By Dr Valérie Leduc
Do men not mind having cellulite? Contrary to popular belief, cellulite is not just a woman’s issue, with 15% of men also being affected. Do men not mind having cellulite? Contrary to popular belief, cellulite is not just a woman’s issue, with 15% of men also being affected.
In men, cellulite looks different and is not found in the same areas of the body. The adipocytes are concentrated in the upper body: the neck, shoulders and arms, the abdomen and hips.
The skin is thicker, the structure of the fat lobules is compact and their walls are vertical, which limits the risk of water retention and “orange-peel” skin.
The causes are a diet that is too high in sugar, animal fats, alcohol and fizzy drinks, as well as too little physical exercise. The andropause slows down the metabolism and the body’s ability to eliminate fat.
However, we must not confuse intra-abdominal or metabolic fat, which is the most dangerous kind of fat, with subcutaneous fat or cellulite.
How do you get rid of it?
First, you need to clean up your lifestyle by adopting a balanced diet and taking regular physical activity. Some slim and sporty patients might develop bulges of fat such as love handles. These are extremely hard to shift, even with intense physical exercise and a healthy diet. Men who take care of their appearance often have a complex about these fat stores because they consider them to be unsightly. Manual massages are effective over the short term.
Cryolipolysis, liposuction and radiofrequency
Cryolipolysis treatments are very well received because they are quick, non-invasive and effective over the long term. In one session, you can lose 25% of the treatment area’s volume. The treatment involves freezing the adipocytes for an hour, which leads to them being permanently destroyed. The procedure is pain-free, and the skin is anaesthetised by the cold. The patient can go straight back to work after their treatment. The latest machines bring about a double thermal shock, which makes the adipocyte more sensitive and optimises the procedure’s efficacity.
You need to be patient, as the first results will only be visible after 6 weeks and you need to wait 3 months to see the definitive result. Most of the time, one session is enough per zone, except if the cellulite is particularly abundant. If the patient is overweight, the effectiveness of the cryolipolysis often motivates them to continue losing weight. Liposuction, which is a surgical procedure, may also be suggested for some indications, but nowadays cryolipolysis tends to be preferred by patients because it is both safe and effective.
Radiofrequency
For more deep-set cellulite, radiofrequency is an excellent solution because, by heating the skin, it causes the adipocytes to melt and reboots collagen synthesis in depth, which creates a lifting effect in the skin. The “orange-peel” appearance is greatly reduced, and may even disappear… The procedure feels very pleasant and might be compared to a hot stone massage.
Protocol: 1 session per week for 2 months.
Dr. Valérie Leduc 
Doctor Valérie Leduc, angiology, aesthetic medicine, dermatological and vascular lasers. After founding the Atelier Médical in Paris, near L’Opéra, Dr Leduc set up a medical centre for the legs and gure in La Réserve Hotel in Geneva.
She is now back in Paris, in the heart of the 8th arrondissement, where she runs her new practice “Médecine de la Beauté.”
