Cellulite

What is Cellulite?

Cellulite is the dimpled, uneven "orange peel" texture that tends to show on the thighs, buttocks, hips and tummy, and sometimes on the upper arms. It is harmless, common and not necessarily a sign of being overweight or unfit. Slim, active people have it too, and factors like aging and hormonal changes can affect the skin and tissues beneath it resulting in the formation of cellulite. Treatment can help soften how the dimples look and improve skin quality.

What Causes Cellulite

Cellulite forms where two forces meet. Fat sits in small pockets just under the skin, while tough fibrous bands tether the skin down to the tissue below. When fat pushes up between bands that pull down, the surface puckers into dimples. It is often graded by how easily it shows: mild cases show only on a pinch, moderate ones show when you stand, and pronounced ones show whether you stand or lie down. Cellulite can come from a range of factors, including:

Fibrous bands: Tight, short bands anchor the skin, so the fat above them bulges and the skin between is drawn inward.
Hormones: Oestrogen, insulin and thyroid hormones influence how fat is stored and how firm connective tissue stays. This is why cellulite can appear or become more visible at puberty, during pregnancy and around menopause.
Genetics: Family traits shape skin thickness, the strength of connective tissue and where fat tends to collect.
Skin thickness and collagen: Thinner, less elastic skin lets what lies beneath show through, and the skin loses collagen and elastin as the years pass.
Circulation and fluid: Slower blood flow and lymph drainage may add fluid to the tissue and weaken its support. This is usually a contributing factor rather than the main cause.
Lifestyle and weight: Long periods of sitting, smoking and stress can make cellulite more visible. Weight gain can exaggerate it, but losing weight may not smooth it.

Treatments for Cellulite at ARTÉ

Cellulite involves skin, fat and the bands between them, so a plan often draws on more than one approach. What suits you depends on the grade, the area and how firm your skin is, and the first step is a consultation with her.

Celluject

Celluject is an injectable treatment that contains 3 important enzymes - Collagenase, Lipase and Lyase. Collagenase acts on the tight bands anchoring the skin while Lipase acts on stored fat. With less pull from the bands and less fat pushing up, dimples can look shallower. It is used on the thighs, buttocks, hips, tummy and upper arms. Numbing cream is applied, and a short course is usual.

Onda Pro

Onda Pro sends microwave energy through the skin to the fat layer and the connective tissue around it. Heat energy breaks down fat cells for the body to clear, reshaping the tissue behind the dimpling and nudges the skin towards making collagen. A cooling system protects the surface, and most people find the warmth relaxing. It is used for mild to moderate cellulite across larger areas such as the thighs, buttocks and hips, usually as a course of sessions.

Inmode Mini FX

Made for small regions such as the arms and knees, this device pairs radiofrequency energy with light suction and a brief high-voltage pulse. The aim is to reduce fat and smooth the skin over it. The feeling is a warm pulse with a slight pull on the skin. Broader areas are usually left to other options, and a course of sessions is typical.

Possible side effects: Redness, warmth, tenderness, mild swelling or small bruises can appear in the treated area, and this generally fades on its own. A consultation is needed first, and results vary from person to person.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will treatment get rid of cellulite for good?

No treatment can promise that. Cellulite is a tendency built into your skin and connective tissue, so it can be softened but not erased, and it often shows more with age. Maintenance sessions, a steady weight and regular movement may help keep the improvement. She will tell you plainly what is realistic in your case.

Do the three treatments do the same thing?

They approach it from different angles. Celluject works on the bands and fat beneath the dimple, Onda Pro warms fat and connective tissue over broader areas, and Inmode Mini FX focuses on small regions. Which one leads, or whether they are combined, is decided after Dr. Michelle has assessed each area.

Will one session be enough?

Rarely. The number varies with the grade of your cellulite, the areas involved and the treatment chosen. A course of sessions is more usual than a single visit, and change tends to build gradually rather than appear overnight. Your plan sets out the likely number, and it may be adjusted as you respond.

Does it hurt?

Injections are done after numbing cream, and most people feel light pricks and pressure. The device treatments usually feel warm, with a pulsing or tugging sensation in the case of Mini FX. Comfort varies by area, so tell Dr. Michelle if anything feels too strong and she can adjust.

Can I carry on with my routine afterwards?

Not much, as a rule. After injections, the small entry points may look pink, swollen or tender, and bruises can appear. Device treatments may leave passing redness and warmth. Follow the aftercare notes you are given, which include avoiding massage on the area after Celluject, and attend your review visit.

Why Choose ARTÉ by Dr. M for Cellulite?

Doctor-Led Care

Dr. Michelle Ng alone assesses, grades and treats your cellulite, with nothing passed to another practitioner. She has practised aesthetic medicine for over a decade. That helps her judge whether tight bands, fat, thin skin or a mix lie behind what you see.

A Plan for Your Grade and Location

Cellulite is not one thing. Mild dimpling on the thighs, deeper dimpling on the buttocks and a few dimples on the knees or arms call for different plans. Dr. Michelle grades the cellulite, maps each area and chooses between the treatments, or combines them, to suit.

Natural-Looking Results

We hope for smoother skin on legs and hips that remain recognisably your own, not a surface without a single dimple. Dr. Michelle explains at the start what can realistically improve, so your expectations match what treatment can offer.

Safety-First Approach

No plan is set before each area is looked at closely and your questions are heard. You leave with written aftercare and come back for a review visit.

Book Your Cellulite Consultation at ARTÉ by Dr. M

Dimples on the thighs, buttocks or arms deserve a proper look. Dr. Michelle will grade what she sees, explain what can realistically change and set out the options that suit your body.

Book a Consultation

This page is for general education and is not medical advice. Dr. Michelle will assess your concern at a consultation and advise on the treatment that suits you.