HOUSTON – If you're sick of cellulite, you're not alone. The unsightly problem plagues the majority of adult women, but one doctor is claiming dramatic results in getting rid of cellulite with a combination of therapies.
"Some people believe if you break the fibrous bands that'll treat the cellulite," said dermatologist Dr. Leslie Bauman. "Others try to shrink the fat. So what we do now, is try to combine both of those methods to get the best result."
Bauman came up with a two-pronged approach. It starts with a radio-frequency device called the Venus Legacy.
"What's special about radio-frequency is you can determine the depth of where the heat goes," Bauman said.
Then, she combines the in-office laser treatments with an at-home topical called resolution cellulite. The product contains a high dose of retinal, which over time can thicken the skin.
"If you thicken the skin, it helps keep the skin tight, so if it does come back you don't see it," Bauman said. "It disguise it."
Bauman says studies show improvement in skin texture after eight weeks of using the topical product daily. Results from the radio-frequency can be seen immediately, but it typically takes four treatments, spaced a week apart, to see dramatic improvement.
"I'm sure that therapies are going to get better and better now that we know combination treatments work well together," said Bauman.
Cellulite typically appears first during teen years, so the key to limiting its development is staying active early on. Exercises that build muscle, like lunges, can help smooth the surface of the skin, and reduce the appearance of cellulite.