Cellulite : a review

Although the term cellulite is inadequate, since it does not refer to cellular subcutaneous tissue inflammations or infections, it is conventionally used to describe a female condition that is characterized by a wavy appearance of the skin's surface in some areas of the body. It constitutes a frequent complaint and an important concern for the majority of women and, due to its complex, multifactorial, and not completely known etiopathogenesis, there is still no effective and definitive treatment. Consequently, many therapeutic proposals, either based on poor quality publications or lacking sufficient scientific evidence, have been introduced. Topical treatments are not effective, though some can be indicated as adjuvant therapies.There is currently no technology able to correct the structural alterations of the female adipose tissue and deep dermis.That status clearly depends on the development of technologies based on the selective photothermolysis principle aimed at treating superficial hypodermal fat and the deep dermis.This article presents a review of the epidemiology, etiopathogeny, histology, clinical classification, and methods for the diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of cellulite.