Cellulite: Why sport and diet alone aren't enough

You train regularly, eat consciously, and the dimples on your thighs and buttocks still remain. This isn’t a question of discipline. Depending on the study, cellulite affects 80 to 90 percent of all women, regardless of age, weight, or fitness level. What’s behind it isn’t excess fat, but a structural property of female connective tissue.

What cellulite really is

Cellulite (medically: Dermopanniculitis deformans) develops in the subcutaneous layer. In women, connective tissue runs perpendicular to the skin and forms chamber-like structures into which fat cells push upward. In men, the connective tissue runs crosswise, which is why they are significantly less affected.

Three factors amplify the visible dimpled appearance:

• Weak connective tissue (partly genetic)
• Oestrogen, which increases the permeability of the connective tissue strands
• Disturbed microcirculation and lymph flow, causing fluid and metabolic waste to stagnate in the tissue

Why sport alone isn’t enough

Sport burns fat and tones muscles, both are important. But sport does not change the structure of the connective tissue strands that cause cellulite. Even very slim, athletic women can have pronounced cellulite.

Creams act on the skin surface. They don’t reach the deeper cause in the subcutaneous layer. Anti-cellulite cosmetics may temporarily make the skin look firmer and smoother, but they don’t change the underlying tissue structure.

Which approaches really address the root cause

For a treatment to improve cellulite sustainably, it must act deeper than the skin surface, on three levels simultaneously:

1. Work on the connective tissue, not just on the skin surface
2. Support the removal of retained fluid
3. Stimulate connective tissue so fibroblasts can build new collagen and elastin

Mechanical microstimulation is one of the established non-invasive methods that addresses all three points at once. Mechanical microstimulation is studied in connection with fibroblasts and components of the skin matrix, among other things. In a controlled study using an LPG Mécano-Stimulation device, changes in fibroblast function and increased measured values for type I collagen and elastin, among others, were observed (Humbert et al. 2015). Because the study was not carried out with an icoone® Medical, it cannot be used as specific proof of efficacy for the device used here.

icoone® microstimulation: how it works

The patented Roboderm® technology uses micropores that stimulate the tissue three-dimensionally through controlled vacuum microstimulation, without lasers, without needles, without heat. According to the manufacturer, several thousand microimpulses per minute are generated.

The scientific foundation is based on the work of Dr. Jean-Claude Guimberteau, French hand and plastic surgeon, on the microvacuole structure of connective tissue and has been further investigated in several clinical studies (e.g. Palmieri et al., Maullu & Scuderi, see icoone.com/en/science).

At Praxis Anzhelika Wyss in Opfikon, an official icoone® centre, each treatment is individually tailored. A session lasts 60 or 90 minutes and combines a full-body base programme with a focus programme on the problem area.

Realistic expectations

Cellulite doesn’t completely disappear with any non-invasive method. What is realistic:

• Visible changes develop individually over the course of treatment
• How quickly and how clearly something shows depends on the initial condition
• For lasting results, regular maintenance sessions are advisable

The recommended course of 10 sessions (twice a week) is the typical starting point to assess how your own tissue responds.

What icoone® does not replace

• Significant weight loss, icoone® is not designed for this
• Surgical procedures, these have a different profile of action and are not offered at the practice
• An unhealthy baseline routine, movement, diet, and skincare remain the foundation

Pricing

Single session 60 min.: CHF 195 Recommended course (10 sessions): CHF 175.50 per session · original suit included · 0% instalment payment · valid for 12 months Intensive programme: from CHF 168 per session

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Also of interest: Relaxation massage for stress reduction

Sources

• Humbert P, et al. Mécano-Stimulation™ of the skin improves sagging score and induces beneficial functional modification of the fibroblasts. Clinical Interventions in Aging 2015;10:387-403. (Demonstrates the general principle of mechanical skin stimulation, conducted with an LPG device)
• icoone® scientific studies: icoone.com/en/science

Individual results may vary. This content does not replace medical advice.

Frequently asked questions

Can cellulite completely disappear?

No. No non-invasive method can make cellulite fully disappear. How much the skin appearance changes is individual and depends on the initial condition; with a pronounced condition the possibilities are limited. Realistic expectations are important.

How quickly do you see results with icoone®?

Many clients report a changed skin feel (softer, less tension) after 2 to 3 sessions. How quickly visible changes appear is individual. For a systematic cellulite treatment this practice generally recommends the complete 10-session course plus maintenance.

What does a cellulite treatment cost in Opfikon?

A single icoone® session of 60 minutes costs CHF 195. The recommended 10-session course costs CHF 175.50 per session (CHF 1,755 total), including the original suit and 0% instalment payment over 12 months.

Is icoone® scientifically proven for cellulite?

For the general principle of mechanical skin stimulation, a controlled study with an LPG device is available (Humbert et al. 2015); it does not document the efficacy of the icoone® Medical used here. Clinical studies specific to icoone® technology are accessible at icoone.com/en/science. The evidence supports the principles of action; individual results vary.

Read more

Lymphatic drainage: when does it help? → · What is icoone® Roboderm®? → · Cellulite grades 1 to 3 explained →

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