5 Outdated Myths About Cellulite Debunked

While cellulite itself is harmless, it can be incredibly irritating and frustrating. Many people feel that the uneven skin looks unflattering, so they seek out clothing styles that keep the divots and dimples covered up because they’re self-conscious about the appearance of their thighs, legs, arms, or other areas. Although some people are ready to accept this orange peel skin exactly as it is, others are willing to try treatments to smooth and firm up their skin, such as injections of the FDA-approved QWO®. The Chicago-based Iteld Plastic Surgery team often sees patients who are unsure about how cellulite is really caused and what can actually be done to correct it.

There are so many rumors and opinions out there, it’s sometimes difficult to differentiate fact from fiction. Here are some common misconceptions about cellulite that many people have long accepted as “facts.”

Myth #1: Only Older People Get Cellulite

It’s true that most people in their 20s aren’t likely to have issues with severe cellulite, and the skin condition often looks worse when you age because your skin loses collagen and becomes more stretched out. However, people may start noticing dimpled flesh from as early as their teens or even their tween years when they start going through puberty, and cellulite often begins to look more pronounced somewhere between the mid-20s to mid-30s. It’s perfectly normal for cellulite to occur on younger people.

Myth #2: You Get Cellulite by Being Out of Shape or Overweight

Chances are good that your BMI on its own has very little to do with whether you have cellulite or not. Even celebrities and supermodels get it. While it is true that cellulite occurs more frequently on people who have excess fat, a poor diet, a sedentary lifestyle, a tendency to avoid physical exercise, cellulite can occur in people of all shapes, sizes, and fitness levels. The dimpling is triggered not by fat itself, but by structural components within the skin that cause fibrous collagen bands to tighten more in certain areas, causing depressions that give the skin’s surface an indented appearance.

Myth #3: Men Can’t Get Cellulite

Although more than 90 percent of western women have this skin condition, men are very unlikely to get it. This is because of the influence of estrogen: Women’s fat, muscle, and connective tissues are distributed in such a way that makes cellulite more likely to develop than in men. Women also have larger fat cells, and because of the realities of childbearing, they tend to carry more of their weight around the lower body, where cellulite is likely to occur. With that being said, men actually can get cellulite, especially if their estrogen levels increase or they gain a significant amount of weight.

Myth #4: You Just Need To “Detox” Your Body

There’s a widespread belief that cellulite is associated with an accumulation of toxins, waste, and water retention, so removing these things from the body could somehow firm up the skin. The truth is that toxins don’t cause cellulite. People often believe in cleanses and herbal remedies that promise to improve the appearance of the dimples, but these are unlikely to be of much help. Not to mention, diets and supplements that promise to “detox your system” often have no scientific basis. However, a healthy lifestyle can keep your skin strong and help you to avoid weight gain in areas that are prone to cellulite.

Myth #5: You Can Use Liposuction to Fix Cellulite

While liposuction is a great tool for removing unwanted fat, it’s not intended as a treatment for improving cellulite. Surgical fat reduction is simply used to remove cells to sculpt the shape of the body, but it can’t alter the structure of the skin. While some people may see a reduction in cellulite after liposuction, it is equally likely that the cellulite may get worse.

Dimples and lumpy flesh can be a nuisance. Fortunately, there’s an easy way to get rid of them for good so you can feel confident about showing off your skin. To learn more about treating cellulite with QWO®, contact Chicago-based board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Lawrence Iteld at Iteld Plastic Surgery. Call 312.757.4505, or submit a contact form to request a consultation.