Cellulite occurs in over 80 percent of the female population. Why do so many women suffer from cellulite on their buttocks and thighs after puberty? The reason for this is the different structure of the skin layers in women and men due to congenital connective tissue weakness, excess weight and hormonal changes. Due to the arrangement of the connective tissue fibers, cellulite is very rare in men. In women, the connective tissue fibers run perpendicular to the surface of the skin, while in men they are arranged "criss-cross". As a result, the female subcutaneous fat penetrates to the surface of the skin and causes the undesirable dimpling.
FACTS
- 1.7 billion women worldwide suffer from cellulite
- 85% of all women worldwide between the ages of 25 and 60 have cellulite
- 92% of women have cellulite on their thighs
- 74% of women have cellulite on their buttocks
Self-esteem decreases. There can be many different causes for the development of cellulite. They include genetic, nutritional, hormonal and environmental factors. Many women really suffer. "Although cellulite is not a medical disease, the quality of life and self-esteem of those affected can be massively reduced," confirms Dr. Rolf Bartsch, a plastic and aesthetic surgeon in Vienna. According to Dr. Bartsch, cellulite has three main causes: tissue, fat and structure. His classification describes three main types. Firstly, the envelope type: soft connective tissue and soft skin are responsible for the formation of dimples. Secondly, the fullness type: increased tissue pressure with a body mass index (BMI) of over 28 leads to dimples, as does reduced tissue pressure in very slim women with a BMI of under 18. And thirdly, the structure type: the longitudinal connective tissue fibers between the skin, superficial fascia and muscles also form dimples. Most women have mixed types, so a single therapy rarely leads to the desired success. Dr. Bartsch is convinced that a combination of many different approaches will produce a more satisfactory result.
Is there help? There are many treatment options. Various body contouring procedures are used to try to tackle the appearance of cellulite. Radio frequency and microneedling are not only used to treat wrinkles, but also cellulite. Shock wave treatment is another alternative for cellulite. It remains unclear how the shock wave reduces the dimples and whether the procedure has a long-term effect. Ultrasound and calcium hydroxylapatite are said to stimulate the formation of new collagen and thereby strengthen the tissue. Local deposits of fatty tissue are surgically removed using liposuction. Poor nutrition or too little exercise can lead to body fluids accumulating under the skin and making cellulite dimples worse. The aim of lymphatic drainage is to improve lymphatic flow through compression by removing lymph from the tissue. However, the therapeutic effect only lasts as long as lymphatic drainage is carried out at regular intervals. Endermologie is a computer-assisted massage procedure, comparable to electrical lymphatic drainage. Like manual lymphatic drainage, the procedure is intended to flush fluid out of the fatty tissue and stimulate the metabolism. But here too, only long-term use shows an effect.
Miracle cure liposomes. We exfoliate, we take cold showers, we apply creams, we massage. There are countless creams, gels and ointments that are supposed to improve the appearance of cellulite. But unfortunately many of them do not have the desired effect. This is because the ingredients often do not penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin, explains Dr. Bartsch. "Exceptions are so-called cosmeceuticals, which are cosmetic products with medicinal effects. Here the active ingredients are packaged in liposomes and are transported into the deeper layers of the skin, where the cellulite originates. Modern liposomal transfer technology ensures that the active ingredients contained in the product, such as caffeine, escin, carnitine or tocopheryl nicotinate, have direct contact with the cellulite fat pads and can develop their effect there. Caffeine accelerates drainage in the body and the removal of lymph is stimulated. Carnitine is a natural protein compound that acts as a transporter to support fat metabolism when losing weight.
There are no limits to the fight against cellulite. Summer can come... with smoother and firmer skin and a visibly tightened silhouette.