Commonly used cellulite and cellulite-related terms pertaining to cellulite, cellulite treatment, cellulite reduction and removal.
Hard, or solid, cellulite: this type of cellulite usually occurs in women who are active (such as dancers or runners). Hard cellulite is difficult to get rid of because it doesn't lift from the body easily. It's also harder to see because it attaches directly to the muscle.
Herbal treatments: this type of cellulite reduction treatment is a complex mixture of numerous botanical extracts which are thought to act as tissue decongestants by increasing vascular constriction. Herbs including sweet clover, ivy, and barley are thought to improve the peripheral microcirculation which facilitates lymphatic drainage and enhances cellulite removal. There have been no studies to prove the effectiveness of herbal treatments for cellulite reduction.
Hormones: a direct cause of cellulite. Changes in estrogen and progesterone levels dictate how much fat your body stores or releases. Estrogen weakens the underlying tissue causing it to lose its ability to contain the fat mass in standing fat chambers and allowing the fat lobes to move up into the dermis causing bumps and dimples also known as cellulite. It is typical for women to store fat in cellulite prone areas during pregnancy or while taking oral contraceptives. Hormone replacement therapy should not be considered a cellulite reduction treatment option.
Hypodermis: the subcutaneous fat layer of skin.
Iontophoresis: a prescription device that combines a direct current with ions of soluble salt, penetrating tissues to exert a therapeutic effect. Used by health spas. The FDA considers iontophoresis to be ineffective for cellulite reduction and body contouring.
Jeans for cellulite control: an Italian clothing company released the first line of anti-cellulite pants. As you casually sashay about town, the friction between your body and the jeans reportedly releases an anti-cellulite cream. There are no studies to indicate that this form of cellulite reduction will actually get rid of cellulite.
Keymodule Endermologie: This cellulite treatment aims to smooth skin and give a slimmer silhouette. You are given special clothing to put on - a stretchy, cotton covering. Cylindrical rollers are placed on the skin and rolled gently over the body. The cellulite treatment is not painful; the deep strong suction effect feels like a massage.
Liposuction: a usually cosmetic surgical procedure in which cellulite (fat) is removed from a specific area of the body, by means of suction. Does not always produce the desired results in cellulite reduction or removal.
Localized lipodystrophy: a medical term for cellulite, meaning misshapen fat in one or several specific areas of the body.
Lymphatic Massage: removes accumulated fluid but has little effect as a cellulite treatment. Massage increases circulation and lymphatic drainage, reduces muscular spasms and breaks down adhesions.
