Cellulite treatment: a comprehensive literature review

Abstract

An effective and long-term treatment of cellulite has not been well established. To our knowledge, no review has analyzed the whole range of treatments for this condition. We conducted a review of in vivo studies on humans adopting the key words "cellulite" and "treatment." The studies were included according to eligibility criteria. We performed an analysis to estimate the overall effect of cellulite treatments from clinical studies. Medline library was screened up to December 2014 to identify eligible studies. We included 73 original studies in the present review. All of them were clinical studies, in most of them, only women were recruited. Above the studies searched up, 66 tested the effectiveness of an exclusive treatment performed without the association to other procedures: 11 topical agents, 10 shock-wave therapy, 10 radio frequency, eight laser therapy, five oral therapy, four manual massage therapy, three carbon dioxide therapy, two compressive therapy, two infrared therapy, one dermabrasion, and 11 devices that use an association of multiple treatments. Seven papers tested a combination of two or more treatments. The mean difference of clinical morphologic features and ultrastructural changes between the treated group and the controlled showed significant heterogeneity between studies. It is still difficult to indicate an exclusive and effective single treatment for this condition. Our analysis purposed to obtain a complete overview of the available treatments in cellulite reduction.

Review of the Mechanisms and Effects of Noninvasive Body Contouring Devices on Cellulite and Subcutaneous Fat

“…Moreover, in some cases, especially in the cellulite therapeutic approach, manual massage is considered (4, 18, 37). It seems that the results can improve by combining several techniques.…”

“…Estimating accurate results of anti-cellulite therapies is not easy but there are some practical methods for measuring the outcomes such as real-time scanning ultrasound image, three-dimensional optical skin surface measurement, clinical photographing, histological findings, personal questionnaires, etc. (14-18). …”

Coolifting® CoolCell®, A New Group of Highly Effective Active Ingredients for the Reduction of Cellulite in Women

“…Cellulite or Gynoid lipodystrophy is a metabolic disorder of the subcutaneous tissue that affects 80-90% of adult women. [1][2][3][4][5] It is characterized by an alteration of the skin and subcutaneous tissue of the affected areas, mainly thighs, buttocks and abdomen, in what is commonly called orange-peel. 2,3 It is a very common clinical condition that, although not serious, constitutes one of the greatest aesthetic concerns of a large number of women.…”

“…Its physiopathology depends on very diverse aspects such as: anatomy, genetic susceptibility, hormonal changes, efficiency of lymphatic drainage or alterations in microvasculature, extracellular matrix or adipocytes. 2,3 Although there are various products and treatments for reduction of cellulite, none of them is definitive. For this reason and given its complexity, it is always necessary to develop new methodologies to address this metabolic disorderin the best possible way.…”

“…For this reason and given its complexity, it is always necessary to develop new methodologies to address this metabolic disorderin the best possible way. [1][2][3][4] In the last years, some of the technologies that have allowed the development of devices and key tools in aesthetic medicine treatments have been consolidated. 6 Recently, the effectiveness of a device that improves the appearance of the skin by combining the therapeutic effects of avant-garde assets, pulsatile CO 2 and cold has been proven.…”