Cellulite is a common skin condition that affects many people around the world. It appears as dimpled or lumpy skin, often on the thighs, hips, buttocks, and abdomen.
While it’s completely normal and harmless, some folks might want to reduce its appearance. In this article, we’ll explore the 15 best cellulite treatments available.
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From creams and massages to medical procedures, we’ll cover a range of options to help you achieve smoother skin.
Whether you’re looking for at-home remedies or professional treatments, there’s something for everyone.
What are the best cellulite treatments for at-home use?
There are a few options for cellulite treatments that you can use at home.
First, there’s massage. A good massage can help to reduce the appearance of cellulite by increasing circulation and improving lymphatic drainage.
If you want to learn more about how massage works for cellulite, check out this article from Healthline.
Next, there’s dry brush exfoliation—which is something you can do every day in your shower.
This is a very popular option with several quality products on the market to choose from.
Dry brushing helps to remove dead skin cells and improve circulation, which also helps to reduce the appearance of cellulite.
One of the best products for dry brush exfoliation that I have tried is the POPCHOSE dry brush. It’s very effective and quite affordable.
Finally, there are some topical treatments that you can apply directly to your skin.
These include creams with alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) like glycolic acid or salicylic acid, as well as retinol-based products.
You can find these at most drugstores or online retailers like Amazon. Look for Paulas Choice. It is the #1 selling topical cream.
What is cellulite?
Cellulite is the result of fatty deposits building up under the skin, resulting in dimples on the skin’s surface.
Oh, those trouble spots! The most common areas, appear on the thighs, buttocks, and stomach. You can see my latest post here on the best leggings to hide cellulite.
Top factors that increase cellulite development include hormonal changes, lack of exercise, and loss of skin elasticity.
So, how do you get rid of cellulite?
When it comes to minimizing the appearance of cellulite, there are treatments available with most requiring daily use to see results.
Regardless of which cellulite reduction treatment you use, consistency is key. If you can’t stick to a regimen, any of the removal products will be a waste of money. Here are some of the best products to remove stretch marks that I have tested.
Shop Lure Essentials: Lure Essentials Edge Cupping Set
In order to properly treat it, the affected area requires blood flow to get the fatty deposits moving. This is why massaging tools are most common, and all of the products we’ve tried use this method.
Many of these anti-cellulite products can produce noticeable results in a short period of time; weeks, days, or less in some cases.
➥See my updated list of the Best Products to Treat Stretch Marks on the Buttocks
Again, consistency is the key to getting the results out of these products. It’s important to keep using them even if you don’t see results immediately, since it may take time for them to soak into the skin and show results. This is especially true for those troublesome areas.
It is important to emphasize that the use of any of these anti-cellulite lotion options works best in combination with a healthy lifestyle.
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These best anti-cellulite products were selected because they contain ingredients that effectively reduce fluid retention in the cells and will improve the tone of skin.
They are made specifically to target stubborn areas; buttocks, hips, and thighs while producing smoother-looking skin with consistent use. With swimsuit weather fast approaching, this can be very important!
➥Read also… Best swimsuits for cellulite thighs
Finally, these products are all formulated to quickly absorb into the skin, eliminating any thick leftover product that could possibly stain that favorite sundress!
✓ Our Best Cellulite Treatments
M3 Naturals Anti Cellulite Massage Oil
Shop M3 Naturals: M3 Naturals Anti Cellulite Massage Oil
M3 Naturals Anti Cellulite Massage Oil features a natural essential oils blend to quickly give you strong tightening, moisturizing and regenerating benefits. This anti-cellulite massage oil is infused with collagen and stem cells to promote beautiful skin by naturally boosting your natural collagen production and increasing skin cell longevity.
Scala Silicone Anti Cellulite Massager
Shop Scala: Scala Silicone Anti Cellulite Massager
The Scala Silicone Anti-Cellulite Massager features sturdy silicone nodes to gently massage your skin and help stimulate improved circulation to renew your cells and produce more collagen. When used with massage oil, this dual-handle massager helps to drain excess fluids and trapped toxins.
Tezzionas Cellulite Massager – Professional Body Sculpting Machine
Shop Tezzionas: Tezzionas Professional Body Sculpting Machine
The Tezzionas body shaping device features constant temperature technology to provide safe treatment to your skin. This shaping device features 3 operating modes, 10 intensity levels, and a lightweight design to easily handle all areas of your body.
