Cellu-lite Savvy

Posted: Tuesday 22 March 2011 08:23am

You can never be too rich or thin. To have cellulite that is, as supermodel Kate Moss demonstrated in a Louis Vuitton catsuit on the Paris catwalk recently.

It just goes to show that even if you have a figure to die for, dimpled thighs can still be a killer. (Note to Kate: The fag dangling from your fingertips isn’t a good look, nor is smoking recommended for anyone battling cottage cheese lumps and bumps, or interested in preserving their health overall.)

But cellulite is not a disease, a condition or a syndrome. It’s fat by any other name, just stored differently.

“While many look at cellulite as a disease – a harmful build-up of toxins that must be healed – it’s no such thing,” says Sydney cosmetic physician Dr Deborah Davis. “It’s a perfectly normal and natural way of carrying fat.”

Of course knowing it’s “just” fat is no great consolation to those who have cellulite.

For many, the way it manifests on the body – on hips, thighs, buttocks, knees, abdomen and even arms – in cottage cheese-like lumps can seem a scourge as debilitating as an illness.

Affecting up to 85 per cent of women at some time, in some way during their lives, doctors know that cellulite can be genetic and most believe there’s a strong hormonal component to its development.

Fatty tissue gets caught between layers of connective tissue. The tissue hardens, which causes the lumps or dimples that are characteristic of cellulite. While healthy diet and regular exercise can certainly help improve its appearance and keep cellulite under control, it’s not a fix.

Nor are surgical fat reduction methods like liposuction.  “You might think that if cellulite is just fat, liposuction is just what you need,” says Dr Davis, of Sydney’s Heber Davis clinic. “But that’s not the case. In fact, liposuction can actually make cellulite look worse.

“The problem is that liposuction can really only get at fat that’s deep down beneath the skin. Cellulite is generally too close to the surface for liposuction to help.  As well, since it’s the fibrous bands that really give cellulite its appearance, getting rid of fat alone doesn’t really achieve much.”

Indeed, there is no “cure” for cellulite – though the quest rages worldwide among medical and scientific boffins – but certainly there are better than ever means of significantly reducing it, with an array of sophisticated clinical and salon procedures, and potent home products.

THERMAGE

The new Thermage CPT claims to smooth out the puckering caused by cellulite by zapping the skin with capacitive radiofrequency (CRF) energy.

The heat from the energy penetrates deep into the skin, breaking down and shrinking the undulating fat cells responsible for cellulite’s formation.

“Additional improvements with the new Comfort Pulse Technology including pressure and heat sensors at last make it a truly safe procedure,” says Dr Garry Cussell, of Sydney’s Facial Rejuvenation Clinic.

“Done correctly, there is absolutely no downtime. There is no redness, swelling, peeling, pigmentation concerns or skin burning or pitting – as have been reported with some of the older machines and other types of radiofrequency skin tightening.

“The addition of the new vibration technology with the CPT machine is what enables increasing energy to be delivered deeper into the skin, thus providing increased tightening and effectiveness. The comfort pulse technology enables us to go 25-30 per cent deeper in a treatment than previously. This of course translates to better results for our clients.

“As you age the quality, elasticity and strength of your collagen changes, causing your skin to sag, and lose its firmness and tightness.

“The Thermage CPT is excellent at lifting and tightening all loose skin as well as significantly improving areas of fat and cellulite – in particular we are getting excellent results on the face, around the upper neck and jowls, and slimming and lifting the facial contours. On the body it improves areas important to most people – especially the buttocks, upper thighs and upper arms.”

The Thermage body procedure takes anywhere from an hour to 90 minutes, and you can return to routine activities right after treatment.

Most people require only a single treatment, although full results may not become noticeable for several months. Treatments cost around $3000-$5000 depending on areas treated.

IONITHERMIE

This technology works by using two kinds of electrical stimuli (galvanic and faradic) with a conductive, thermal masque – of  algae and clay containing active ingredients derived from plant extracts – to penetrate deep into the cellular level where cellulite resides.

Developed over seven years of clinical research and safety testing by French biochemist Oliver Fouche, Ionithermie launched in France in 1979.

As well as targeting cellulite, the system improves skin and muscle tone, with the added benefits of slimming and detoxification.

It is highly recommended for spot reduction (thighs, abdomen, love handles, hip, upper arms) and as a kick start to a weight loss program.

The manufacturers of Ionithermie say more than a million treatments are performed annually worldwide and is used in spas, salons in over 80 countries.

To make an appointment at a salon near you, contact Claudia on 0433 722 639 or email info@bodyelite.com.au.

ULTRASHAPE

This one of the few technologies that has scientific evidence to prove it works as advertised, according to Sydney plastic surgeon Dr Mark Kohout, using “focused ultrasound to break down the fat cells under the skin surface. Many other technologies sound good in theory but have not been proven in human subjects.

“The best results are in women with relatively normal body weight but a couple of bulges that are difficult to reduce with diet and exercise. We recommend four treatments spaced 2 to 4 weeks apart

“You feel a sting as the ultrasound is delivered, and there is a warm glow after treatment for about an hour.”

Depending on the size of the area, each treatment can cost between $250 and $900.

ENDERMOLOGIE

A “deep-massage” approach to body-contouring, Endermologie uses a device that suctions the skin with a vacuum and kneads it with a set of rollers.

It was developed in the 1980s in France to treat the scars of burn victims, who began to notice improvements in their cellulite as well.

Endermologie was the first treatment approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to allow the claim of “temporary reduction of cellulite”; it also reduced body measurements, increased circulation, relieved muscular pain and spasms.

