. We’re going to explore some reasons for cellulite in this article and give some helpful info on what it is and what you can do about it. BUT! You, with or without cellulite, are both gorgeous and amazing inside and out. So please don’t fret too much about this, ok?
At Trim Studio, we’re all about science. Knowledge is power, baby! So let’s first break down what cellulite is and some of the most common reasons for its increasing appearance as we age.
What is Cellulite?
Simply put, cellulite is persistent fat under the skin that, because of other factors, causes dimpling. We see it most commonly on women’s thighs, hips and buttocks, but it can be found on the arms, legs, belly and sometimes around the joints. Though many myths exist as to what causes cellulite, it’s actually pretty multi-factorial. In other words, there are several different reasons for cellulite.
This means there’s good news and bad news.
Bad news first: there are several factors which can cause cellulite to worsen. Good news: because cellulite can be made worse by several things, you have several opportunities for hitting cellulite from all different angles to reduce its appearance and, at the same time, improve your overall wellness.
Reasons for Cellulite
There may be factors which cause cellulite that are not yet completely known or understood, but of what we do know, here are 5 of the key reasons for cellulite followed by ways you can take action:
- Accumulation of toxic build-up
- Water retention
- Enlarged fat cells
- Decreased oxygen supply (and, thus, collagen)
- Unhealthy connective tissue
Water Retention and Toxic Build-Up
The bumpy, dimpling appearance of cellulite is caused by the way our fat cells connect to each other, to our skin and surrounding connective tissue. Excessive storage of water, waste and toxins in the fat cells can cause them to enlarge and thus worsen the appearance of the dimpling we know as cellulite.
What do I do? Get your lymphatic system moving. Your lymph is what moves all this junk out of the body. In support of the lymphatic system, make sure you’re getting plenty enough water every single day (that may mean more than the old “8 glasses a day” myth), and make time each day for a little physical activity, even if just a brisk walk at night. Dry brushing and lymphatic massage are also great tools for boosting lymphatic flow.
Enlarged Fat Cells
Weight gain, by way of enlarging our fat cells, inherently makes cellulite look worse. Larger fat cells means larger dimples and a more uneven surface of the skin.
What do I do? The Verjú laser is the first and only FDA market-cleared green laser which shrinks fat storage cells and reduces cellulite. Further, take steps to clean up your diet and add more physical activity to your daily routine. Avoiding processed food will help you avoid toxic buildup and water retention in the cells, and it will help your body start receiving the nutrients it needs to function at a higher level (and less of the things which are, literally, weighing it down.) Focus on whole foods like fruits, vegetables, lean meats and whole grains. When you shop, focus on the outer edges of the grocery store and less of the inside aisles which tend to house processed foods like instant meals and sugary cereals.
No time for meal prep? Talk to us about Trim Meals. We can help you stay on track.
Decreased Oxygen Supply
Interestingly, one of the most common areas we accumulate cellulite on the body is the “under butt,” or back of the thigh. This area just below the buttocks is precisely where the average human will spend 18 years of their life sitting down (18 YEARS!) and thus cutting off blood flow.
Though there isn’t hard science showing that increased blood flow will “cure” cellulite 100% of the time, this is a fascinating connection that cannot be ignored. As we age, blood flow throughout the body becomes an issue and, in parallel, we see cellulite presenting more and more. Without oxygenated blood, collagen production begins to fail and cellulite becomes more visible and stubborn.
What do I do? CryoToning is a powerful way to rapidly increase blood supply in a trouble area. Using alternating warm and cold to open and close the tiny blood vessels which feed oxygen-rich blood to the tissue, collagen gets a huge boost and the skin responds beautifully with lifting, tightening, evening out the skin tone and showing a nice bounce. The Verju laser also stimulates blood flow at a micro-level, both boosting collage and and (bonus!) shrinking fat cells at the same time. This laser and CryoToning are anti-aging tools that we can’t recommend enough as part of your anti-aging regimen.
Unhealthy Connective Tissue
Holding together all of the connective tissues in our bodies is a specialized connective tissue known as fascia. Mostly made of collagen, fascia holds together the entire body and should be pretty supple and flexible in order to properly do its job. Fascia can be negatively affected by diet, stress, injury or over-use of the muscles, insufficient sleep, dehydration, etc. When this takes place, the fascia can form adhesions and lose its suppleness, becoming sticky, clumpy and tight.
In addition to poor mobility/flexibility, pain and discomort, unhealthy fascia can also worsen the apperance of cellulite. Adhesions of the fascia can pull the skin down and force the fat up, causing the orange-peel apperance of dents and dimples we know as cellulite.
What do I do? Fascia blasting! This is a service offer individually and as part of treatment plans which are focused on addressing cellulite in a trouble area. We also highly recommend mobility exercises, stretching and foam rolling regularly.
Cellulite Treatment Options: Cryoskin and Verju Laser
At Trim Studio, we incorporate everything we know about anti-aging and general wellness, and we apply this scientific data to our cellulite treatment approach. Since cellulite can be made worse by several things, we felt it only made sense to address it from multiple different angles.
CryoToning technology is our number one weapon against cellulite. By increasing blood supply, we boost oxygen and collagen production in the treated area. We also get the lymphatic system moving and see the skin itself respond beautifully. CryoSlimming (cryolipolysis) is a permanent fat loss tool and is great for people who experience stubborn fat on the tummy, love handles, thighs, etc. Using the Slimming mode of the device, we have seen the appearance of cellulite improve, we believe, as a result of the fact that fat cells have been eradicated from the body.
Finally, the Verjú Laser is the first and only FDA market-cleared green laser for non-surgical reduction of cellulite and fat in areas such as the waist, hips and thighs.
These technologies are fantastic opportunities to fight cellulite and improve self-confidence. We design all of our cellulite treatment plans individually and thoughtfully for each client. If you’re ready to learn more about what this amazing technology can do for you, contact us today by calling/texting 727-288-4329 or fill out this easy online form!
