It’s common for many patients to pursue liposuction in the hopes that it might help them get rid of their cellulite. Unfortunately, lipo just doesn’t work that way. Here are the two main reasons why liposuction can’t smooth out those dreaded orange-peel dimples.
Lipo Only Removes Fat
Liposuction only removes fat cells, also called adipose tissue. Although excess fat deposits are often blamed for the appearance of cellulite, it’s not quite that simple. There’s a layer of fibrous, honeycombed connective tissue that lies on top of those fatty deposits, pressing against the softer tissue below. As a result of this slight pressure, the fat pokes up through the holes between the connective fibers, forming that familiar lumpy texture.
Because of the connective tissue web, no surgeon can maneuver a liposuction cannula to access the fat that only appears just in those tiny holes. And even if they could… well, that brings us to the second reason liposuction can’t help your cellulite.
Liposuction Targets Deeper Fat Deposits
The layer of fat responsible for causing noticeable cellulite is much closer to the skin’s surface than the fat cells that are actually targeted by liposuction. In fact, as underlying fat cells are withdrawn from below, the cellulite layer texture may become even more pronounced without the aid of the extra tissue to add support from below.
Yet, while lipo isn’t the right answer for getting rid of your cellulite, many women report that committing to a more active lifestyle and improving muscle tone through the thighs (the most common cellulite location) helps to minimize cellulite’s appearance for a more streamlined look, so you do have some other options that may help.