Ask Mary

Cellulite occurs when fat cells protrude around the connective tissue that attaches skin to muscle.  Weight loss can reduce some of the fat and exercise can make the muscle compact, but creams and diets are not effective, and liposuction, which does not remove surface fat, can make cellulite look worse.  Promising new procedures involve lasers or infrared light and radiofrequency signals combined with vigorous massage to soften the tissue and smooth it out. Mesotherapy is another procedure that injects substances into the middle layer of skin to break down fat cells and increase blood flow.  These expensive, temporary treatments are administered by plastic surgeons and dermatologists and do not work for everyone.