Cellulite is among the top skin concerns of women today. It is the thick, dimpled skin that is usually found on the outer and inner thigh, buttocks, stomach, and even upper arms. Weight gain can have a role in cellulite development, and in fact, people with excess fat tissue can have more noticeable cellulite. But while weight loss can improve cellulite appearance, some people may find that it’s not always the case.
So why do you still have cellulite even after you lose weight? Cellulite forms when fat accumulates and pushes through the connective tissue which can pull the skin down. Losing weight can only shrink the fat cells and you may notice worsening of cellulite due to loose skin from the weight loss, age, genetics, hormones, and other lifestyle factors.
No, cellulite is not the same as fat. However, it is easy to see why many people often confuse the appearance and texture of cellulite with fat. Fat is one component that makes up the presence of cellulite. To better understand this, let’s look at the two types of fat: visceral and subcutaneous.
Visceral fat is the type of fat that surrounds important body organs such as the liver and pancreas. On the other hand, subcutaneous fat is stored in a fat layer just beneath the skin. It’s the soft and pinchable fat that you can feel such as thigh fat and belly fat. This kind of fat is often the cause for most cellulite problems.
Body composition is a determining factor in developing cellulite on the skin. If you have greater body weight and a high-fat percentage, it’s more likely that you will have cellulite at any age. The fat cells are separated by strong cords known as septae that bind the skin to the muscles.
As you accumulate more fat deposits, the fat cells push against the connective tissue and the cords tug down the skin. This forms the dimpled and lumpy texture of the cellulite. Excess fluid retention on the fatty tissue may also be a factor in the presence of cellulite.
You may find that exercise and weight loss training programs work to lessen the severity of your cellulite. But it’s important to remember that cellulite is more of an issue in the structure of the skin and losing a few extra pounds may sometimes still retain the appearance of dimpled skin.
A study published in the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery journal tackled how weight loss worsened the cellulite condition in women while it effectively reduced its severity in others. The research followed 29 women who participated in weight loss regimens.
Seventeen women reported improvements in their cellulite appearance while the nine remaining patients noticed more visible signs of cellulite. Women with higher body mass index and significantly lost a huge chunk of their weight and fat percentage had the most desirable changes in their cellulite. Meanwhile, patients with low body mass index and decreased only a few pounds noticed their cellulite worsening.
Weight loss programs can help you reach your target number on the weighing scale but it may not do much for losing total body fat percentage. Fat cells may not completely disappear during weight loss and only shrink in their size. This means that there’s still a good amount of fat that can contribute to cellulite.
Cellulite is an issue that affects women of all shapes and sizes and it can be a result of other factors. Here are some of the possible causes of cellulite after weight loss:
Collagen is responsible for keeping the skin firm and plump. It’s also an essential component of keeping the connective tissues healthy to make the skin appear tighter with no visible cellulite.
But as people get older, collagen production is decreased and the skin becomes less elastic, thinner, and more susceptible to skin problems like wrinkles and cellulite. The extra weight that you put on over time can also pressure and weaken the collagen fibers. It’s one of the reasons why you experience some skin laxity or sagging skin after losing weight.
Maintaining a healthy weight is essential to keeping troublesome skin cellulite at bay. Eating foods that are high in fat content may contribute to the increase of fat cells in your body. Sugars and salts, processed foods, carbohydrates, fried foods, and foods with high additive content may make it more likely for cellulite to develop.
Likewise, going on crash diets and sudden weight loss or weight gain can worsen your cellulite problem. Crash dieting can have significant effects on your health and well-being such as muscle loss, decreased metabolism, and weakened immune system. It may also cause you to be dehydrated which can make your skin look thinner and make cellulite more noticeable.
Read more: Foods That Detox the Liver and Remove Cellulite
Cellulite is a condition that occurs more in women than in men. One factor that affects this is the presence of the estrogen hormone. This female hormone plays a role in the storage and distribution of fat in women’s bodies. Because of estrogen, fat naturally accumulates in the lower body parts like the hips, thighs, and buttocks which is why you commonly see cellulite in these areas.
