The term “cellulite” was coined in 1973 to refer to the dimpling of skin in certain fatty areas of the body. Cellulite is much more common in women, especially in the hips, thighs, and buttocks, and takes on an “orange peel” appearance.
This condition is a normal variation of skin which is thought to occur when too many fat cells become too large, causing fibrous tissue connections to stretch. Because women have thinner skin than men, the overlying skin will bulge outward, forming visible indentations.
Cellulite is essentially a problem involving excess superficial fatty tissue and differences in skin thickness and support structures, so there are relatively few methods that are effective in permanently altering the body and preventing the recurrence of cellulite.
While various anti-cellulite creams, supplements, and massage techniques have been actively promoted over the years, studies have not shown them to be really effective.
Liposuction, which involves vacuuming fat from the body, can be used to smooth out the appearance of certain areas, but it is generally not recommended for cellulite.