After so many explanations about cellulite, I still feel the need for a better understanding. Why do people who follow a balanced diet and spend hours in the gym daily still show cellulite? Is there something I am missing? After some time musing on it, I decided to ask the expert. In this article, I am writing down what I learned from a talk about cellulite with Dr Victor Garcia Guevara, a recognized expert with more than 30 years in the aesthetic arena. Thanks to his knowledge and experience, we are going to gain a deep insight into cellulite that will help us understand its nature once and for all.
THE GENESIS OF CELLULITE
Cellulite is a skin problem that affects women almost exclusively. Some men can show signs of cellulite if they gain notable weight, but, unlike women, their cellulite disappears when they lose the extra weight.
Why is that? Hormones.
But let’s first understand how cellulite gets formed.
Cellulite is formed in the deepest layer of the skin or hypodermis, where subcutaneous fat is stored. Subcutaneous fat is made of separate compartments that contain adipocytes(fat cells). These compartments are separated by collagen walls, called septums. These septums are elastic in “healthy” conditions (which is generally before puberty for females), and so they adapt to the number or size of adipocytes stored inside the compartments. Cellulite appears when these walls suffer from fibrosis. Affected by fibrosis, septums become rigid, thicker, shorter, and harder. In this condition, they cannot adapt to an increased size of adipocytes inside them, and the adipocytes are obliged to push upwards, causing the appearance of dimpled skin on the surface — as you can see in the image below.
THE ROLE OF HORMONES
Female hormones play a massive role in the formation of cellulite, which explains why men are generally not at risk.
Estrogen activity starts with the first menstruation. It triggers a series of reactions that can cause and worsen cellulite. These reactions lead to the formation of fibrosis of the connective tissue or septums that divide the adipocyte compartments, causing lumpy skin appearence, as mentioned above.
THE EFFECTS OF ESTROGENS ON CELLULITE
Estrogens have effects on three key elements involved in the genesis of cellulite: Adipocytes (fat cells), Fibroblasts (cells involved in connective tissue formation), and Blood Circulation.
- Estrogens increase lipogenesis, which is the conversion of fatty acids and glycerol into fat. As a result, adipocytes get larger in the adipose tissue.
- Estrogens make fibroblasts produce more glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). Despite collagen and GAGs work together to make the connective tissue elastic, an excess of GAGs ends up making it thicker and more rigid, thus promoting fibrosis.
- Estrogens also increase vascular permeability, loss of tonicity, and vasodilation, thus leading to water retention. Water gets stuck among the already deformed fat compartments in the adipose tissue.
All these effects combined lead to fibrosis of the septums in the adipocyte tissue and the swelling of the fat compartments due to the enlargement of fat cells and retained water, thus giving the appearance of orange peel skin or cellulite.
IS THERE A SOLUTION?
Once fibrosis is established in the adipose tissue, it is unlikely to eliminate it completely. Nevertheless, you can improve its condition and work on the other factors of cellulite, like fluid retention, poor circulation, or localized fat. We recommend combining a professional treatment with a specific body cream to mitigate the signs of cellulite as much as possible, and, most importantly, to prevent it from getting worse.
When treating cellulite, a bespoke combined approach is usually the best solution. The professional will try to improve collagen condition to fight fibrosis, reduce water retention, and help reduce stored fat.
INNO-TDS® SLIMMING
This transdermal solution should be administered in-office by a professional using microneedling, ultrasound, or other transdermal delivery techniques. It works on the adipose tissue shrinking fat cells and improving the condition of the collagen walls that divide the fat compartments, thus visibly improving the appearance of cellulite.
INNO-TDS® CYNARA PLUS+
This transdermal solution (also to use in-office by a professional) focuses on improving flood flow and promoting drainage of retained water. It also improves the condition of collagen, which is essential to smooth orange peel skin.
INNO-EPIGEN® BODY CONTOUR
Potent slimming and firming body cream for home use. It helps improve the appearance of cellulite and orange peel skin and prevent its recurrence.
BEFORE AND AFTER
Before and after pictures of a patient treated with Slimming and Cynara Plus+ after six treatment sessions alternating both products.
