A quick anatomy lesson: We've got skin, then connective tissue, then fat, then muscle. The connective tissue is like a net or mesh. And we get cellulite when the connective tissue beneath our skin weakens, and the fat bulges through. Women get it much more often than men, and it is usually in our hips, thighs and butts. There are a lot of products and treatments out there that claim to help — but do any of them work?
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Caffeine
Researchers have found that products containing caffeine, such as Brooklyn Botany Arabica Coffee Body and Face Scrub, $14.99, can dehydrate the fat cells, making them smaller and less visible. That said, it's a temporary result and you'd have to use it every day.
The American Academy of Dermatology says that a treatment called Cellulaze works well for long-term cellulite reduction, though they note that more research is needed. A small incision is made in the skin and a laser fiber is inserted. This laser works two ways: it zaps the bands that are causing the cellulite and works to make the skin thicker. Patients see results that last for years, but it comes with a hefty price tag.
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Subcision
Another process that has been FDA-cleared is called Cellfina. In this procedure, a doctor puts a needle under your skin to cut the fibrous tissues that cause cellulite. It's been shown to last more than two years, and is designed to treat individual trouble spots, dimple by dimple. Unfortunately, as with laser treatments, it's quite pricey: It'll run you around $4,000.
