How Much is Cellulite Removal? Best Cellulite Removal Treatments
Cellulite is a struggle that affects 80-90% of women over the age of 20.
Despite being so common, it is often extremely annoying from a cosmetic point of view and the variety of cellulite removal products and other cellulite treatments on the market seems to grow year on year.
The problem is, how do you know which cellulite removal procedures really work? After all, the last thing you want to do is fork out the cash for cellulite removal surgery when a simple cellulite removal cream could have done the job.
Even if you do go for a surgical cellulite removal treatment, how do you know which offerings are the real deal and which are a rip-off?
We're going to break down the science of cellulite permanent removal, using the latest research studies and scientific evidence to break down exactly what works and what doesn't.
To make sure everyone is on the same page, let's start with the basics:
What is Cellulite?/What Causes Cellulite?
Underneath our skin layers, there is a layer of connective strands of tissue called septae. The purpose of septae is to hold fat in place.
However, over time, as the septae get stretched and contracted, they eventually lose elasticity and strength. This leads to fat bulging out between them and causes the skin ripples we know as "cellulite".
Women have both thinner skin and fewer septae than men, with men's septae creating a criss-cross pattern that reinforces it and helps to hold the fat in for longer, whereas women's septae are often in simple lined patterns.
This is why cellulite is a more common complaint in women, along with hormonal considerations that can also affect the size of fat cells and the resilience of the septae.
Realistically, the most effective cellulite removal is to burn a lot of fat through exercise, but for those with particularly thin septae, even a low body fat content may not get rid of cellulite entirely.
It's because of this that many are driven towards cellulite removal products or even cellulite removal surgery - but this can be very expensive, so is it really necessary?
Let's take a look at some of the options:
How Much Does Cellulite Laser Removal Cost?
A common treatment among dermatologists is laser cellulite removal. This involves manipulating the septae into a less stressed position so that they don't pull on the skin in the same way. From there, heat energy from a laser source is used to shrink fat cells.
For some people, this can be very effective, but the issue is, for other people with thinner septae, cellulite may still be visible after a treatment, even if the presence of fat stays reduced.
This form of cellulite removal is also very expensive, with 4-8 sessions typically being required at $300 to $500 per session.
Not only is this treatment expensive, but patients will typically need 1-2 maintenance treatments per year afterwards in order to prevent cellulite returning.
Even then, you can expect the results to be entirely reversed within 5-6 years, requiring the full 4-8 sessions again to maintain the same results.
We think you'll agree that this isn't the most attractive of proposals, but it's not the only option when it comes to professional cellulite removal procedures.
The other option is laser-assisted liposuction.
This involves going under anaesthetic after which a laser will be used to burn off your fat cells before they are sucked out via a cannula.
This doesn't require maintenance treatments, however, it is still not quite permanent and results typically last around six years.
Laser-assisted suction typically costs $5000 per treatment.
These options are sorely disappointing from those who are suffering from cellulite, as they are expensive, unreliable and any improvements experienced as a result are short-lived.
This drives a lot of patients to instead focus on more holistic and natural cellulite removal such as cellulite cream, massagers, or even cupping.
It goes without saying that these options are much, much cheaper and less invasive than the above procedures, but do they work enough to even be worthwhile?
Let's take a look:
What is the Best Non-Surgical Cellulite Removal?
Here are some of the best cellulite products and options that are available for home treatment:
Cellulite Creams/Topical Treatments
There are a variety of cellulite removal creams on the market, with a huge variety of ingredients and prices.
Be wary of anything with a high price, because there is no real reason for this and it's almost always a cash grab.
The most effective usually use natural ingredients such as essential oils, citrus extracts, and other plant and herb extracts, in order to help tighten and hydrate the skin, strengthen the septae, and lead to a reduction in visible cellulite.
The best cellulite creams will always use natural ingredients like this - there are plenty that claim to use special ingredients to get better results but these are to be avoided. For example, some cellulite creams use aminophylline. This is a synthetic chemical that creates a temporary appearance of reduced cellulite by dehydrating you. It may appear to work after the first use but this is actually damaging to the skin and any results that appear positive won't last.