First Botany Anti Cellulite Massage Oil
Shop First Botany: First Botany Anti Cellulite Massage Oil
First Botany Anti Cellulite Massage Oil is effective in minimizing the appearance of cellulite — especially in those difficult areas around your hips, abdomen, thighs, and buttocks. This massage oil is silky smooth and lightweight to quickly moisturize and promote skin firmness and suppleness.
Cosmetasa Cellulite Massage Oil
Shop Cosmetasa: Cosmetasa Cellulite Massage Oil
Cosmetasa Cellulite Massage Oil has been clinically tested and designed to assist in reducing the appearance of cellulite in problem areas such as hips, thighs, buttocks, and belly. This massage oil effectively stimulates your skin to drain excess fluids, and massage away fat pockets.
Becommend Smart Dynamic Cupping Therapy Set
Shop Becommend: Becommend Smart Dynamic Cupping Therapy Set
The Becommend Smart Dynamic Cupping Therapy Set features an added dynamic mode to release the pain and promote blood circulation and detoxification. This cupping set uses advanced PI heating technology to heat up and efficiently break down the excess lactic acid and relieve muscle pains.
VIOFAIRY Caffeine Anti-Cellulite Hot Cream
Shop VIOFAIRY: VIOFAIRY Caffeine Anti Cellulite Hot Cream
VIOFAIRY hot cream is created to firm and improves problem skin areas as well to help eliminate visible signs of cellulite. This hot cream with caffeine stimulates blood circulation, and fluid drainage, leading to overall smoother skin.
Ways of Treating Cellulite at Home
There are many self-care methods you can do that can make a big difference in improving the appearance of your skin.
- Medicated creams. Applying 0.3% retinol cream has been shown to improve the appearance of cellulite. Retinol helps thicken skin, which reduces dimpling.
- Weight loss. Losing extra pounds and toning muscles may help improve the appearance of dimpled skin.
- Physical activity. Activities that tone muscles may help improve the appearance of dimpled skin. These activities should involve stretching and resistance training. Popular ones include yoga, Pilates, swimming, walking, biking, stair climbing, and dancing.
- Detoxification diet. This type of diet focuses on consuming less alcohol, caffeine, refined food, carbohydrates, and saturated fat, and avoiding smoking, diet pills, sleeping pills, laxatives, and diuretics. It also encourages using a diet based on fresh vegetables and fruits, water, whole-grain foods, fiber-rich foods, and essential nutrients and fatty acids.
- Anti-cellulite creams. Several creams and topical treatments are capable of reducing the skin dimpling of cellulite by improving skin texture and plumping the skin. When searching for toning body creams, look for products that include caffeine, retinol, alpha hydroxy acids, and aminophylline.
Anti-Cellulite Therapy Massage
Massage therapy may be able to improve the appearance of cellulite by:
- draining excess body fluid
- redistributing fat cells
- improving circulation
- plumping up skin
Nonetheless, massage won’t cure cellulite. While massage therapy may improve appearance, results typically are not permanent and in many cases, repeat treatments are required.
Popular Cellulite Treatments
Body Merry Cellulite Defense Gel-Cream
Shop Body Merry: Body Merry Cellulite Defense Gel-Cream
Body Merry’s best-selling Cellulite Defense Gel Cream will keep your beach body ready all year. This one-of-a-kind formula boasts a unique, customized blend that acts as a powerful, gentle cellulite remover treatment for skin tightening so you can achieve a smooth, even skin tone.
Weleda Birch Cellulite Body Oil
Shop Weleda Birch: Weleda Birch Cellulite Body Oil
Weleda Birch Cellulite Body Oil leverages the magical qualities of birch oil, blended with active carrier oils, to reveal smoother, and more toned skin. This cellulite body oil is free from synthetic compounds or toxic chemicals, using flower, fruit, and root extracts, to brighten your spirit and calm your mind.
Cellulite Reduction Treatments
If cellulite bothers you, you’re not by yourself. Our desire to eliminate or at least reduce it has resulted in many treatment choices. It’s difficult to determine what works with so many therapies available. Dermatologists have been doing research for many years, and you’ll be relieved to learn that some treatments can make cellulite less obvious – at least temporarily.
Acoustic wave therapy
Bottom line: Studies show that this can reduce the appearance of cellulite. Several treatment sessions are needed to see a reduction.
Laser treatment
Different types of laser treatments are used to treat cellulite.
During one minimally invasive laser treatment called Cellulaze™, a tiny laser fiber is inserted beneath your skin. When the laser is fired, the energy breaks up the tough bands beneath the skin that cause us to see cellulite. This treatment can also thicken your skin, which is important. The skin often thins where cellulite forms. Thickening the skin can help reduce the appearance of cellulite.
