Although about 90% of American women suffer from some degree of cellulite, it’s not uncommon for many to think that, somehow, the condition is their own fault – that they must have brought it on themselves. Unfortunately, many boyfriends, husbands and significant others fuel this unwarranted guilt complex by suggesting that …
“You haven’t stayed in shape by exercising enough.”
“You’ve gotten fat, which is (obviously) the cause of cellulite. Cellulite is something overweight women get, right?”
“There’s nothing you can do about it. Your mother and grandmother had cellulite, so you’re doomed to live with it – DOOMED! How’s your sister doing?”
Nonsense!
Regardless of what you’ve heard “through the grapevine,” it’s VERY difficult for women living in highly industrialized Western societies to avoid developing cellulite if they’re genetically predisposed to it AND the right conditions exist to help it surface.
Here are 10 common myths and facts about cellulite and its treatments. Stop me if you’ve heard some (or all) of them.
- Men don’t get cellulite. Believe it or not, 10% of men suffer from cellulite.
- You must be overweight to have cellulite. In fact, thin women often display the worst cellulite.
- Exercise eliminates cellulite. This is absolutely untrue. Cellulite consists of little pockets of herniated fat. When you exercise, it is impossible to localize the exercise so that it burns off only the fat pockets contained in the affected areas.
- Liposuction is an effective treatment. Liposuction is not a proven cellulite treatment. Yet plastic surgeons and dermatologists continue to recommend this invasive surgery. It’s a pity they don’t read their own literature, since it reveals that Liposuction has actually been shown to make cellulite worse.
- Creams can effectively treat cellulite. There are several reasons why most creams cannot treat cellulite. Most creams can only treat one component of cellulite – usually the fat component. Very few are designed to affect the circulation and connective tissues that contribute to cellulite development. To the best of my knowledge, only one cream treats all three aspects of cellulite. And NO cream can treat dimples.
- Diet will cure cellulite. Diets will not cure cellulite. I’ve seen women lose weight and gain cellulite. That said, a diet rich in organic foods can prevent cellulite from occurring. And once cellulite has appeared, a diet rich in organic foods can retard the condition. However, diet won’t completely reverse cellulite.
- Tanning will camouflage cellulite. Tanning will make light skin darker, but the cellulite will still be visible. Women of Mediterranean decent tend to have darker complexions, but their cellulite still remains visible. The same holds true of black women with cellulite. In short, this is an absurd myth.
- Saddle bags are a sign of cellulite. Saddlebags do NOT indicate the presence of cellulite. By definition, cellulite refers to lumpy, bumpy skin with dimpling. Many women have saddlebags but display zero signs of cellulite. (BTW: Western culture considers saddlebags unattractive, but some other cultures consider them sexy.)
- Cellulite is hereditary. A woman’s body is designed to develop cellulite under certain conditions. If these conditions are not met, however, no cellulite will occur. In other words, having a genetic predisposition to cellulite doesn’t mean you are destined to have it. In one case, I met with twins where one sister displayed little to no cellulite, but the other had prominent cellulite. I’ve also worked on cases where mothers have no cellulite, but the daughters do.
- There is no cure for cellulite. Despite the nay-saying of plastic surgeons, dermatologists and other self-professed experts who state, “Just live with it,” “Nothing can be done,” and (worst of all) “it’s in your mind,” there is a cure for cellulite and the associated dimples!
Mesotherapy can eliminate cellulite in about 10-15 sessions when performed by a physician skilled in this medical specialty. Dimples can be easily repaired by a simple in-office procedure called Subcision and/or Stringcision. Mesotherapy and Subcision can be combined to produce smooth buttocks and thighs in a relatively short time.
But don’t take my word for any of this. Conduct your own research – online and at your local library. Cellulite is a condition that requires personal treatment and personal choices. Some members of the healthcare profession disagree that Mesotherapy is an effective treatment; others say it’s the only effective treatment.
My advice: look for proven results! Demand solid science behind any claims made by so-called “experts.” Then make up your own mind. Above all, recognize that cellulite is a condition that will develop independent of most of your personal choices. After all, who would willingly develop cellulite if she or he had any choice in the matter?
About the Author:
Pioneering the use of Mesotherapy in the U.S. to combat cellulite, Dr. Lionel Bissoon has helped thousands of women experience cellulite-free legs and buttocks. Complete with case studies, before-and-after photos and straightforward advice, his new book, The Cellulite Cure offers hope to cottage cheese thighs everywhere. To discover the only proven treatment option for cellulite, go to www.cellulitecure.com.
