Cellulite – What is it and how is it formed?
Cellulite is caused by factors which influence where and how fat is stored, where and how fluid is retained, and the amount and arrangement of collagen and elastin fibers in the connective tissue layers of the skin. Factors influencing cellulite include genetic predisposition, hormones, hydration, diet, exercise, stress, drugs and medications and are discussed below.

When normal fatty tissue is stored, it is held in place by a network of collagen and elastin fibers and is supplied by a network of vascular and lymph vessels. When the system works well, the vascular system takes energy from the fat stores when required, and toxins are flushed away via the lymph. When the waste removal system starts to fail, waste products start building up and the connective tissue becomes saturated with fluid, and is often inflamed and swollen. Growing fat cells (adipocytes) destroy the network of collagen and elastin fibers, which then thicken (fibrose) around these cells forming hard pockets of fat, encroaching on vascular and lymphatic vessels. The hardened pockets of fat are the cause of the "orange peel" or "cottage cheese" appearance known as cellulite.  Cellulite often becomes painful if the pressure within the pockets of fat becomes too high. 

Cellulite can be diagnosed and categorised into four stages. The more advanced the condition of cellulite, the greater the effort required to treat it. When treating cellulite, the congested lymph and waste system needs to be cleared, the fibrosis around the hardened pockets of fat needs to be softened or broken down and the weak network of collagen and elastin fibers needs to be strengthened and re-modeled. ENDERMOLOGIE® will treat cellulite at all these levels. The frequency and amount of ENDERMOLOGIE® treatments is relative to a patient’s condition.