Bottom line: Cellulaze™ may reduce the appearance of cellulite. Patients are seeing results that last a year or longer. More research is needed to know how helpful this laser can be.
Subcision
Called Cellfina™, this medical procedure involves a dermatologist inserting a needle just under the skin to break up the tough bands beneath the skin that cause us to see cellulite.
Bottom line: Cellfina™ has been shown to reduce the skin dimpling that you see with cellulite. The results can last 2 years and possibly longer.
Vacuum-assisted precise tissue release
During this procedure, your dermatologist will use a device that contains small blades to cut the tough bands. After the bands are cut, the tissue moves upward to fill out and eliminate the dimpled skin.
Bottom line: This may be an effective treatment. A small study shows that many patients who received this treatment had less cellulite for up to 3 years.
Improve the appearance of cellulite
To improve the appearance of cellulite, a number of treatment options are available to provide at least temporary relief. Each has its own set of potential outcomes and negative consequences. According to several studies, a combination of therapies may produce the best outcomes. [1]https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cellulite/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20354949
- Laser and radiofrequency treatments. Cellulite can be treated with a variety of laser therapies. A small fiber is pushed beneath the skin to administer laser heat, which eliminates the fibrous bands that bind fat in one approach. This method has been demonstrated to lessen the appearance from six months to one year.
- Cryolipolysis. With cryolipolysis or more commonly known as CoolSculpting, vacuum suction is used to raise tissue into contact with cooling plates. You’ll need multiple treatments. Results appear gradually over two to three months.
- Acoustic wave therapy. In this technique, a small transducer sends sound waves into your body, breaking up cellulite. You’ll likely need multiple sessions before you notice an improvement in the appearance of your skin.
- Surgery. Your doctor may suggest one of the various procedures that use needles, blades, or other special tools to separate the fibrous bands under the skin to smooth the skin. Results from these techniques may last two to three years. Complications of these cellulite treatment skin techniques may include pain and bleeding beneath the skin surface.
Potential future treatments
Researchers are studying possible medical skin-tightening cellulite treatments that show the potential use of a combination of liposuction and ultrasound or laser. Liposuction by itself won’t remove cellulite and could worsen your skin’s appearance. But when combined with ultrasound or laser treatment, it might be effective at skin tightening.
FAQs
What causes cellulite and can these treatments completely get rid of it?
Cellulite is caused by fat cells pushing against the connective tissue beneath the skin, creating a dimpled appearance.
While these treatments can significantly reduce the appearance of cellulite, completely getting rid of it may not be possible for everyone.
The effectiveness varies depending on the individual’s skin, the severity of the cellulite, and the treatment used.
Are cellulite treatments safe for all skin types?
Most cellulite treatments are safe for all skin types.
However, some treatments, especially certain creams and medical procedures, may have side effects or may not be recommended for sensitive skin.
It’s important to consult with a professional or conduct a patch test before trying a new treatment.
How long does it take to see results from cellulite treatments?
The time it takes to see results can vary widely depending on the treatment.
Some treatments, like massage or topical creams, may show improvements in a few weeks, while others, such as laser therapy, might take several months of consistent treatment to see significant changes.
Are there any lifestyle changes that can enhance the effectiveness of cellulite treatments?
Yes, combining cellulite treatments with certain lifestyle changes can enhance their effectiveness.
Maintaining a healthy diet, staying hydrated, exercising regularly, and avoiding smoking can all help improve skin elasticity and reduce the appearance of cellulite.
Can men use these cellulite treatments too?
Absolutely. Although cellulite is more common in women due to the different distributions of fat, muscle, and connective tissue, men can also develop cellulite and use these treatments to reduce its appearance.
Do I need to continue the treatments indefinitely to maintain the results?
For many treatments, especially topical solutions, and massages, continued use is necessary to maintain the results.
The effects of more permanent solutions, like certain medical procedures, may last longer, but following a healthy lifestyle is still recommended to prevent new cellulite from forming.
How do I choose the best cellulite treatment for me?
Choosing the best cellulite treatment depends on several factors, including the severity of your cellulite, your skin type, your budget, and your lifestyle.
It’s often beneficial to consult with a dermatologist or a professional in the field who can assess your situation and recommend the most suitable treatment plan for you.
Claudia Faucher is a full-time fitness training expert and lifestyle blogger. She is also been a certified Les Mills BodyPump instructor for the past 5 years and a fitness instructor for over 20 years. Claudia is a personal trainer and creates fitness training programs for seniors and people of all ages. She likes to use her skills and experiences to help others on their fitness journeys.
References
| ↑1 | https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cellulite/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20354949 |
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