subject: Can Liposuction Help My Cellulite? [print this page] Lots of people wish they could do something about their cellulite. Many of these people have heard that liposuction is a good way of surgically removing excess fat, and so they assume that it will also be a good solution for cellulite. This article will discuss whether or not liposuction can help in the treatment of cellulite.
The first thing that we will look at is what cellulite actually is. Although fashion magazines often speak of it as if it is a disease, it isn't. It is merely the name that we give to bumpy or puckered looking fat.
Cellulite is caused by a the swelling of fat cells just under the skin. When these fat cells swell, it can sometiomes causes layers of connective tissue called collagen fibers to bend or become deformed. When this happes, it pulls on the skin, causing a puckering or wavy effect.
Although cellulite is considered unattractive by many, it is typically not dangerous, although some suggest that it can sometimes interfere with drainage in the lymphatic system.
Next, we will examine liposuction. Liposuction is a surgical procedure which removes excess fat from certain parts of the body. It does this through the aid of hollow needles called cannulas. A cannulas is inserted into a patient's fatty tissue through an incision and moved back and forth through the tissue.
As the cannula, which is attached to some sort of vacuum device, moves back and forth, it breaks up and suctions out excess fat. This removal of fat typically takes places below the level of the fat that causes cellulite.
Experts disagree on exactly what the effect of liposuction is on cellulite, but most agree that it won't cure it. Some state that the skin looseness that is often caused by liposuction actually can worsen the appearance of cellulite. Some others say that the procedure will reduce one's cellulite minimally, but will not tend to cause a significant improvement in appearance.
One exception to this general rule may be laser lipolysis. Laser lipolysis (also called laser assisted liposuction) uses a surgical laser to help break down fat cells before it suctions them out. Certain companies claim that the heat caused by their lasers stimulates collagen growth, which can lead to an improvement in cellulite. However, research seems to be divided on this front. Some customers claim to see significant improvement, while other strongly disagree.
In general, liposuction does not seem to be a good solution for cellulite. Patients whose worries about their cellulite outweigh their desire for the body trimming that liposuction offers will probably want to look elsewhere. A variety of other cosmetic procedures claim to be able to help cellulite, and some of these may prove helpful.
