The Fat That's Not Your Fault

Fighting Cellulite... to be Precise

No one forced you to super-size your fries. You didn't have to have seconds of dessert last night. And yes, you should have gone to the gym instead of opting for the couch. Guilty as charged.

Please pass the penances.

But not all fat is your fault. Even die-hard dieters and serial exercisers get cellulite: those not-so-cute dimples on the thighs, hips and buttocks. While diet and lifestyle can influence the formation of cellulite, a large part of cellulite is composed of fat and toxins that build up in the subcutaneous layers of the skin - and it affects women of any size, weight or body type. It can be the result of heredity, hormones, and many other factors.

Cellulite may be the most frustrating kind of fat of all. It worsens as we age and the skin thins, magnifying its Aorange peel@ appearance. Exercise doesn't reduce it, and even surgeries like tucks or liposuction don't address it.

So what's a girl to do? The never-ending search for an answer has produced more curiosities than cures, from lotions, potions, pills and supplements to the latest anti-cellulite shoes and jeans. Only one treatment, Endermologie® -- a machine-assisted deep tissue massage technique from France, has FDA clearance as an effective way to temporarily reduce the appearance of cellulite, with maintenance sessions recommended to sustain improvements and results. Endorsed by physicians and skin care professionals across the U.S. and supported by independent clinical studies and laboratory research, Endermologie® targets connective tissue, which provides the skin=s mechanical functions of support and cohesion. In addition, this key component of the body's microcirculation systems provides nutrition, fluid exchange and protection.

Now Endermologie® is getting even tougher on cellulite with its newest generation treatment machine, the patented CelluM6® Keymodule. This new streamlined Endermologie® machine features: a redesigned treatment head with speed and rotation differentials to increase the depth of action and provide more therapeutic applications.

"The Keymodule allows the therapist to customize the treatment. Soft, or watery, cellulite (feels spongy to the touch and may be due to water retention) is massaged differently than hard or compact cellulite which is often found in dancers, runners, and other very fit patients," says Andrea Volz, a training manager for the Cellu M6® KeyModule's manufacturer, LPG®, the world leader in connective tissue technology.

The treatment head of the machine is applied directly to the skin using various programs that increase blood flow and help fluid elimination, thereby contributing to a more even finish to the skin and better body contours.

Dr. Robert Ersek, a board certified plastic surgeon in Austin, Texas, has been using Endermologie® for several years as an adjunct to liposuction and conducted a year-long study on the effects of Endermologie®. He concludes that it benefits the skin and subcutaneous tissue by boosting microcirculation by as much as 200 percent and stretching the septa so the fat loses its quilted look. It is my experience that Endermologie® is the only effective treatment for cellulite, he says. Ersek, a clinical assistant professor at Southwest Texas State University and an Instructor at the University of Texas, now uses the new Cellu M6® KeyModule in his practice, and says he and his staff are excited about the increased precision and accuracy the machine offers in the treatment of different kinds of cellulite. He discusses his experiences and results with Endermologie® in his books, A Better Body and Mega-Lipo.

Endermologie® was originally developed by Louis Paul Guitay in France in the 1970's. Guitay originally intended it to rehabilitate damaged muscle tissue, soften scars and standardize physical therapy. However, patients noticed that their therapeutic massage had an interesting side effect: a noticeable improvement in what the French call 'peau d'orange,' or 'orange peel skin.' Since then, cosmetic use of Endermologie® has become a beauty routine in Europe, Japan, North and South America.