advice: what can i do about the curse of cellulite?
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more than 90 per cent of women have cellulite. stock/getty
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dear asking for a friend,
i am in my early fifties, in menopause and i am overall pretty healthy. i exercise moderately and eat lots of vegetables and drink lots of water. my weight is normal, and i have never had body issues. except for now. my friends and i have always joked about the dreaded ‘back fat’ of middle age – you know that roll of skin that appears under your bra. except, now i have another worry … i seem to be developing cellulite everywhere! my thighs, my stomach, even a little on my upper arms!!!! i have to admit that i am very disheartened, especially since this is happening despite all my work to stay healthy. is this a result of menopause? why am i getting so much of it? i have tried creams, but nothing seems to be making a difference.
-feeling down and rumpled
dear feeling down and rumpled,
menopause can be a tough transition for many women. expanded waist lines, thinner locks, saggy skin and cellulite are just some of the changes women can experience. but while these hallmark symptoms are most prevalent in menopause, cellulite can affect a woman of any age, shape or size. even teenage girls can develop cellulite.
“cellulite is simply a fact of life — somewhere around 90 per cent of women have it, and there isn’t much you can do to prevent or reduce cellulite in the first place,†says elizabeth lista, director of communications and operations at md beauty clinic and the plastic surgery clinic in toronto.
contrary to popular belief, fat itself is not the primary cause of cellulite. rather, cellulite develops when the connective tissue that binds the skin to muscles stiffens, which pulls the skin down. fat deposits make cellulite worse as fat cells expand in areas like arms, knees, tummy, thighs and buttocks. age, gravity and hormonal imbalance are to blame for cellulite along with our sedentary lifestyle. genetic predisposition also makes some women more susceptible. in menopause, as estrogen levels drop, circulation and collagen production slows down and fat cells become larger, which makes cellulite worse.
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there are many “miracle†products on the market that claim to banish cellulite forever, but these don’t improve circulation, increase collagen or reduce fat, all of which is needed to significantly reduce the appearance of cellulite. liposuction won’t solve the problem either.
laser therapy however, appears to show promising results in treating cellulite. it works by melting the fat and cuts through layers of the skin that cause cellulite. this treatment can be costly, but usually a single session is all that is required to see immediate results.
“we see clients at md beauty clinicâ looking for a non-surgical treatment, and in this case we offerâ cellfina, a new, semi-invasive but non-surgical procedure we are seeing good results from,†says lista. “it directly addresses one of the underlying causes of cellulite, which is the body’s connective bands that weave through fat. by releasing the bands, you also release that dimpled, puckered look to the skin.â€
we know that menopause and the shape-shifting changes that come with it can be tough to deal with it, but try not to feel so much guilt and shame about your changing body. focus on what you can control — like diet and exercise and make sleep a priority. getting enough sleep can help you manage your weight and your overall health. if the appearance of cellulite is affecting your confidence, don’t feel like you have to live with it forever.
“we’ve devoted our practice to working with patients to help them embrace the best version of themselves on their terms, and there’s no shame if yours really bothers you and you want to take steps to improve it,†says lista.
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