Cellulite Removal After Pregnancy

Although recently pregnant women may be thrilled at being a new mother, they may also be less than thrilled with their body following pregnancy. The truth is that pregnancy can be very hard on the body. In addition to hormonal changes, swollen and tender breasts, and abdominal stretch marks, hardened fat (known as cellulite) may also gather on the hips, buttocks, and thighs. Fortunately, professional, medical-grade treatments can reduce, and in some cases eliminate, the appearance of stubborn cellulite. The American College of Plastic Surgeons estimates that in 2011, more than 37,000 women underwent treatment for cellulite.

What Is Cellulite?

Cellulite develops when displaced fat becomes trapped above the fibrous bands of connective tissue in the dermal layer of the skin. The connective tissue is designed to evenly distribute fat below the skin. This cellulite reduces blood flow to the area and causes the distinctive rippled, lumpy look to the skin that is sometimes called "cottage cheese" because of its appearance. Cellulite is most commonly deposited on the thighs, hips, and buttocks.

Interestingly, cellulite is less common in men. Furthermore, the appearance of cellulite may have nothing whatsoever to do with obesity. Thinner women may also develop cellulite. Age, diet, hormones, smoking, and genetics can all play a role in the development of cellulite.

How Can Cellulite Be Removed from the Body?

There are three basic treatment methods to remove cellulite from the body. Two of them work very similarly to liposuction, which uses a vacuum to remove subcutaneous fat from specific areas of the body.

VelaShape and Endermologie: These techniques use a combination of a gentle vacuum and rollers to loosen the cellulite and reduce its appearance. In doing so, this procedure increases blood flow to the targeted areas of the body. It can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour, depending upon the extent of the treatment. The main advantage to this treatment is that there are no injections.

Cellulaze: This procedure works very similarly to ultrasound to loosen up fat for liposuction. In the Cellulaze procedure, a laser is used to loosen up the cellulite and improve blood circulation in the targeted areas.

Mesotherapy: In this procedure, small amounts of medications, amino acids, and vitamins are injected into the mesoderm layer of the skin. This helps break down the cellulite and improves blood circulation. Though this procedure enjoyed some popularity in the mid-2000s, it is rarely performed today due to potential risks and lack of evidence about the effectiveness of the treatment.

Cellulite Removal Side Effects and Risks

There may be some bruising and swelling at the locations targeted for cellulite removal. Because Cellulaze and Mesotherapy require injections, there is a small risk of infection at the injection sites. Patients should also be aware that it may take several treatments in order to begin to see results from cellulite removal. According to the American Association of Plastic Surgeons, the average cost for cellulite removal is $165 per treatment.

Those women who are striving to gain back their "pre-baby" body may find that cellulite removal can help them target those troublesome areas that cannot necessarily be dealt with just by diet and exercise. A consultation with a trained cosmetic surgeon may help them get on their way to looking as fit and trim as ever.