How to Get Rid of Cellulite: 13 Tips and Product Recs From Dermatologists and Plastic Surgeons
Skip the bogus creams and try these expert-approved methods instead.
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If you're here because of some early aughts-esque attempt to get "bikini body ready" and your first Q is wondering how to get rid of cellulite, lemme give you the bad news up front: There is nothing you can do at home to completely get rid of or prevent cellulite (nope, cellulite creams and skin-tightening creams don't work, unfortch). However, you should also know that the majority of adult humans have cellulite, according to dermatologist Joyce Imahiyerobo-Ip, MD, so it's pretty damn normal and nothing to be ashamed of or feel uncomfy about. I have cellulite, my mom has cellulite, my cousins and best friends and bosses and uncles and boyfriends and coworkers all have cellulite—and it's simply so fine.
That said, it's also totally okay to wish you didn't have cellulite and be looking into how to get rid of cellulite. Tech has come a long way (hi, 2024!), and cellulite reduction treatments are offered both in-office and at home with varying results, procedure lengths, and price points. Take a peek below at the options five dermatologists and two plastic surgeons actually recommend to get rid of cellulite, along with info on what cellulite actually is and what actually works to smooth it. Keep reading, and get ready to take notes.
What is cellulite?
Cellulite is the name for the dimpled or lumpy skin that’s commonly found the thighs, butts, stomachs, hips, and arms. It's essentially just a collection of fat cells under your skin that bunches together and creates a bumpy look on your skin.
What causes cellulite?
Cellulite forms when fat cells beneath your skin push up against your skin’s connective tissues—known as fibrous bands, or septa—causing the skin to dimple or pucker, explains board-certified dermatologist Hadley King, MD. It’s important to note that everyone has these fat cells, regardless of what you eat or how frequently you exercise, and that cellulite is completely harmless and extremely common, says Dr. Imahiyerobo-Ip.
Though everyone and anyone can get cellulite, it’s especially common in women because their fat cells are contained in “chamber-like structures that favor the expansion of fat tissue into the dermis,” says Dr. King. Meanwhile, men have criss-crossing connective tissue structures, making it more difficult for fat to push through and create dimpling.
Still, your body’s structure only plays a role in whether or not you develop cellulite. The other determining factors include hormones, genetics, age, weight, eating habits, pregnancy, activity, and how much collagen and estrogen you naturally have in your skin. Which, again, is why cellulite is so common in humans.
How to get rid of cellulite:
Here’s a rundown from the dermatologists and plastic surgeons on the best ways to get rid of cellulite, from temporary at-home options to semi-permanent in-office treatments.
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you "have to try." Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair 'do every few months.
Katherine J Igoe (she/her) was a contributing editor for Cosmopolitan and is a freelancer covering style, lifestyle, culture, and beauty (she's obsessed with gift guides, best-of movie lists, and beauty products). She's been a freelance writer and editor for over a decade, previously working for Marie Claire (2018 to 2021) and Bustle (2021), with bylines in the The New York Times, Parents magazine, and elsewhere. She lives in Boston with her family, and you can follow her on Instagram or Twitte. It's "I go to dinner," not "Her huge ego," but she responds to both.
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