WACO, Texas -- Cellulite. For millions of women, it's an obvious
condition without an obvious solution; a universal enigma with no
universal explanation.
As many as 99 percent of women in the world may be plagued with
the mysterious trenches that blemish pastures of otherwise smooth,
firm skin.
Some women may not know exactly what it is, but they'll wrap it,
rub it, peel it, baste it and vacuum it to try and make it
disappear.
For some, cellulite is a painful problem; for others, an ugly
annoyance.
``Cellulite is not a health issue. It's a beauty issue,'' said
Dr. Charles Verheyden, president of the Texas Society of Plastic
Surgeons and director of the plastic surgery division at Scott and
White Hospital. ``There's not a real good understanding of even why
cellulite happens.''
Cellulite is not fat. In fact, even the slimmest, most toned
women can have ``cottage cheese thighs'' or ``dimpled derrieres.''
Cellulite forms when circulation slows down and body fluids that
bathe fatty tissues and fibers are flooded with waste materials.
The liquid pushes away fat cells and hardens to form immovable
pockets between the skin and the deep layers of fat, said Mary
Haymore, who has studied massage and alternative medicine in Europe
and is president and CEO of The Spa at Canyon Oaks.
Water retention, lack of proper circulation, poor nutrition and
hormones further aggravate the problem, Haymore said.
Because much of the problem has to do with retaining fluids,
advanced cellulite can result in painful swelling for some women,
she said.
If the explanation sounds complicated, choosing a solution among
those in the $100 million cellulite industry can be even more
confusing.
Verheyden said when women come into his office and want him to
banish their cellulite, he can't offer a sure-fire way to do so.
Not even liposuction, used to remove fat cells, can help in most
cases.
``Sometimes liposuction will help, particularly if it's done
close to the skin, but it can be overdone, and more dimples are
created because of the liposuction itself,'' he said. ``If they
really had a good technique for dealing with it, you could fill up
your office with women who want it.''
Instead, women show up at spas to wrap themselves up with $85
seaweed concoctions and at cosmetic counters to rub themselves down
with $75 skin creams.
Body wraps and creams work on the premise that applying minerals
and oils topically will seep through pores and into the body to
dissolve cellulite. A bottle of lotion or weekly seaweed wraps
might make the skin look smoother, but Haymore warns that they are
not overnight panaceas.
``Most women in the United States want a quick fix,'' she said.
``But (cellulite) will come back if you don't change your
lifestyle. Cellulite treatments can help as long as you're doing
other things -- exercising and eating a healthy, natural diet.''
That's the message that Van Smith-Davis tries to convey every
day in her job as fitness coordinator at Baylor University. She
said she is skeptical when she hears about cellulite treatments
because of the high-priced miracles that many companies promise.
She recommends eating a balanced diet and exercising, especially
lifting weights, for a firmer, more toned figure.
What about women who are in shape, exercise regularly, but still
have cellulite?
Jennifer Cromwell thinks she has finally found an answer. The
tall, slim owner of Formela Skin Care Center in Waco, said she
underwent thousands of body wraps for her cellulite without getting
the results she wanted.
In October, she invested $40,000 in a computerized
``Endermologie'' machine that looks like a robot but performs the
same function as a household appliance -- a vacuum.
The machine uses vacuumlike pressure to smooth out
cellulite-laden areas of the body. For most women, a minimum of 14
treatments of 35 minutes each are recommended, plus monthly
maintenance treatments. The cost? Anywhere from $75 to $100 per
treatment.
Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved
Endermologie, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons released a
statement saying, ``there is very little scientific evidence to
suggest that this mechanical method of massage is effective in
permanently changing the appearance and the shape of the skin.''
However, a study by researchers at Vanderbilt University
conducted on Yucatan minipigs, whose skin structure is similar to
humans', found that those who received a full course of
Endermologie treatments actually formed new layers of smoother
skin.
As with all new medical discoveries, more tests need to take
place to reproduce positive results, Verheyden said.
``You can come out with some stuff, market it, tell women their
fat will go away and make several million bucks, but it's hard to
measure because the results are mixed,'' he said. ``For something
to be scientifically valid, it must be measurable and repeatable.''
In the meantime, Cromwell said, even if Endermologie doesn't
produce drastic results in a woman, it can at least make her feel
better about herself.
``I know I feel better, I'm more productive and a better person
if I feel like I look better,'' she said. ``But any kind of massage
is better for your health.''
Smith-Davis said she feels it's unfortunate that so many women
try so hard to get rid of cellulite for beauty's sake. But if
cellulite makes them pay more attention to their bodies, they might
start paying more attention to their health, she said.
``The concern should not be about cellulite, it should be about
living a healthy lifestyle, and (reducing cellulite) could be
another benefit of exercise and eating right,'' she said. ``I would
say definitely worry about leading a healthier lifestyle, but not
to put cellulite at the forefront for a reason to work out.
