The Differences between Fat and Cellulite
You may suffer from cellulite no matter how often you take advantage of the skiing, hiking and biking opportunities in and around Denver. While we have liposuction to remove fat deposits, lipo cannot eliminate cellulite. What’s the difference between fat and cellulite, and are there any treatments that will help?
Types of Fat
There are two basic kinds of fat in the human body: subcutaneous and visceral.
- Subcutaneous fat is one variety of connective tissue, and lies just under the skin’s surface. This layer provides insulation for the entire body, and also serves as a place for the body to store energy.
- Visceral fat lies deeper than subcutaneous fat, and acts as a protective cushion around the organs. Visceral fat also produces hormones that help the body function properly.
Although cellulite is one type of subcutaneous fat, not all subcutaneous fat is cellulite. Cellulite has a lumpy appearance and usually manifests in the lower body, especially around the thighs and buttocks. Cellulite becomes more visible when the connective tissue web that separates the fat cells becomes herniated and takes on a honeycomb shape. This pattern forces the fat cells to protrude outward through the skin, giving the skin’s surface a dimpled appearance.
Body Sculpting
Liposuction removes fat cells in the subcutaneous layer. However, this process cannot remove connective tissue itself, or the fat cells that are “locked in” to that honeycomb pattern. Many treatments, creams and diets claim to be able to reduce the appearance of cellulite, but there is still no proven method to eliminate cellulite for all patients. I encourage you to come in for a consultation where I can review your case and discuss options for helping you look your very best.
Author: Dr. Francesco Campanile
Board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Dr. Francesco Campanile is a cosmetic surgeon in Denver who is focused on body contouring and breast enhancement. Time and time again, the women and men who choose Dr. Campanile say that they’ve found “the whole package” – a doctor who cares deeply about the quality of their results and has the skill to achieve excellence.
