Forget creams: here's the new bottom line for curing cellulite . . .
Tuesday August 16 2005
Lotions, potions and creams which promise to transform the dimpled cottage-cheesy skin that affects the thighs and backsides of women are now being challenged by a new remedy on the block - a laser-like device which uses heat, deep tissue massage and suction to reduce the cellulite look.
VelaSmooth is a mechanical tool, designed by Syneron, which uses a mixture of infra-red light, radio frequency and a vacuum to temporarily alter the fat layer at a "sub-dermal level", thereby altering the appearance of cellulite on the skin.
Cellulite is the common name given to fatty irregular deposits directly underneath the skin which give an uneven appearance. It is believed that up to 80pc of women suffer from it. It tends to affect women more than men because of the regions where women tend to put on weight - namely the hips and thighs.
Dr Patrick Treacy, owner of the Ailesbury Clinic in Dublin, who recently ran trials of the device on over 100 patients, has claimed dramatic results.
The trials concluded that there was a 70pc improvement in the appearance of most patient's cellulite after between six and 12 treatments.
While the treatment is not cheap - prices start at around ?60 per 45-minute session - Dr Treacy is enthusiastic about it.
"The VelaSmooth is a wonderful addition to the treatment of cellulite as there have been so many dubious and unverifiable treatments available to date. This is the first treatment that a doctor could feel comfortable using without having to try and sell an unethical product."
Many of the creams available for the treatment of cellulite were based on the premise that caffeine and other compounds can break down fatty tissue, he said.
"They may have a beneficial cosmetic effect but usually that effect is temporary. Very few of them have been clinically evaluated."
According to the Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, which reviewed 27 years of medical literature on the subject, there is no scientific proof that creams make any real, lasting difference.
The author of the study, Dr Mathew Avram, a Harvard Medical School faculty member, concluded: "There is no evidence to show that any topical medications improve cellulite."
According to Sarah Keogh, consultant dietician at the Albany Clinic in Dublin, genetics have a lot to do with whether a woman is susceptible to cellulite.
But if women put on weight around their hips and thighs, it's more likely to be dimpled. "If you're not doing exercise, the fat is going to look more dimpled. If you have good muscle tone and you put on weight, it's less likely to be dimpled."
And she said the bottom line was that cellulite is just fat. "It's not anything special or different."
Improving your eating habits, cutting down on alcohol and coffee (which dehydrate the skin) and drinking more water can improve the skin's condition and help rid the body of cellulite, Ms Keogh said.
She added that the best and most effective way to deal with cellulite was diet and exercise.
- Kathy Donaghy
