Home Women Wait, Can You *Actually* Get Rid of Cellulite? Here’s the Straight-Up Truth

Wait, Can You *Actually* Get Rid of Cellulite? Here’s the Straight-Up Truth

Lucille Clifton
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Wait, Can You *Actually* Get Rid of Cellulite? Here’s the Straight-Up Truth

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An important PSA for ya: Cellulite is 100 percent normal—and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with having it, loving it, or, yup, even wanting to get rid of it. It’s your body, and your comfort. Here’s the thing though: If you aren’t a fan of your cellulite, you need to know that you can’t technically get rid of it at home. No matter how many cellulite creams and exfoliating scrubs you use on the daily, you can’t actually make your dimples disappear. You can temporarily smooth and tighten your skin with the right ingredients, but the best long-term solution is an in-office treatment with a dermatologist. It’s a lot to take in, but don’t worry bbs: We chatted with a bunch of dermatologists to explain exactly what’s going on and what treatments are available. Here’s everything you can—and can’t—do when it comes to working with your cellulite.

Meet the experts:

  • Joyce Imahiyerobo-Ip, MD, is CEO of Vibrant Dermatology and Skin Bar MD and dermatologist in Greater Boston.
  • Hadley King, MD, is a New York-based dermatologist who specializes in medical and cosmetic dermatology.
  • Mona Gohara, MD, is an associate clinical professor at Yale and dermatologist.
  • Dendy Engelman, MD, is a cosmetic dermatologist in New York City and director of dermatologic surgery at Metropolitan Hospital.

What is cellulite, and how does it develop?

Cellulite is dimpling or lumpiness of the skin on the thighs, butt, stomach, and hips—although you can get it other places on the body, including your arms. Cellulite forms when fat cells beneath your skin (which, BTW, everyone has, regardless of what you eat or how frequently you exercise) push up against your skin’s connective tissues, causing skin to dimple or pucker. According to Dr. Ip, cellulite is completely harmless and so common that it affects more than 80-90 percent of all women.

We don’t know the exact reason cellulite forms, but according to Dr. King, “It appears to result from an interaction between the connective tissue in the layer that lies below the surface of the skin and the layer of fat just below it.” Unlike men (who have criss-crossing connective tissue structures), women’s fat cells are contained in “chamber-like structures that favor the expansion of fat tissue into the dermis,” says Dr. King. Cellulite development also depends on a bunch of factors, including hormones, genetics, age, weight, diet, pregnancy, activity, and how much collagen and estrogen you have in your skin.

What are the “grades” of cellulite?

ICYMI, there are four grades of cellulite, which help your dermatologist or other medical pro assess your skin:

  • Zero: no visible cellulite
  • One: cellulite is visible only when you pinch the overlying skin
  • Two: cellulite is visible when a person is standing
  • Three: severe cellulite is visible when standing and sitting, with deep peaks and valleys on the skin

Can you actually get rid of cellulite?

Sorry, but no—at least not at home. “Think of a button creating a pucker on a couch cushion,” says Dr. Gohara. “To get rid of the pucker, you have to go deeper and cut the cords.” And no, that cord-cutting can’t happen at home. That said, there are a handful of tips and tricks that help lessen the appearance of cellulite in the short term—and as long as you go into the process with realistic expectations, they’re not a bad place to start.

Do me a favor, though, and pls remember again that cellulite is super common and natural—like 93-percent-of-all-women common, says Dr. Engelman—and there’s no shame in wanting to keep or get rid of it.

What are common mistakes people make about cellulite?

“A common assumption that people make is that cellulite has to do with weight gain,” says Dr. Ip. “This is not the case…anyone can have cellulite regardless of the number on the scale.” People also assume that cellulite is easy just to get rid of, she says, but it’s a normal part of our anatomy. “We don’t have any perfect solutions,” adds Dr. King. “And we’re always our own worst critic.”

Ok, if you feel like you’re caught up—like, enough already, let’s get to the treatments—here’s what you can do for your cellulite.

1

Use caffeine creams to minimize cellulite

BeautyBio The Sculptor with LipoCare™ Cellulite Smoothing Body Cream

Even though creams and lotions won’t make your cellulite disappear overnight, they can help temporarily smooth and tighten your skin—especially if you pick a formula spiked with caffeine. “Caffeine dehydrates fat cells, making them less visible,” says Dr. King, but adds, “This needs to be applied daily, and the effect will be modest at best.”

This cream is loaded with caffeine and green tea seed oil and is super easy to massage into your skin. At the very least, it’ll leave your skin softer and smoother.

2

Try QWO to minimize cellulite

Endo Aesthetics QWO

If you’re looking for a more permanent solution to cellulite, you do have some options when it comes to in-office treatments. This new treatment called QWO is the only FDA-approved injectable that targets dimpling in the buttocks—and it legit works. Your derm will set up a specific treatment plan depending on the amount and severity of your cellulite (it isn’t a one-and-done deal, unfortch) but most people see visible results in 10-ish weeks.

The downtime is v minimal too—just expect some bruising and redness in the treatment site post-application. And as with any treatment, make sure you first consult with your dermatologist to determine if you’re a good candidate, k?

