EDUCATION · BY MELISSA LATTARI

Cellulite treatments, reviewed honestly

One of my clients was pricing out laser and lipo for her thighs. Three weeks into progressive squats and hip thrusts she cancelled the consult and put the money toward her house. This post is the comparison she wishes she'd seen first.

Lasers & radiofrequency (Cellulaze, Emtone & friends)

What they do: heat or cut the fibrous bands that create dimpling. There IS real science here — these are the most legitimate procedures on the list. The catch: $1,500–$6,000+, results fade over 1–3 years as new bands form, and they change the dimples without changing the muscle or fat underneath. You can buy a smoother version of the same legs — temporarily.

Red light therapy

What it does: may modestly improve skin appearance in some studies; evidence for meaningful cellulite change is thin. Fine as a nice-to-have, not a method. If it costs more than a gym membership, the gym membership wins.

Creams & "firming" products

What they do: hydrate skin, sometimes temporarily tighten the surface (caffeine). No cream reaches the structure that creates cellulite — that's anatomy, not marketing spin. The best cream review is your own bathroom shelf: if any of them worked, you'd have stopped buying new ones.

Dry brushing

What it does: boosts circulation, exfoliates, gives a short-term glow — and my clients genuinely love the ritual (some swear the look of their skin improved with consistency; the science calls it temporary). Honest verdict: a supporting act that makes skin look its best while training does the real work. I use the Sculpt & Glow brush after workouts — that's exactly the role it belongs in.

The comparison nobody selling these wants you to make

• Laser package: $3,000+, fades in 1–3 years, changes nothing underneath
• Cream habit: $30/month forever, changes nothing underneath
• 8 weeks of progressive strength training: $89.99 once — builds the muscle that IS the underneath, plus strength, energy, and a body that keeps improving

Even if you eventually choose a procedure, do the 8 weeks first: dermatologists themselves note results look better on trained, leaner tissue. Here's the complete method.

Individual results vary. Not medical advice — consult a board-certified dermatologist or physician before any procedure.