Is it fat or cellulite that I have on my thighs?

Fat vs cellulite

• Do I have fat or cellulite on my thighs (bum, stomach, arms…)?

• Firstly, cellulite and fat look different

• Secondly, cellulite and fat feel different

• Thirdly, cellulite and fat look different with an ultrasound scan

• Have a skin ultrasound scan at LipoTherapeia® and take a look inside your skin

• Have a cellulite treatment in London with the cellulite specialists

Do I have fat or cellulite on my thighs (bum, stomach, arms…)?

This is a very common question at the clinic, as most people are misinformed about what cellulite is:

• Cellulite is hypodermal adipose tissue, i.e. fat within the deepest skin layer (hypodermis)

• Fat is subcutaneous adipose tissue, i.e. fat under the deepest skin layer (hypodermis)

But how can we differentiate between cellulite and fat in our own body?

Firstly, cellulite and fat look different

It’s simple. At the clinic we offer the following simple way to help clients differentiate between fat and cellulite:

If you see small bumps, that’s cellulite, while if you see long ridges or very large bumps, that’s fat.

• The connective tissue ligaments (retinaculae cutis) that comprise the “honeycomb structure” of cellulite are thicker and spaced closed to each other, so cellulite is comprised of many small bumps

• The retinaculae cutis that comprise the “honeycomb structure” of fat are usually thinner and spaced apart from each other, so fat normally does not reveal any bumps. However, fat is separated by septae, i.e connective tissue sheaths. When adipose tissue enlarges, those septae reveal either long ridges or large bumps.

Secondly, cellulite and fat feel different

You can also differentiate between fat and cellulite by palpating it:

• Cellulite is the soft superficial tissue that is small enough to be pinched between your fingertips

• Fat is the soft deep tissue that is large enough to be grabbed in your palm

• (BTW, muscle is the harder, even deeper tissue that is large enough to be grabbed in your palm)

Thirdly, cellulite and fat look different with an ultrasound scan

You may also see

We are the first clinic in the world to offer cellulite ultrasonography as a service and have already performed thousands of cellulite/fat scans.

With ultrasound cellulite reveals a honeycomb structure while fat that does not cause bumps or ridges reveals a much simpler pattern.

Ultrasound image of cellulite. The cellulite globule looks flattened just due to the pressure of the ultrasound probe. Normally it is quite round.

Ultrasound image of normal fat and no cellulite, with superficial fascia denoted by the red ellipse

Have a skin ultrasound scan at LipoTherapeia® and take a look inside your skin

You can have a session of Cellulite Ultrasonography™ at our clinic in London and see for yourself and differentiate between cellulite, fat and any potential fibrosis/scar tissue (very common after liposuction, cellulite surgery and harsh non-surgical procedures).

Have a cellulite treatment in London with the cellulite specialists

At LipoTherapeia we have specialised 100% in skin tightening and cellulite reduction for more than two decades and 20,000+ sessions.

This is all we study and practise every day and of course we know all the important cellulite/skin tightening machines and their manufacturers. As strong, deep acting radiofrequency and deep-acting, high-power ultrasound cavitation are the technologies of choice for skin tightening and cellulite reduction, we have invested in the best RF/ultrasound technologies in the world.

Furthermore, over the last two decades we have developed advanced treatment protocols in order to make the most of our technologies, for maximum results, naturally and safely.

Our radiofrequency/ultrasound treatments are comfortable, pain-free, downtime-free, injection-free, microneedling-free, 99.5%+ safe and always non-invasive.

And our focus is on honest, realistic, science-based treatment, combined with caring, professional service with a smile.

We will be pleased to see you, assess you, listen to your story, discuss your case and offer you the best possible treatment.

There are five ways to start treatment with us:

• Book a FREE 15’ zoom consultation (UK only)

• Book a 30’ in-clinic assessment and consultation

• Book a 45’ in-clinic assessment and consultation plus skin ultrasound scan, to visualise skin laxity, cellulite, subcutaneous fat and potential fibrosis

• Book an introductory treatment, which automatically includes free 30’ assessment and consultation

• Book a course of 3x, 6x or 12x sessions, with the first session automatically including free 30’ assessment and consultation