Understanding Cellulite and Plastic Surgery

Cellulite is something that unfortunately plagues 85 to 90 percent of women. Regardless of fitness levels and size, nearly all women are affected by cellulite. Many women, frustrated with the lack of effect by diet and exercise, seek surgical treatments for cellulite.

What is Cellulite?
Cellulite is the dimpled appearance of skin on a woman’s thighs, legs, arms and stomach, especially after the age of 35. Most doctors concur that this appearance is probably caused by the weakening of the connective tissues under the skin. Because this connective tissues are weakening and scarring it pushes the fat located under the skin into the cellulite bubbles, which look like dimples on the skin.

Although the exact causes of cellulite have not been pinpointed, it is believed that hormones and genetics play the largest roles. There is no known way to prevent cellulite and it does not respond to diet and exercise the way that normal fat responds. This is because the body does not burn and run off of these fat deposits the way it does normal ones.

Can Cellulite be Cured?
Unfortunately, there is no type of plastic surgery that removes cellulite. Even liposuction, which is effective at removed fat deposits, does not work for cellulite. While cellulite cannot ever really be cured per se, it can be reduced. However, most treatments for cellulite have not been proven on a large scale and most of the evidence to their effectiveness is anecdotal a patient should pay close attention to her own results to see what works in her case.

The least invasive cellulite treatment is creams and lotions available over the counter from many beauty product companies. These creams generally have the ingredient methylxanthines, which seems to be somewhat effective on cellulite. However, many doctors caution that these creams may not help at all.

New Treatments in the Cellulite Battle
One relatively new type of cellulite treatment is called collagenase treatment. With this treatment, naturally occurring body enzymes are injecting into the affected areas of the body over the course of several treatments. Although only small studies have been conducted so far, the evidence seems to show that this may be effective for most women and at least somewhat long-lasting.

Light and laser treatments are also being used to treat cellulite. These treatments involve the use of lasers along with massage and cold to heat up and release cellulite from the cells and soften the connective tissue between the pockets of cellulite. These treatments do seem to work for many women that use them, but they can be very expensive because it is only a temporary cure. This treatment must be done repeatedly to get results and then must be maintained on a monthly or bi-monthly basis to keep the cellulite away.

Massage using mechanical instruments to get a deep tissue effect is also being used to reduce the appearance of cellulite. This type of massage is called endermologie. Although it has in fact been proven to work for many women, the effect is only temporary and may only last a couple of days. However, many treatments spanning over several months are said to help the effect last longer.

Constant treatments using these procedures can increase the plastic surgery cost so speak with your plastic surgery doctor and find out if these procedures are within your budget. Check out Docshop.com to get more information on this type of surgery, along with other procedures, such as facial plastic surgery
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Who Is a Candidate for a Tummy Tuck or Abdominoplasty

Men and women who have loose, hanging skin and weak abdominal muscles with a protruding belly are candidates for a full Tummy Tuck or Abdominoplasty. On the other hand those who have a firm abdomen, but who have redundant lower abdominal skin folds are better served with a Mini-Tummy Tuck, also known as a Mini-Abdominoplasty.

There are several life changes that cause your abdominal wall to lose its strength and tightness, and to develop excessive, loose skin. Examples of these are pregnancy and massive weight loss -- such as the large weight losses from Gastric Bypass or “Bariatric” surgery.

Pregnancy
Almost all women develop stretch marks and loose lower abdominal skin as a result of pregnancy. They often complain of a lower abdominal pouch that protrudes and is unsightly when wearing tight clothes or low-cut shirts.

Especially during the last months of pregnancy, the rapid growth of the uterus stresses the lower abdominal wall and skin. Rapid stretching causes the deeper layer of skin to break, thereby forming stretch marks centered mostly in the lower abdomen, and covering the flanks and hips. The rapid stretching also causes the separation and stretching of the abdominal muscles that give the belly its core strength. The resulting weakness causes a pouch to develop in center of the abdomen. Because there is no longer adequate muscle support, exercise and dieting are ineffective in tightening the abdomen.

Massive Weight Loss
Men and women who have lost large amounts of weight by any means, including those who have dieted or have lost it through “Gastric Bypass” -- also known as “Stomach Stapling” or “Bariatric Surgery” -- are often left with folds of skin that hang like an apron. This is not only demoralizing for those who have gone to the effort of achieving a significant weight loss, but it also makes personal hygiene, exercising and wearing normal clothes difficult.

Dr. Sean Younai is a Board Certified Cosmetic Plastic Surgeon with experience in all aspects of body contouring, including liposuction, tummy tuck, high tention abdominoplasty ( http://www.tummy-tuck.biz ).

Dr. Younai practices at the California Center for Plastic Surgery (http://www.beautifulfigure.com) and recieves patients from Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Hollywood, Burbank, Sherman Oaks, Encino, Calabasas, Woodland Hills, Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, Pasadena, Glendale, Valencia, Palmdale, Fresno, Bakersfield, and Oxnard.

At the California Center for Plastic Surgery (http://www.beautifulself.com) he reviews treatment options with patients.

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