La Jolla, Calif. - Cellulite cannot be cured. It can, however, be successfully controlled by a variety of products according to dermatologist Mitchell P. Goldman, M.D., medical director of the Laser and Skin Surgery Center of La Jolla, Calif.
Dr. Goldman recently completed a study using one of the creams available for the treatment of cellulite combined with the wearing of one side of a pair of neoprene shorts. He found a decrease in size and an improvement in appearance of the treated skin.
"There are many things that do work," Dr. Goldman said. "People use a caffeine cream and that works. People use suction massage and that works. Many things will work to help dissolve the fat and improve the lymphatic flow and the blood flow, which basically causes the fat to involute."
Cellulite is natural. Unfortunately, it is what every woman has. Women are supposed to have it because it allows them to store fat so they can have babies. It's natural and it's not a horrible, bad thing."
The issue, according to a paper Dr. Goldman recently wrote, is that the image of beauty in women has changed within the past three decades.
For centuries, artists portrayed beautiful women as having few muscles and a thick layer of subcutaneous fat. Today, the definition of beauty has more defined muscles without the thick layer of fat.
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That definition change, he said, has led to the prevailing view of cellulite as a disease. So, people look for ways to control the appearance of cellulite, which Dr. Goldman said can be done. "What we, and so many others have found, is that if you improve the blood flow in the area of the cellulite, the fat tends to disintegrate a little bit." "The thermal design of the Bioslims shorts help the creams penetrate and stimulate the blood flow." When you add the factor of infrared body heat created by the special thermal properties of the material you have an increased spa like effect."
Twelve women initially agreed to take part in the study for reducing cellulite. The circumference of their thighs was measured 15 cm and 20 cm distal to the waist before treatment began, then three weeks after treatment started.
First, the women applied an herbal cream to one thigh - randomly chosen. To facilitate the effectiveness of the cream, the bio-ceramic coating of the neoprene shorts adds to the equation.
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Following three weeks of using the shorts and cream nightly, Dr. Goldman noted most patients reported an improvement in the condition of the treated thigh. This photo shows a patient in a Bioceramic short on one leg during the study. (Photograph courtesy of Mitchel P. Goldman, M.D.
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The cream was rubbed in nightly, then the garment donned and worn for about six hours. Following each treatment, patients were also told to apply an additional application of the cream before sleep.
Following three weeks of wearing the shorts 6 hours a day and, applying an additional application of cream nightly, Dr. Goldman noted all of the patients reported an improvement in the condition of the treated areas.
- Eight women enjoyed wearing the product and said they would recommend the system.
- Nine women noticed a change in thigh diameter with only one woman seeing no change in size of the treated thigh.
- All ten women had smoother skin on their thighs and buttocks areas, which were covered by the cream and shorts.
Because the sizes of the thighs were similar and the study was small, Dr. Goldman did not break down the change in size by percentage or do a statistical analysis of the results, but he said, "The observable results were that the side that had the shorts came down a half-inch, a quarter-inch. That was impressive."
Since 1987, a number of companies have marketed creams designed to reduce the cellulite that occurs in thighs, and Dr. Goldman said it's accepted that topical products can stimulate blood flow; the problem is getting the active ingredients into the fat. "What the shorts do, is heat up the skin layers, and drive the cream deep into the skin layers".
To be effective, Dr. Goldman reported the shorts need to be used for several weeks, and were a good supplemental treatment to reinforce Endermologie or ionotherapy massage.
"By undergoing those procedures once or twice a week for a few weeks, the cellulite goes away, but you need to continue treatment every week or two to keep the cellulite from returning," he said.
Dr. Goldman reiterates that a number of treatments are effective on cellulite, and adds the shorts are so comfortable and easy to wear; it's a convenient tool for anyone wanting accelerated results.
Dr. Goldman says he has no financial interest in either the creams or the shorts.
For more information
- Goldman MP. Cellulite: A Review of Current Treatments. Cosmetic Dermatology Feb 2002;15:17-20.