In fact, regular hydration and increased water intake can help to reduce cellulite, so dehydrating yourself is an especially bad idea.
As this study confirms, anti-cellulite creams and gels based on natural ingredients are generally more effective and come with no risk of side effects.
Cupping for Cellulite
Cupping is an ancient holistic treatment that is claimed to help with many different health conditions by increasing circulation and lymphatic drainage, but scientific evidence that it helps with cellulite has actually been found in multiple studies.
Since cellulite can be caused or exacerbated by poor circulation and poor lymphatic drainage leading to fat and other liquids building up, it perhaps shouldn't be surprising that cupping can help.
In fact, cupping also lets you target specific areas of the body, something diet and exercise can't do (although these are crucially important, of course).
So far then, science has concluded that topical creams and cupping can both reduce cellulite by significant amounts.
We're sure you'll agree this is brilliant news - eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and employing both of these quick, easy and cheap products is far favourable compared to expensive surgery that only works temporarily.
But if cupping works through aiding blood flow and removing stagnation, massages should potentially help too right?
Well, the science says yes, but attempting to find a massage practitioner who actually knows how to do this and charges a low price can be pretty difficult, and visiting them regularly will take up a lot of time.
There are some products, however, that can help you give yourself an anti-cellulite massage from home without even needing to visit a practitioner, so let's take a look at how well those work next:
Slimming Cellulite Removal Massagers
There are a variety of anti-cellulite massagers on the market, and research studies have found that they can "produce improvements in the overall cellulite appearance and skin condition" also suggesting that regular use could lead to "lasting results".
How to Get Rid of Cellulite
It seems then, that based on the evidence linked above, a natural self-treatment routine made up of anti-cellulite creams, anti-cellulite massagers, and occasional cupping therapy sessions, can lead to equivalent results to surgery in the long term for a fraction of the price.
It is likely that this, combined with a concerted effort to eat less fat and to exercise regularly in order to reduce the overall body fat content naturally is by far the most effective method to treat, reduce and prevent cellulite.
It perhaps shouldn't be surprising that a natural treatment method that works alongside the body instead of expensive, invasive surgical procedures is the best way forward.
Looking at a little comparison here should make it even more clear which method is the more attractive:
Cellulite Removal Costs
Laser Cellulite Removal | Laser-Assisted Liposuction | Anti-Cellulite Massagers | Anti-Cellulite Cream | Cupping Therapy | |
Price | ~$4000 | $5000 | $20-30 | $10-$40 | ~$30 for a home set, more for professional treatment |
Effectiveness after one treatment |
High | High | Low | Low | Low |
Effectiveness after 2-3 weeks |
High | High | High | High | High |
Long term effectiveness |
Non-existent without repeat procedure | Non-existent without repeat procedure | High | High | High |
Best Cellulite Removal Tools
Here at Luminositie, we're known for creating natural products based on active, healthy ingredients that just work with no need for fad ingredients or expensive chemicals.
All of our products are based on research studies and hard science, and we have applied this proven method to anti-cellulite products.
The end result is products that are affordable enough for anybody to try, but that create long term results that even the most expensive procedures and products will struggle to match.
This includes our low cost, professional quality cupping therapy set made from medical-grade silicone.
We have also combined our all-natural anti-cellulite firming gel with our custom-designed anti-cellulite massager to create an all-in-one cellulite treatment package that's cheaper than a single massage appointment, or roughly 250x cheaper than a cellulite removal procedure.
Using these products alongside a healthy routine that involves exercise and a good diet will leave your skin feeling tighter, smoother and help to dramatically reduce your visible cellulite in the long-term.
Our massager, in particular, has been specifically and painstakingly designed to be the best cellulite removal machine on the market based on feedback from professional massage therapists and dozens of research studies to mimic a professional massage as much as possible and help to drain lymphatic fluids and smooth out the septae with every use.
If you are somebody who suffers from cellulite and the associated loss of confidence, fear not, because the natural and gentle treatments are always the best!