The Thigh's the Limit

By: Katharine Griffiths
Created on 20th September 2011

With spring just around the corner, we investigate three top treatments to smooth away your cellulite and help you get in shape in time for summer

Cellulite – it’s the bane of a woman’s life. Research shows that over 80 per cent of us suffer from it, and it’s notoriously difficult to treat.

Treatment options range from healthy eating plans to body creams to deep tissue massage, but most have negligible effect. However, the medical aesthetics industry likes a challenge, and over the past few years, techniques to tackle cellulite have become more and more advanced.

We’ve tracked down some pioneers in the field to find out what’s hot right now.

Dr Stefanie Williams recommends: medical micro-needling

Dr Stefanie Williams is a cosmetic dermatologist and founder of European Dermatology London

“The typical dimpling appearance or ‘mattress phenomenon’ of the skin surface in cellulite is caused by herniation of fat tissue through overlying connective tissue.

"These multiple fat herniations lead to an orange peel-like appearance on the skin surface. One aspect of cellulite treatment is to uniformly strengthen the connective tissue of the skin in these areas.

“Through means of medical micro-needling we can now ‘trick’ the skin into producing more connective tissue components such as collagen and thus increase its overall thickness and strength. This ‘collagen induction therapy’ involves a sterile roller (‘dermaroller’) equipped with hundreds of ultra-fine needles.

“These create microscopically small punctures in the dermis, our skin’s connective tissue. The great thing is that with needling we can reach the connective tissue of the skin without significantly damaging the skin surface. The superficial punctures on the skin surface close again quickly, which is important since the outer layer of our skin, the epidermis, protects our body from water loss and environmental damage.

“However, the intentional injury in the dermis induces thousands of tiny, controlled wound-healing responses in this deep layer of the skin. Consequently, growth factors and fibroblasts are stimulated into synthesizing new skin matrix, including collagen.

“Medical needling also increases the skin’s microcirculation, thus improving its supply with oxygen and nutrients. In time, the tissue remodelling caused by a course of medical needling will lead to a firmer, more elastic skin.”

Dr Stephen Bassett recommends: VelaShape

Dr Stephen Bassett, cosmetic doctor and medical director of Shape Cymru, is a Syneron Luminary, specialising in VelaShape and eMatrix

“VelaShape is a simple, safe and powerful technology which reduces stubborn fat and unsightly cellulite and tightens skin following pregnancy and weight loss. VelaShape uses a combination of vacuum, mechanical massage, radiofrequency and infrared to physically disperse fat cells which have become inactive.

“The heating effect on deep dermal structures causes the formation of new collagen, the skin’s scaffolding, forming tighter, brighter skin. This can be extremely useful for 'body after baby' as an alternative to tummy tuck surgery.

“VelaShape treatment sessions are comfortable, quick – typically 30 to 60 minutes for legs, tummy and buttocks – and extremely well tolerated and safe. No preparation or pain control is required and there is no aftercare required. Typically, six sessions are needed at weekly intervals with top ups at six months.

“VelaShape is designed to deliver its heat deep in the skin and fatty tissues, optimising results, and producing a feeling of deep massage. Lymphatic circulation is stimulated, and toxins are removed from cellulite.

"VelaShape can be combined with eMatrix fractional radioablation for the treatment of stretch marks on legs and tummy – again, very effective following pregnancy. Studies have shown improvement for cellulite, tummy tightening and leg circumference reduction, for which VelaShape received the first FDA approval. VelaShape can also be effective for batwings and slack neck skin, at specialist clinics.

"Treatments typically cost from £600 to £900 for a course of six. Patients have dropped a dress size in two treatments."

Before and after VelaShape treatment

Dr Rupert Gabriel recommends: CelluTite

Dr Rupert Gabriel is a cosmetic doctor and medical director of the Snowberry Lane Clinic

“CelluTite is an exciting new application for the BodyTite machine. With BodyTite the purpose is to break down and remove fat as well as to tighten the skin, and with the normal handpiece we have to work at quite a deep level in order to avoid burns on the surface of the skin. With CelluTite, the handpiece is much finer, and it’s specially designed so that you can work safely at a more superficial level.

“Cellulite is caused by little fibrous tethers from the skin to the deeper tissues, which pull down the skin into little troughs and the fat cells in between, which bulge out, causing that dimpled effect. The purpose of the CelluTite treatment is to get the energy into the superficial layers, breaking down those fibrous strands and reducing the swollen fat cells.

“Most cellulite ‘cures’ require multiple treatments to see an effect, and you need regular maintenance treatments thereafter. CelluTite is a one-off treatment with lasting results, so it’s quite revolutionary.

“Cellulite is graded according to severity – grade one is where it is practically invisible unless you press down on the skin either side; at grade two it’s there most of the time and grade three is really quite severe. The level of reduction you’ll see is very much dependent on the grade of cellulite you have, but with the middle grades we would expect to see a reduction of at least 50 per cent.

“Obviously there’s no magic wand in life and I don’t think anyone would promise to get rid of it in one fell swoop and make everything perfect. But for most people, that presents a very significant improvement. And you can improve the outcome further by doing some follow-up treatments during the recovery phase with VelaShape.”

To each their own

The treatment you choose should be dependent on the severity of your cellulite. If you aren’t quite sure, it’s best to book an appointment with a cosmetic practitioner, who can assess what grade of cellulite you have – we often see our own dimpled thighs as much worse than they really are!

Whether you’ve got a few minor dimples or a full on cottage cheese effect, there’s a treatment option for everyone, so there’ll be no excuse for keeping your thighs under wraps this summer.

CS&AG