Mayo Clinic Health Manager
Get free personalized health guidance for you and your family.
Get Started
About our e-newsletters
- Free e-newsletters
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- We do not share your e-mail address
Housecall, our weekly general-interest e-newsletter, keeps you up to date on a wide variety of health topics with timely, reliable, practical information, recipes, blogs, questions and answers with Mayo Clinic experts and more. Our biweekly topic-specific e-newsletters also include blogs, questions and answers with Mayo Clinic experts, and other useful information that will help you manage your health.
Housecall Archives
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
Treatments and drugs
By Mayo Clinic staff
Weight loss
Weight loss — through healthy diet and regular exercise — is probably the most beneficial cellulite treatment. Losing pounds and strengthening muscles in your legs, thighs and buttocks can improve the appearance of the dimpled skin. The benefits of weight loss alone are limited, however. Though the cellulite may be less noticeable after weight loss, it won't go away completely.
Lasers and radiofrequency systems
Perhaps the most promising medical therapy is lasers and radiofrequency systems. One system uses combined negative tissue massage, radiofrequency and infrared light to treat cellulite. The other system delivers combined tissue massage with diode laser energy. Both systems offer improvements to cellulite after a series of several twice-weekly treatments. Results may last up to six months.
Liposuction ineffective
Some people may turn to liposuction as a treatment for cellulite. During liposuction, a surgeon inserts a narrow tube under your skin through tiny incisions, and then suctions out fat cells. Though liposuction can shape the body, it won't remove cellulite, and it may make the cellulite appear worse.
- Avram MM. Cellulite: A review of its physiology and treatment. Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy. 2004;6:181.
- Taub AF. Procedures offered in the medical spa environment. Dermatologic Clinics. 2008;26:341.
- Sakamoto FH, et al. Lasers and flashlamps in dermatology. In: Wolff K, et al. Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. 7th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2008. http://accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=3005477&searchStr=cellulite. Accessed Nov. 17, 2008.
- Rawlings AV. Cellulite and its treatment. International Journal of Cosmetic Science. 2006;28:175.
- Goldberg DJ, et al. Clinical, laboratory, and MRI analysis of cellulite treatment with a unipolar radiofrequency device. Dermatologic Surgery. 2008;34:204.
- Cellulite formula. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed Nov. 24, 2008.
- Wollina U, et al. Esthetic and cosmetic dermatology. Dermatologic Therapy. 2008;21:118.
