How to Get Rid of Cellulite: A Review of Cellulite Treatments

March 31, 2014|Personal Care|Caroline Sarda

Get rid of cellulite

Most of us women have dimples on our thighs or buttocks. As a matter of fact, 90% of women have cellulite, according to Howard Murad, M.D., author of The Cellulite Solution: A Doctor’s Program for Losing Lumps, Bumps, Dimples, and Stretch Marks. I’m part of the 90%. Are you? I’ve had cellulite since I was a teenager.

I’m sure I’m not alone in wondering how to get rid of cellulite. That is why I did some research and wanted to share with you the pros and cons of the cellulite treatments and lifestyle changes I found to help get rid of cellulite.

Quit Smoking and Reduce Your Alcohol Intake

Pros – Relatively easy (the smoking part not as much), will save you money, is good for your health.
Cons – None. Nada.

Your Eating Habits

Avoid junk food, soda especially diet, processed foods, anything with artificial colors and flavors, and limit sugar and too much salt. Rule of thumb: shop the periphery of your grocery store. Better yet, shop your local farmer’s market.

Pros – Better health, less toxin load, weight loss, more energy
Cons – It might be a hard adjustment for some of you. Instead of changing everything at once, start by eliminating one thing and replacing it with another. For example, replace soda with water with lemon slices or orange slices.

Get Rid of Cellulite with Exercise

Per Fitness Expert and Founder of Laura P Fitness, “Lunges and squats are great to tone many muscles of the leg. And I’ve found that combining them in plyometrics (jump squats, burpees, etc) will help burn fat & tone up as well.”

Pros – Tight and toned body, less fat, better health and strength.
Cons – You might be a little sore but who cares? You’re taking care of #1, YOU!

Lotions and Potions

Pros – Tighter and firmer skin, reduction in the appearance of cellulite. I personally use and recommend 100% organic salt scrub and body oil from France, part of the Get Rid of Cellulite Package. In my opinion, there are no cons to the two products in the Get Rid of Cellulite package. They smell wonderful, hydrate your body, smooth out your skin and make it feel radiant.
Cons – Temporary improvement in appearance, usually expensive, and hasn’t worked for everyone. Most anti-cellulite lotions and potions contain caffeine, which dehydrates the skin. But if you want to try a lotion, look for a cellulite cream with 5% caffeine or one with 0.3% retinal which doesn’t “cure” cellulite but it can improve the look and texture of your skin. Be patient. I read that It may take 6 months for your skin’s outer layer to help cover the bumpy areas underneath when you use a retinal cream.

Get Rid of Cellulite with Body Wraps

Ranging from herbal, mud, mineral, seaweed, paraffin…there are so many different types of wraps.

Pros – Highly effective, can be inexpensive if done at home. Non invasive and no down time. Results can last a long time if you use the right kind of wrap and make the necessary lifestyle adjustments. I recommend and use Slimmer Silhouette’s Body Sculpting System which is a mineral wrap that not only tightened and toned my skin but has made me lose inches in areas that seemed impossible like my thighs and buttocks. Results can last a very long time with these wraps since they are not a water-loss or sweat-loss treatment. The cons below do not apply to Slimmer Silhouette expect that a wrap from start to finish does take about an hour. But hey, that’s for a full body and face so I think it’s well worth it!
Cons – They can be expensive. Depending on which kind of wrap you get, the results may last a day or two just long enough to get you into a special evening gown. They can take 45 minutes to an hour. They can take even longer if you have to drive somewhere for an appointment.

Massage The Dimpled Area

Every day, spend a few minutes firmly massaging those problem areas.

Pros – Massage improves blood flow and gets rid of excess fluid, which may make dimples less noticeable for a while. Make sure to use a body brush with natural bristles.
Cons – Adds a few extra minutes to your daily routine (not a con in my book but it all adds up).

Get Rid of Cellulite with a Detox or Cleanse

A holistic doctor I met a few years ago told me that cellulite was a result of toxicity and that it was critical to cleanse. There are a ton of ways to cleanse or detox your body. Ranging from food detoxes, juice fasts, to supplements and meal replacements, there is a solution out there to meet your needs. I am the queen of detox and have tried many different ones. I will soon be sharing my findings. If you think that detoxing is scary and hard, trust me when I write that it’s not at all!

Pros – Great for your health, energy levels, skin, getting rid of impurities, non invasive, no down time.
Cons – Requires some lifestyle changes and discipline which may be somewhat difficult at first.

“Lipomassage” Treatment to Get Rid of Cellulite

A lipomassage is a device approved by the FDA that uses a rolling suction device to gather your skin and massage it.

Pros – You will see noticeable changes, lose fat where you want to, revitalize blood and lymphatic circulation.
Cons – It may take several treatments before you see any results. Their website reads “After six thirty-five minute sessions you will see visible results on your figure…“ Results are likely to go away unless you have it done over and over. They can also be pricey.

Laser or Radiofrequency (RF) Treatment

These treatments heat your skin from the outside, massage and suction.

Pros – They smooth out your cellulite!
Cons – They can be costly, not hurt much (hmm what does that mean?!), last about 6 months, and may require several visits.

Cellulaze

This is a surgery where a laser is slipped under the skin to shrink fat cells, cut the tough bands that cause dimpling, and stimulate thicker skin.

Pros – This surgery zaps cellulite at the source. The company says results may last a year or longer. You can get the job done in one treatment.
Cons – The FDA approved Cellulaze in 2012 based only on a small 3-month study with unknown long-term effects. Surgery is surgery and with it comes risks and possible complications. My mother almost died in 2012 after a very “basic” surgery. Cellulaze may not work well if on very heavy individuals and people who have severe cellulite. Others cons include: some bruising and discomfort, and small amounts of fluid may leak from the incision sites, you may need to wear a compression garment, you’ll need a day or two to get back to your normal activities.

I believe that it all starts with lifestyle changes. Eat healthy, balanced meals, exercise, detox on a regular basis, and start with noninvasive natural solutions first like the 100% mineral body sculpting treatment by Slimmer Silhouette or the 100% organic essential oil Himalayan salt scrub and body oil from Altearah.

These are my personal picks for best cellulite treatments that I use on a regular basis. I won’t say that I am 100% cellulite free because I’m not. I am inconsistent with my treatments (what can I say, I have a business to run) but can tell you I’ve seen about 80% improvement with the Altearah products alone when using them regularly for a couple of months.

If you choose to go down the medical treatment route, be sure to do your research (talk with others who have undergone that treatment and talk with your doctor first – ask about side-effects and other long-term expectations.

Have you tried any cellulite treatments or fixes? I’d love to hear what has worked and what hasn’t. Please leave your comments below. Thanks!