AESTHETIC TREATMENT FOR CELLULITE
What is cellulite?
Cellulite is a subcutaneous fat deposit that gives the typical ‘orange peel’ appearance.
Three factors come into play: fibrosis, oedema and fat accumulation. This is why even very slim women can be affected by this unsightly appearance.
The phenome often appears in adolescence.
What causes cellulite?
Cellulite is the result of the histological structure of the skin. The epidermis (superficial layer of the skin) and the subcutaneous tissue (superficial fatty layer containing adipocytes) are linked by fibres called septa which cross the dermis (deep layer of the skin). When these fibres contract, the adipocytes (fat cells) are compressed and create a sort of hernia on the skin surface, creating an orange peel appearance.
The factors responsible are:
♦ Gender: thanks to structural differences in the organisation of the skin, men do not have cellulite or it is very rare.
♦ Genetics: this component explains the presence of cellulite in slim women with a healthy lifestyle.
♦ Hormones: they cause water retention. Pregnancy, contraception and the menopause are favourable conditions.
♦ Excess weight.
♦ A poor lifestyle: smoking, alcohol consumption, a diet rich in bad fats, salty and low in fibre.
♦ A sedentary lifestyle.
What are the 3 types of cellulite?
There are three types of cellulite:
♦ Edematous cellulite: the main factor is water retention.
♦ Fibrous cellulite: the main factor is the thickening and retraction of the collagen fibres that bind the skin to the deep fat layer.
♦ Fatty cellulite: the main factor is excess adipose cells.
Stade I of cellulite
Stade II of cellulite
Stade III of cellulite
Stade IV of cellulite
There are four stages of cellulite severity:
♦ Stage I: orange peel appears when pinched.
♦ Stage II: the orange peel is visible even without pinching when standing.
♦ Stage III: orange peel is visible even without pinching when standing and lying down.
♦ Stage IV: the orange peel is visible even without pinching when standing and lying down. This stage differs from the previous one in the presence of macronodules.
What is the best treatment for cellulite?
Treating the factors responsible is essential for visible and lasting results.
Sometimes a change in lifestyle and the factors that contribute to cellulite are enough to bring about a satisfactory improvement in skin quality.
In aesthetic medicine, treatments to get rid of cellulite include Sculptra injections and CoolWaves.
Carboxytherapy is more of a maintenance and adjunctive treatment.
→ Find out more about Sculptra
How can you get rid of cellulite quickly?
Sculptra injections
Sculptra injections give the most convincing results.
The injection is carried out using a cannula, and no anaesthetic is required. The result is visible one month after the injection, and at most three months afterwards. It lasts for two years.
The disadvantage of this treatment is the cost.
For the buttocks, for example, three to four vials are needed per session. The number of sessions required is three or four. The price per vial is CHF 700.CHF.
How do I lose cellulite using Onda CoolWaves?
This shockwave treatment is quick (lasting around ten minutes) and painless.
The mechanism involves destroying fat cells and stimulating the synthesis of collagen that surrounds these cells to make the skin firmer and more toned.
Several sessions are required.
→ Find out more about Onda cool waves
Results and follow-up
The improvement in unsightliness is gradual. A healthy lifestyle and the elimination of contributing factors are necessary to maintain the result.
There are no follow-up treatments, although Sculptra injections may cause minimal haematomas.
Maintenance sessions are necessary in the case of Coolwaves treatment. Sculptra injections should be repeated every two years.
Price
Type of consultation
Prices generally charged
Cool Waves
250 CHF per session per zone
Sculptra
700 CHF per vial