6 little-known facts about cellulite

Ah, cellulite. What was once aestheticised in Rubens’ painting “The Three Graces” now evokes feelings of horror rather than happiness. Even actress Scarlett Johansson once famously quipped, “I hope they make a video game out of me. At least I wouldn’t have any cellulite then.”

Despite her celebrity status, Scarjo has – like more than 80% of womenfolk – the dreaded c. Characterised by lumpy, bumpy skin, cellulite is actually a harmless condition that can be commonly found on the thighs and buttocks. If you’re lucky, it can also appear on the – gasp! – breasts, lower abdomen and upper arms. And this can be exacerbated by ageing, weight gain, genetics and lifestyle.

 Unfortunately, there’s no quick fix for cellulite unless you’re a Photoshop expert. But don’t kiss your hot girl summer goodbye just yet. Here’s what we found, after getting to the bottom of our bottoms with the help of Medical Director of Amaris B. Clinic, Dr Ivan Puah.

Fact #1: There are different grades of it. Eeks!

Do you know there are four grades of cellulite? Grade zero means no visible cellulite. If you pinch the skin and see a cottage cheese-like texture – that’s grade one. Grade two cellulite is visible on the legs of someone standing. And grade three cellulite is the most obvious one; it can be easily spotted when you look in the mirror or lie down. Dr Puah calls grade three “terminal”, because it’s very hard to treat.

Fact #2: WFH culture may be contributing to worsening cellulite.

Cellulite can plague just about anyone because it isn’t necessarily due to fat, but the way fluid that has collected around the fat cells changes the way the skin looks. All that sitting around isn’t helping, because increased immobility translates into increased fluid retention.

Fact #3: There is no one-size-fits-all cellulite treatment.

There are three components of cellulite which are treatable: You have to address the collagen, reduce the fat, and increase circulation. This depends on the grade of cellulite you have.

Fact #4: There are non-invasive ways to get rid of it.

Can we have a round of applause for exercise and a low-salt, low-fat diet high in alkaline foods, please? Because these don’t just reduce the appearance of cellulite, they contribute to our overall wellbeing. Of course, this only works when one has plenty of commitment and discipline.

Lymphatic drainage – either manually or using Amaris B.’s patented bodysuit – also works. With 400 integrated pressure chambers designed to stimulate areas on the body, much like the Chinese “cupping” therapy, it promotes better circulation overall.

For those who’ve been religiously dry brushing their skin, sorry to burst your bubble. Dr Puah says while daily dry brushing, to a certain extent, helps to slough off dead skin and assist in stimulating lymphatic and blood flow, there is no scientific evidence that proves it can help with cellulite reduction.

Fact #5: There are medically proven cellulite treatments available, but results aren’t immediate or long lasting. But Dr Puah has a recommendation!

He recommends a fat removal treatment that employs VASER technology with his proprietary liposuction approach, the MDC-Sculpt Lipo technique, to address the excess bulging fat and improve the skin texture.

During the fat removal procedure, a special mixture of tumescent fluid is infiltrated to the targeted treatment area. A VASER probe, a unique handpiece of the VASER system, is inserted to expand and contract air bubbles within the tumescent fluid. It oscillates at 36,000 times the ultrasonic sound wave per second, separating and emulsifying fat tissues from other important connective tissues such as nerves, blood vessels.  Liquefied fat is then removed with a specialised suction cannula and targeted sculpting and skin tightening is carried out with Dr Puah’s MDC-Sculpt Lipo technique. Collagen production is stimulated, resulting in these six magic words: smoother, tighter skin with fat removed.

Results are immediately noticeable after your cellulite treatment. However, some swelling is expected and will gradually subside over a few weeks before you can appreciate the improvement. Dr Puah and the medical team will be there from start to finish, whether it’s discussing expected results in detail, or following up on aftercare appointments.

Fact #6: When it comes to cellulite treatments, picking the right doctor and clinic makes all the difference.

Before you schedule an appointment for liposuction in Singapore, it’s crucial to source a credible and experienced liposuction doctor – and one accredited by the Ministry of Health Singapore. Dr Puah is one such doctor. Having undergone his VASER Fundamental and Advanced Body Sculpting training in Colorado and Argentina, he is accredited by the Ministry of Health to perform surgical body sculpting procedures such as SmartLipo and VASER Liposuction in Singapore. He’s also Chairman of the Lipo Peer Review Committee Singapore.

Dr Puah’s clinic, Amaris B., provides custom body-contouring tailored to each body type and desired outcome. The costs will vary depending on the individual’s clinical condition, the complexity of the surgery and the body regions to be treated. Since its establishment, Amaris B. Clinic has received several industry accolades and recognitions, the latest being “2019 Body Sculpting Provider of the Year in Asia-Pacific”, “2020 Body Sculpting Medical Centre of the Year in Asia Pacific” and “2020 Integrated Healthcare Medical Centre of the Year in APAC”.

With more than 15 years spent in aesthetic medicine performing FDA-approved injectables, skin lasers and body sculpting surgical procedures, Dr Puah believes in the “70% art and 30% science” approach to achieve optimal results for his male and female clients. The result? One that is natural-looking and complements their overall physique.

Written in collaboration with:

Amaris B. Clinic
140 Arab Street
6536 4211 | customer@amaris-b.com

facebook.com/AmarisBClinic | amaris-b.com

Louisa Lim

Former journalist Louisa has been living in Singapore with her husband and two boys for the past five years. She loves adventure travel (Trans-Siberian Express, anyone?), bath bombs and game nights. She hopes to work with minority communities in remote locations one day but is currently writing about fashion and beauty to fund her online shopping addiction.