How to get rid of cellulite: what actually works
You cannot get rid of cellulite for good with a cream, a workout or a spa visit. Between 80% and 90% of women past puberty have it, according to Cleveland Clinic. What you can do is make it less visible. The strongest results come from physician procedures, and the effect of most other options is small or temporary.
Published · Written by Kay Woodson · Results vary.What causes cellulite, even on fit women?
Under the skin, fibrous bands tie the skin to the muscle below. Cleveland Clinic explains that when those bands tighten unevenly, they pull the skin down while fat pushes up, and the surface dimples. Genetics, sex, age, skin thickness and the amount of fat all change how much shows.
That structure is why women have it far more than men. One theory in the same source: in women the bands run parallel, which shows dimpling more, while in men they cross each other. Hormones likely play a part too, since cellulite often appears in the teen years or during pregnancy.
So the honest goal is not removal. It is smoother-looking skin, for as long as the method you choose can hold it.
What you can do at home
Free or cheap, and worth knowing what each one can and cannot do.
- Exercise. The AAD says more muscle can make skin look smoother and firmer, so cellulite is less noticeable. Cleveland Clinic suggests running, cycling or resistance training.
- Weight. Extra weight can make cellulite more visible, per the AAD. Losing a lot of weight can leave loose skin that shows it more, so slow and steady matters.
- Retinol cream. At 0.3%, some users see a little less cellulite, but the AAD says it can take 6 months or longer.
- Caffeine cream. It may help for a while, but you have to apply it every day to keep the effect.
- Patch test first. Try any new cream on a small area. No reaction after 48 hours means you can use more.
The AAD warns against aminophylline creams if you use an asthma inhaler, because they can cause breathing problems. It also says no supplement has been shown to reduce cellulite.
What the dermatologists' evidence says about treatments
The AAD sorts cellulite treatments into four groups, from the most-supported to the ones it does not recommend.
| AAD group | Treatments | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Strongest results in studies | Acoustic wave therapy, Cellulaze laser, other lasers, subcision (Cellfina), vacuum-assisted precise tissue release | Several are physician procedures. Subcision results can last 2 years or more, and in one study of 232 patients, 99% said they were satisfied |
| Some evidence it may work | Carboxytherapy, creams, Endermologie, ionithermie, radiofrequency | Effects are small or short. Radiofrequency often bruises and needs several visits |
| Too early to tell | Laser-assisted liposuction, ultrasound | Standard liposuction is not recommended for cellulite and can make dimpling worse |
| Not recommended | Cryolipolysis, mesotherapy, supplements | Cryolipolysis can reduce a small fat pocket but cannot get rid of cellulite |
AAD page "Cellulite treatments: What really works?", read on October 29, 2026.
Where Endermologie fits, and its limits
Endermologie is the cellulite option Karisma Esthetics offers, at $150 a session. It is a device with rollers and suction, FDA-cleared to temporarily reduce the appearance of cellulite. The AAD places it in its middle group: studies are mixed, it needs regular sessions, and cellulite tends to return within a month of stopping. A clearance is not proof that a device works, as the AAD itself points out.
If that trade fits you, the details are in does Endermologie work for cellulite? and on cellulite treatment in Melbourne, FL. If you want a result measured in years, ask a dermatologist about the procedures in the first row of the table.
When it might not be cellulite
If your legs hurt, swell or feel heavy, see a physician before any cosmetic treatment. Pain and swelling call for a diagnosis, not a cream or a device. Read lipedema vs cellulite to prepare your questions.
Cellulite questions
Can you get rid of cellulite permanently?
No method in the AAD summary promises that. The longest results it reports are from physician procedures, up to 2 years for subcision and up to 3 years in a small study of vacuum-assisted tissue release.
What is the main cause of cellulite?
The fibrous bands that tie skin to muscle. Cleveland Clinic explains that when they pull down unevenly while fat pushes up, the surface dimples. Genetics, hormones, age and skin thickness decide how much it shows.
Why do thin women get cellulite?
Because it comes from the way bands under the skin pull on it, not only from fat. Genetics and skin thickness play a part, and Cleveland Clinic notes that fewer than 10% of men have it.
Do cellulite creams work?
Only a little. Retinol at 0.3% may show a small change after 6 months or more. Caffeine creams need daily use to hold any effect.
Does CoolSculpting help cellulite?
No. The AAD lists cryolipolysis, the method behind CoolSculpting, as not recommended for cellulite. It can shrink a small pocket of fat, which is a different goal.
- Cellulite: what it is, causes and treatment, Cleveland Clinic, reviewed October 28, 2021, checked October 29, 2026
- Cellulite treatments: What really works?, American Academy of Dermatology, checked October 29, 2026
- FDA 510(k) K990445, LPG Therapeutic Massager, decision January 18, 2000