Women experience fluctuating levels of estrogen during pregnancy. And during this period, estrogen can affect your body’s fluid retention and fat accumulation which contributes to cellulite development. You may also notice some stretch marks along with the cellulite since the skin gets stretched to accommodate the growing fetus in your stomach.
Low estrogen can also affect blood circulation in your system. Poor blood circulation can influence collagen production and the skin cells receive less oxygen and nutrients, making it easy for the fat cells to expand and form cellulite.
There’s also a possibility that cellulite has a hereditary factor. In families with a history of obesity or being overweight, there’s a high chance that their members may also get the condition and have skin cellulite. Genetics may also dictate your overall skin structure, metabolism rate, and body composition. It can also affect your fat distribution which can increase your susceptibility to cellulite.
Some people already feel satisfied after weight loss that they may become lenient in their routines. Going back to a sedentary lifestyle and not exercising regularly may increase the chances of cellulite coming back and worsening.
Likewise, people who don’t engage in any type of physical activity and stay rooted to their desks and chairs all day are more likely to have low muscle mass and high amounts of body fat. It also affects your speed of metabolism since having more muscles means that you can burn more calories. When you continuously accumulate fat without any means of burning them, you’re more likely to have cellulite.
To achieve cellulite reduction, you should strive for fat loss and maintain healthy body weight. You can do this by incorporating an exercise program into your daily activities and following a healthy diet. Skincare creams or getting a cosmetic procedure can also help manage and improve the pesky cellulite appearance.
Topical treatments like skin creams and moisturizing lotions can help reduce the severity of cellulite by enhancing the appearance of your skin. When looking for a good cellulite cream, you should consider the active ingredients in the product.
It is said that creams containing caffeine, retinol, vitamin C, and peptides can help improve your cellulite. Caffeine is believed to boost circulation and assists in the breakdown of fat cells beneath the skin. Retinol promotes better blood flow and improves the thickness of the skin. Peptides and vitamin C are also essential for building collagen and strengthening the skin’s connective tissue to prevent cellulite.
Moving your body can help keep fat from accumulating and helps you keep a healthy weight. You can do simple aerobic exercise routines to improve your blood circulation and keep the skin and connective tissues healthy. Strength training is also important to develop more muscle tone and help you achieve a leaner and fitter figure. Firming up your muscle can also tighten your skin appearance to make cellulite less obvious.
A key to having a healthy lifestyle is incorporating a good diet. Maintain a desirable weight by eating fruits, vegetables, fibers, whole grains, and proteins. You should also increase your intake of healthy fat which you can get from whole eggs, nuts, chia seeds, and fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, and tuna. You should also keep yourself hydrated to improve circulation and cleanse the toxins from your body.
Dry brushing and body wraps are spa treatments that can help exfoliate the body and flush away the toxins from the skin and fat cells. As its name implies, dry brushing involves rubbing or massaging the skin with a brush that contains fibers. It can improve circulation, remove dead skin cells, and may assist with the break up of fat deposits to reduce cellulite.
Body wraps may also smoothen the appearance of the skin and minimize cellulite in affected areas. During a wrap treatment, a patient is wrapped with towels or cloths soaked with herbal ingredients and exfoliants to help stimulate detoxification and provide moisture to the skin.
If you’re not getting the desired cellulite reduction from natural methods, you can opt for cosmetic treatments. Most procedures for cellulite treatment are minimally invasive such as laser and radiofrequency treatments, acoustic wave therapy, dermal fillers such as Sculptra, and QWO injectables.
Losing weight is not a total solution for removing cellulite. Yes, it can minimize the severity of cellulite in most people but certain factors may worsen its appearance even after you’ve dropped some weight. In these cases, you should consider getting cosmetic treatments for better cellulite reduction.
At Cellulite Treatment Center for NJ, we offer quality QWO injectables for patients looking for efficient cellulite treatment. Our team of board-certified doctors and medical staff are all trained to ensure your safety and comfort during the procedure. Contact us now to learn more about our services.
