No single treatment for cellulite is entirely effective. The following treatments might improve the appearance of cellulite, at least temporarily:
Weight loss
If you’re overweight or obese, weight loss — through healthy eating and regular exercise — might improve the appearance of the dimpled skin. Weight loss and exercise won’t make it go away completely.
Lasers and radiofrequency systems
Perhaps the most promising medical therapy is one that uses lasers and radiofrequency systems. One system combines tissue massage, radiofrequency technology and infrared light to treat cellulite. Another system delivers combined tissue massage with diode laser energy. A third system uses radiofrequency at deep and superficial levels simultaneously to treat cellulite.
All three systems offer improvements to cellulite after a series of treatments. Results can last up to six months.
Liposuction
Some people turn to liposuction as a treatment for cellulite. During liposuction, a surgeon inserts a narrow tube under your skin through tiny incisions and suctions out fat cells.
Though liposuction can shape the body, it won’t remove cellulite, and it might worsen the appearance of cellulite. Laser-assisted liposuction — a newer, less invasive form of this treatment that destroys fat cells while tightening the skin — might be more effective for cellulite. More study is needed.
Topical treatment
A twice-daily application of 0.3 percent retinol cream has been shown to improve the appearance of cellulite after six months.
Cryolipolysis
This noninvasive procedure approved by the Food and Drug Administration shows promise in improving the appearance of cellulite. It removes abdominal fat and fat along the sides of the body by freezing the lipids in fat cells.
It can take three treatments to dissolve an inch of fat and three or four months to see improvement.
Ultrasound
This noninvasive procedure uses sound waves to reduce targeted fat in the abdomen and thighs. Results take two or three months, and include an improvement in the appearance of cellulite.
Alternative medicine
Many devices, products and creams claim to treat cellulite, but with little or no scientific evidence to support these claims. If you do find a cellulite treatment that improves your skin, the results aren’t likely to last.
The following are a few of the many advertised cellulite treatments. Keep in mind that these treatments haven’t been proved effective in removing cellulite.
- Vigorous massage. Some cellulite treatments are based on the concept that vigorous massage will increase blood flow, remove toxins and reduce excess fluid in cellulite-prone areas. One method in particular, Endermologie (also referred to as Lipomassage), uses a hand-held machine to knead the skin between rollers. You might notice a slight improvement to your skin, but the results are typically short-lived.
- Mesotherapy. This procedure involves injecting a solution — which might contain aminophylline, hormones, enzymes, herbal extracts, vitamins and minerals — under the skin. This treatment can cause several unwanted effects, including infection, rashes, and bumpy or uneven skin contours.
- Cellulite creams. Creams that contain a variety of ingredients, such as vitamins, minerals, herbal extracts and antioxidants, are often marketed as the cure for cellulite. But no studies show that these creams alone offer improvement. Some of these products contain ingredients that can cause skin reactions or rashes.