3

Start dry brushing to minimize cellulite

The Organic Pharmacy Skin Brush

You know those wooden body brushes you’ve always considered buying? Some pros say they help the appearance of your cellulite. “Daily body brushing and massaging can jumpstart lymphatic drainage, which helps to eliminate toxins that can accumulate in the fat layer, leading to inflammation and ultimately more pronounced cellulite,” says Dr. Engelman. But, Dr. King says it’s important to remember that “they don’t change the anatomy that is creating cellulite.”

Pro tip: Dry brushing requires dry skin, so it’s best to try it before you jump in the shower—and don’t forget to slather on a creamy moisturizer when you hop out.

4

Try a retinol body cream to minimize cellulite

Paula’s Choice Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment

Dr. Gohara also suggests incorporating a retinol body cream into your cellulite-minimizing routine. As Dr. Ip explains, “Retinol helps increase collagen and thicken the skin.” The collagen-building ingredient works to plump and smooth your skin every time you use it, and this non-greasy, antioxidant-rich formula from Paula’s Choice is a great formula to start with.

Psst: If you’re applying this bb in the day, just make sure you’re layering it with a healthy coat of SPF (which you already do every day, right?), since retinol makes your skin extra sensitive to sunburns.

5

Use a coffee scrub to minimize cellulite

Frank Body Original Coffee Scrub

If massage nubs aren’t quite your thing, spring for a caffeine-filled body scrub and pay special attention to your cellulite. When used topically, a ground-coffee exfoliant can minimize the short-term appearance of cellulite in two ways: (1) Massaging the scrub along your skin can help stimulate lymphatic drainage, and (2) Coffee contains caffeine, which temporarily tightens and plumps your skin. “Caffeine can also dehydrate fat cells so they deflate, which then makes your cellulite look a little less obvious,” says Dr. Gohara.

6

Layer on a serum to minimize cellulite

PSA: Serums and topical creams can help reduce the look of cellulite, but you definitely shouldn’t expect any miracles. At best, they can help strengthen your skin, making your cellulite a little less noticeable. Dr. Engelman recommends Biotherm Celluli Eraser, which is formulated with caffeine and coralline extract, a marine algae extract that helps minimize fat cells.

7

Eat a healthy diet to minimize cellulite

Remember: Your diet isn’t solely responsible for whether or not you have cellulite—but eating healthy definitely won’t hurt, says Dr. Engelman. She suggests watching your sodium intake and eating plenty of fiber and whole grain foods (think: bran and oat cereals). Don’t forget to load up on fruits and veggies too.

8

Drink plenty of water to minimize cellulite

I know, I know—drinking water sounds like such a basic solution, but if you want to minimize the appearance of cellulite, you need plenty of H2O. “You want to stay adequately hydrated, since cellulite can appear worse in a dehydrated state,” says Dr. Engelman. “Dehydration can cause the skin to become thinner and weaken, and when the skin is thin, it tends to show cellulite more.”

9

Exercise regularly to minimize cellulite

Cellulite aside, it’s obvi a smart idea to incorporate exercise into your lifestyle—whether you hit the gym a few times a week, take a yoga class when you can, or switch up your commute by jogging or walking. Again, Dr. Gohara suggests keeping in mind that cellulite can be genetic—even if you’re doing your squats and quad exercises every morning. And Dr. King notes that exercising can decrease overall body fat percentage, but it won’t eliminate cellulite (which is a commonly believed myth).

10

Try an in-office treatment to get rid of cellulite

If you’re really committed to minimizing your cellulite, it’s worth talking to a dermatologist about your treatment options. The cellulite-blasting technology that dermatologist Arash Akhavan, M.D. recommends? Cellfina, a minimally invasive, FDA-approved treatment that microscopically severs the connective bands that weave throughout the fat in the thighs and buttocks.

“Once the site of the dimple is numbed using a tiny needle, another microscopic device goes in and cuts or shatters the connective cord, so the fibrous bands can’t find each other again,” says Dr. Akhavan. “The good thing about this procedure is you’ll only need to do it once—it’s considered semi-permanent because the results show in as little as three days and are still visible in three years.” Know that this procedure definitely isn’t cheap—Dr. Akhavan suggests talking to your dermatologist or going to a plastic surgeon for a consultation, since the treatment can cost upwards of $5,000, depending on where you live.

Another treatment, according to Dr. Ip, is Cellulaze, which uses a laser fiber inserted into the skin to break up the bands surrounding fat cells. Plus, the heat from the laser causes tightening and thickening of the skin. There are other treatments to reduce the appearance of cellulite, per Dr. King, including: Acoustic wave therapy (sound waves), vacuum-assisted precise tissue release (cutting bands with a small bladed device), and carboxytherapy (inserting carbon dioxide gas under the skin).

Worth noting? Dr. Ip explains, “If you make the decision to try one of the medical cellulite treatments, it is possible that cellulite may return.” So go in with that in mind. And, no matter what you do, “try to remember that [cellulite] is very normal—and you are in excellent company,” says Dr. King.

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