In addition to the targeted areas, Endermologie treatments can help increase lymphatic flow and help promote better circulation throughout the body.

Usually up to 14 initial treatments are necessary, once or twice a week, to achieve optimal results, with monthly visits for maintenance. Treatments are around 30 minutes. Reputable salons offer packages costing around $1200-$1500 for these initial treatments.

The majority of patients compare Endermologie to receiving a very deep massage and find the treatment relaxing. The intensity of the rolling action can be adjusted to personal comfort level.

Minor, temporary bruising might occur, similar to that from a deep tissue massage.

VELASHAPE

This technology uses “infrared light, radiofrequency energy, vacuum-pulsed negative pressure and specially designed rollers that smooth out the skins surface at various points”, according to the manufacturers.

The process claims to break down hardened connective tissue in order to allow the body to naturally remove fat cells, shaping and slimming the body by reducing cellulite and circumference. It requires no incisions or anaesthetic and patients can immediately return to normal activities without side effects.

An initial series of four treatments are performed once a month, with follow-up treatments recommend to maintain results.

Although non-invasive, the rollers may cause bruising in people with sensitive or fragile skin. Those with pacemakers or implanted metal in the treatment area are not suitable for treatment.

HYPOXI

In a nutshell this requires being strapped into an airtight chamber that looks like a bit like a giant nutshell with bike peddles. You peddle away on these for around 30 minutes, in order to keep your blood flowing in the lower half of your body.

It targets buttocks, knees, thighs and stomach to help smooth and reduce those areas.

“Obviously in our line of work we’re inundated with products and treatments that claim to reduce cellulite, eliminate water retention and generally make us look 10kg lighter after only one session or a week’s worth of application,” says Yasemin Turker, Editor in Chief of our sister site, Primped.com.au, who tried the regime.

“Hypoxi, however, is not one for making extreme claims and failing to deliver. And, with every 30-40 minute session, you have to peddle your way to looking slimmer and smoother. None of this sitting around doing nothing. business. You have to work for it.”

Dr Norbert Egger, who created Hypoxi, realised that if you could stimulate blood flow to a specific area of the body, your fatty acids would metabolise faster in that area, making you lose weight and reduce cellulite more effectively. And that exercise was key to speeding up the process.

“Hypoxi recommends you take 12 sessions. This could be twice a week for 6 weeks or 3 a week for 4 weeks,” says Yasemin. “The hardest part for me was to have no alcohol or carbs for at least 4-6 hours after Hypoxi training. “After peddling away for 4 weeks for 30 minutes at a time, I’d lost 5.5 cm off my stomach, 3.5cm off my hips, 3.5cm off my contracted leg and a total of 22.5cm off my entire lower half.

“As well as the numerical measurements, I noticed a huge change in my skin tone: it was definitely smoother, less bumpy.”

Hypoxi starts from around $69 per session, or $690 for a course of 12. Prices may vary slightly from location to location. For more information call 1300HYPOXI.

MESOTHERAPY

Developed by French doctor Michel Pistor in 1952, mesotherapy involving a series of injections of homeopathic medications, vitamins and natural extracts into the mesoderm (the middle area of the skin), directly affecting the fat pockets. It claims to break down fat and flush it away during the body’s natural metabolic processes.

Mesotherapy is widely practiced in France and proponents of claim that it is the only truly effective method for treating cellulite, although there is no scientific evidence to support this.

A series of around 10 treatments costing about $2000 is required and results are said to be permanent, as long as the patient does not experience a significant weight gain.

The technique should be performed by a medical doctor and patients should know exactly what substances are being injected.

LIPO DISSOLVE

This is a safe and effective method for the reduction of unwanted fat, says Dr Deborah Davis. If you are a relatively fit individual having trouble reducing fat in specific areas, then Lipo Dissolve may be just what you are looking for. The treatment injects a combination of substances such as enzymes, vitamins and phosphatidolcholine (a natural soy substance) into the unwanted fat pockets in order to melt them away. This injection increases fat metabolism which allows for the efficient break down fatty deposits in order to naturally absorb and remove them from the body.

It is not a weight loss alternative but simply helps “receptive” individuals remove excess pockets of fat that will no longer be reduced by diet or exercise.  The injections will help with the natural metabolic process of breaking down and removing fat cells from the body.  About four treatments will be needed for successful results and patients will receive these treatments every four to six weeks. Each series of injections costs around $350 and as many as six sessions may be required, 4 to 6 weeks apart.

Try this at home …

BEAUTY MOUSE

A gadget that looks like a computer mouse, embedded with 480 ultra-fine micro needles and a rolling width of 50mm, meaning you can cover larger body areas quite quickly. The device is designed to be rolled over cellulite-prone areas, helping to stimulate microcirculation and to deliver active substances into deeper layers of the skin.

It’s targeted at anyone who suffers from cellulite and lack of body firmness and claims firmer skin in four weeks.

Manufacturers recommend that after showering, on clean skin, you apply the accompanying Dermaquest Dermafirm anti-cellulite cream to problem areas and roll the Beauty Mouse over the top. As the needles are 0.2mm in depth, the process of penetrating the top layer of the skin, creating micro-channels to allow substances to gain deeper access in the skin, is painless.

“Due to the large amount of needles involved, we advise that people use the device only once a day,” says Sean Abel, of Beauty Mouse distributors Clinic Care. Use of the Mouse is said to achieve firmer skin in four weeks.

Beauty Mouse is $285.  As continued used will lead to the needles getting blunt, aim to replace every six months if using year-round. Dermaquest DermaFirm anti-cellulite cream, $150, is available at selected beauty and cosmetic clinics or call Clinic Care on 1300 799 709.

by Jenni Gilbert

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