epidermis / dermis / hypodermis / subcutaneous tissue

Cryolipolysis vs radio frequency vs cavitation: what is best?

Cryolipolysis vs radio frequency vs cavitation: what is best?

This is a common question at the clinic: “What is best, coolsculpting/cryolipolysis/fat freezing or radiofrequency?” However, as this question is very generic, it invites another question: “What is best for which outcome? For fat reduction, cellulite removal or skin tightening?”

Deep cellulite vs superficial cellulite

Deep cellulite vs superficial cellulite

Cellulite refers to fat pockets within the skin that are attached to and/or surrounded by fibrotic (hardened) collagen strands. The fat pocket tries to bulge out of the surface of the skin, while the collagen strand pulls the adjacent skin down. The combination creates the cellulite peaks (fat pocket makes skin “pop out”) and troughs (collagen strands keep skin down).

Cellulite can appear at three depths inside the skin:

  • At the dermal level (superficial cellulite)

  • At the hypodermal level (medium cellulite; most common cellulite)

  • And at the subcutaneous fat level (deep cellulite; not true cellulite)

We will look at each of them in detail…

Fibrosis, cellulite and fibrous cellulite: what is the connection?

Fibrosis, cellulite and fibrous cellulite: what is the connection?

Fibrosis is one of the most important aspects of cellulite, together with fat accumulation, water retention, inflammation and skin laxity. Fibrosis in cellulite refers to excess accumulation and contraction of collagen in the skin ligaments (retinaculae, also known as septae) that connect skin with the fascia underneath. Fibrosis occurs at the deepest skin layer called the hypodermis…

Do men get cellulite? Why do women get cellulite?

Do men get cellulite? Why do women get cellulite?

It is a common question I am asked at the clinic: “Do men have cellulite?'“ or “Why do men not get cellulite?”. And my answer has always been that women develop cellulite because they have weaker connective tissue and larger fat cells, due to the effect of female hormones…

Deep tissue radiofrequency: the only RF worth having for cellulite and skin tightening

Deep tissue radiofrequency: the only RF worth having for cellulite and skin tightening

We place repeated emphasis on “deep tissue radiofrequency” because most radio frequency treatments are just too superficial for the purposes of of skin tightening and cellulite reduction, and therefore quite ineffective…

Cellulite is an inflammatory tissue, similar to visceral fat

Cellulite is an inflammatory tissue, similar to visceral fat

Of course cellulite does NOT protect from stroke and dementia (contrary to tabloid clickbait articles). Visceral fat is an inflammatory fat tissue that can cause conditions such as stroke and dementia, while subcutaneous fat is more innocuous. However, cellulite is NOT subcutaneous fat…

Cellulite vs fat vs lipedema: is it all "just fat"?

Cellulite vs fat vs lipedema: is it all "just fat"?

Subcutaneous adipose tissue is a distinct fat tissue UNDER the skin. This is the fat that can be removed by liposuction. Cellulite is a totally different thing. It is not fat under the skin, it is fat INSIDE the skin and it is, of course, found ABOVE the subcutaneous adipose tissue. As it is part of the skin, it can obviously not be removed by liposuction…

The difference between cellulite and cellulitis

The difference between cellulite and cellulitis

Although with cellulite fat in the hypodermis is typically characterised by chronic, low grade inflammation and fibrosis (like a lot of adipose tissue does), it is not health threatening or an actual disease per se. Cellulitis, on the other hand, is a bacterial infection of the hypodermis by bacteria. It manifests as diffuse redness on the surface of the skin, it can be health threatening and it usually has to be treated by antibiotics…

Cellulite vs visceral fat vs subcutaneous fat: the differences

Cellulite vs visceral fat vs subcutaneous fat: the differences

Adipose (fat) tissue, i.e. what we call ‘body fat’, stores calories in the body in the form of ‘triglycerides’, which is the technical name for all fats and oils. In addition, adipose tissue also secretes hormones-like substances, called adipokines, such as resistin, adiponectin, leptin, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) and even estrogen…

Cellulite is just fascia: one statement, multiple levels of ignorance…

Cellulite is just fascia: one statement, multiple levels of ignorance…

If you have researched cellulite you must have bumped on this. Someone one day discovered the existence of fascia and dreamed that “fascia is the cause of cellulite”. And what do you do to fascia? But of course you just poke it, what else? Poke it as hard as you can with a crude fascia “blasting” tool, and your cellulite will go forever, right?