Battle of the bulge: What you can do about cellulite

Some women welcome the change in seasons, enthusiastically waving goodbye to swimsuit season and embracing tights season with open arms. Whether you are thin or carrying a few extra pounds, at some point, you have probably noticed the skin on your thighs or buttocks looking a little less than perfectly smooth. Lumps and dimples, not the cute kind, are the hallmarks of cellulite.

You can pump money into fancy creams and lotions that "promise" to help reduce the appearance of cellulite. You can invest time in carefully massaging these potions into your butt and thighs. However, most of these claims fall short and do not deliver measurable results, leaving your wallet lighter and your hands greasier than when you started.

Is there anything that can help diminish the appearance of cellulite and give you a smooth and contoured backside? One minimally invasive procedure may be the key to battling the bulge caused by cellulite.

What is cellulite?

It has a nasty reputation, but cellulite is totally normal and completely harmless. Cellulite is a cosmetic condition caused when a collection of fat, typically in the thighs and buttocks, pushes against the fibrous connective tissue beneath the skin. This tissue can make the skin appear dimpled, bumpy or lumpy.

Got cellulite? You aren't alone. The condition is common in women, with some studies suggesting that up to 90 percent of women experience dimples and depressions in the skin on the thighs, buttocks and hips. Women of every shape and size can have cellulite.

Unfortunately, for some people, when cellulite starts to emerge, their self-esteem and confidence can suffer. Although it is common and completely normal, many people find cellulite embarrassing and go to great lengths to find creams and cover-ups that hide the appearance of the honeycomb-like dimples on their thighs.

Clothing can hide the condition, but creams and lotions do little to reduce the telltale signs of cellulite. Some ingredients may temporarily firm the area, tricking your brain into thinking you beat the bulge. Still, no over-the-counter remedy is effective for managing or treating cellulite.

What can you do about cellulite?

Thankfully, board-certified plastic surgeons who are ASPS members have tools that can help address the appearance of cellulite, creating a smoother and more refined look to your skin.

"Cellulite, I think, is like the holy grail because we haven't really had good effective treatment options," said Anureet Bajaj, MD. "Avéli is probably the most effective one that we have now, and that's primarily because it targets the specific bands and allows you to, with a tactile feel, to feel the release of those bands."

Avéli is a minimally invasive treatment that involves finding and cutting the bands of connective tissue that cause cellulite to appear.

"Basically, we inject the buttock and thigh area with a tumescent solution to numb the area, and you make one incision, typically at the buttock crease," said Dr. Bajaj. "Then, from that incision, you're able to access most of the dimples in the thigh and buttock, and the incisions are about a centimeter. The device has a light on it and a hook. So, you go to the dimple, you'll deploy the hook, and you'll see the dimple pull on the skin, and then you'll be able to divide that specific band."

Depending on the size of the area, the procedure can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour, and the recovery is fairly quick as well.

"Patients are generally very comfortable," said Umbareen Mahmood, MD. "Patients are often very surprised at how quick the recovery is. They may be sore for a few days, and bruising can last two to three weeks. Patients can resume all their normal activities, including working out, within a few days."

Returning to a normal routine so quickly is a big perk for this procedure.

"I usually tell people that they can resume the regular activities within 24 to 48 hours," said Dr. Bajaj, but she recommends that individuals wear some form of compression shorts for up to two weeks.

As far as realistic expectations are concerned, the results can vary.

"Some people will have a very smooth buttock with no dimples," said Dr. Bajaj. "Some people will have a softening of the dimples, where they're not as deep or not as noticeable."

The results can be impressive, but Dr. Bajaj noted that sometimes cellulite isn't just about the appearance of dimples or bumps. As we age, we also lose collagen, making the skin appear loose or saggy. Depending on the person, cellulite treatment may not exclusively focus on targeting cellulite. It may also be a matter of addressing sagging skin.

"I think the other problem, the biggest problem, I think, with treating cellulite is that most women have a combination of cellulite and laxity, meaning looseness or sagginess of their skin, because we lose collagen as we get older," said Dr. Bajaj. "So, the thing that most people have not realized is that Avéli is not going to treat the laxity. It just actually treats the dimple."

To address multiple skin issues, Dr. Bajaj may combine Avéli with other treatments, such as Renuvion or Morpheus, to address both laxity and dimpling.

"Most patients have a combination of true cellulite and laxity of the tissue, and sometimes stretch marks," said Dr. Mahmood. "While Avéli will treat the cellulite, it does not address the laxity. For this, we combine Avéli with RF microneedling with or without Sculptra as well."

How long can you expect the Avéli results to last?

"Results can last several years from what we know about the technique of cutting the cellulite bands," said Dr. Mahmood.

Yet, just because your current cellulite has been removed doesn't mean new cellulite won't form.

"Theoretically, your body could continue to form scar tissue," said Dr. Bajaj. "You could have new bands that come up, but it's generally considered a long-term solution in the sense that it should last for several years."

Thanks to these innovative cellulite treatments, you may want to take advantage of swimsuit clearance season now in preparation for a smooth and sexy next summer.

To find a qualified plastic surgeon for any cosmetic or reconstructive procedure, consult a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. All ASPS members are board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, have completed an accredited plastic surgery training program, practice in accredited facilities and follow strict standards of safety and ethics. Find an ASPS member in your area.