Dr. Richard Chaffoo Gives Advice On The Fight Against Cellulite

Each year, there comes a time when women start buying anti-cellulite products in a hope that dimples on their body will dissapear till summer... but is it that easy to fight against cellulite? Dr. Richard Chaffoo, Californian board certified plastic surgeon, says it takes a lot more for annoying dimples to vanish!

Dr. Chaffoo feels that in order to assess how an anti-cellulite product might be effective, “the first thing to understand is what, exactly, cellulite is.” He elaborates, "If you imagine your skin, under that is a subcutaneous fatty layer and the next layer is the fascia, a shiny surface that overlies the muscle. From the back of the skin, going through the fat and attaching to the fascia layer are bands called fibrous bands. Those fibrous bands keep the skin sitting where it needs to be. When you gain weight, the number of fat cells don't increase (you're born with a set number), rather the size of the cells increases so they can store more fat in the individual cell. This pushes everything up around the back of the band, which can cause a dimple aka cellulite.”

Publications show that people spend 3 billion dollars every year for various cellulite treatments, lotions, potions etc. Cellulite is a genetic reality for almost 90 percent of women, which is why consumers are tempted and intrigued by products such as anti-cellulite Leggings.

Dr. Chaffoo who has not had patients try the magic leggins states that he's ''skeptical that a woman who spends a month or more in these leggings will be pleased with the results she sees, especially in the long term, It takes a lot of thermal energy to create any lasting effects on the appearance of cellulite and it’s highly doubtful leggings will provide that.”

Somewhat older women may recall wrapping their legs in cellophane to trap the heat of the body and reduce the appearance of cellulite. While it works, the benefits are extremely temporary (we're talking hours) because there is no remodeling of the structure under the skin.

What Can Be Done To Reduce Cellulite If You Are Not A Fan of Wearing Leggings For Hours A Day?

“Unfortunately” says Dr. Chaffoo, “there is no "quick-fix" to get rid of cellulite but there are some things you can start doing today to reduce the appearance of cellulite dimples.”

Exercise: This is the best way to treat cellulite appearance. Cardiovascular exercise as well as weight training are both great for reducing your weight. Cardio eliminates fat from your body and weight training tones your body which creates muscles.

Dietary Changes: Eating a well balanced diet is also important for reducing cellulite. Cut down on fatty, greasy foods and add more nutritious foods to your diet. This will help to reduce fat and help with weight management. A high fiber diet is also important in eliminating waste.

Water: Water helps to eliminate wastes and toxins from your body which can be trapped inside. Trapped toxins can cause weight gain which in turn causes increased cellulite. Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day.

Firming Lotions: There are many anti-cellulite lotions on the market today that will firm your skin. You can get these lotions online or from a local store. Apply the lotion daily when you get out of the shower and you should be able to reduce cellulite appearance after a few weeks of use.

Tanning Lotions or Sprays: Use a lotion that has a bronzer in it. This will lessen the look of your cellulite and is great to use in the summer when bathing suit weather rolls around.

Body Brushing: Use a medium to soft natural vegetable fiber brush to vigorously rub cellulite areas of your skin. Do so for about 5 minutes a day.

Massage: Firmly massage your cellulite areas with your fingers. There are also little hand-held massage tools you can get online to help break up cellulite.

I'm sure you've heard all this before, but here you have it - all in one place! Remember that the most important thing in the fight against cellulite is being consistent, if you don't see the results immediately, don't give up!!! And don't worry if some of it doesn't go away, you're still beautiful!