Anti-cellulite massage: indications, contraindications and features of the procedure

From this article you will learn:

• The essence of anti-cellulite massage
• Manual and hardware anti-cellulite massage
• 15 types of anti-cellulite massage
• Indications and contraindications for anti-cellulite massage
• The effect of anti-cellulite massage and technique
• Anti-cellulite massage at home
• The whole truth about anti-cellulite massage

Anti-cellulite massage, like the “orange peel” itself, has acquired a large number of incredible myths, many of which are outright fables. Before you try to detect fat deposits in yourself and make an appointment with a massage therapist, you should still find out the truth about this procedure.

You should not create illusions that such a massage will help you lose weight. This is wrong. Cellulite is a pathological change in the structure of subcutaneous fat tissue, accompanied by metabolic disorders, blood circulation, stagnation of excess fluid, lymph, and metabolic products in tissues. Massage will allow you to locally get rid of an aesthetic problem, nothing more.

The essence of anti-cellulite massage

Anti-cellulite massage is a procedure performed to normalize metabolism in the subcutaneous fat layer.

This technique is a mechanical effect on the skin, including reflex movements in the area where cellulite is localized.

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Anti-cellulite massage promotes increased oxygen supply to the deep layers of the dermis. This allows you to speed up the outflow of lymph. During the procedure, cellulite lesions are broken into small pieces, which are removed with excess fluid, toxins and waste products.

Despite the high effectiveness of this procedure, to achieve a lasting anti-cellulite effect, it is necessary to follow a diet, exercise, and use suitable therapeutic techniques.

The following massage techniques can help you cope with the problem of lumpy skin in the thighs, arms, abdomen and buttocks:

• pressure;
• friction;
• pressing;
• vibration.

For the best result, anti-cellulite massage must be carried out in a course of several procedures. The duration of one session is approximately 30 minutes. There are two types of massage: manual and hardware.

Manual and hardware anti-cellulite massage

Almost every beauty salon offers anti-cellulite massage services. Nevertheless, it is worth remembering that an unqualified specialist may not only not help in solving your problem, but also harm your health.

To make the result of the procedure more noticeable, massage therapists use special oils and creams.

When choosing a specialist, you need to take into account not only the master’s knowledge of various massage techniques, but also his knowledge of anatomy regarding the location of lymph nodes and blood vessels, as well as indications and contraindications for the procedure.

Manual anti-cellulite massage involves a mechanical effect on the skin, which leads to an increase in temperature in the tissues, due to which fat deposits are broken down and a lymphatic drainage effect is observed.

To make the result of the procedure more noticeable, special cosmetics are used, such as scrubs, gels and oils, which help accelerate tissue metabolism and eliminate congestion.

Since metabolism in the cells of the dermis occurs more intensely, blood quickly enters the subcutaneous fat layer, which leads to increased production of collagen and elastin. All this helps eliminate cellulite. Manual anti-cellulite massage does not involve the use of additional devices during the session.

In hardware massage, a specialist acts on tissues using instruments or devices. These can be vacuum cans that stick to the skin, or devices that move a skin fold over the problem area, like fingering. The effect of hardware massage is similar to the result of manual massage, but each procedure has its own characteristics.

General recommendations for varicose veins

For varicose veins, it is important to constantly monitor a phlebologist, follow all recommendations and take the necessary medications. Varicose veins require major changes to your usual lifestyle. Without them, the effect of the medications will not be as noticeable, and complications are likely. Recommended:

• Move as much as possible, and, if possible, give up sedentary work and a sedentary lifestyle.
• Limit heavy physical activity, heavy lifting, straining, and increased intra-abdominal pressure.
• Adjust your diet to prevent constipation and diarrhea. They negatively affect blood circulation in the veins of the pelvis and lower extremities. A balanced diet is no less important for getting all the necessary nutrients, vitamin and mineral components, and limiting the intake of empty calories that lead to excess weight.
• Give up bad habits that negatively affect vascular tone and blood circulation.

• Wear compression garments if recommended by your healthcare provider.
• Get proper rest, sleep at least 8 hours. During sleep and rest, your legs should be in an elevated position. This facilitates the outflow of blood from the lower extremities.
• Perform gymnastics and contrast foot baths to tone the walls of the veins.
• Use all medications prescribed by your doctor in strict accordance with the treatment regimen, without changing medications at your discretion.
• Avoid attempts to self-medicate varicose veins with dubious folk recipes. Any therapeutic measures should be discussed with a doctor.

Indications and contraindications for anti-cellulite massage

The duration of an anti-cellulite hardware massage session may vary depending on various factors. These include the stage of development of cellulite, the regenerative abilities of tissues, the client’s availability of free time and his financial capabilities.

Home anti-cellulite massage should last from 3 to 20 minutes on each problem area. It is better that the number of sessions is at least 14 with an interval of several days. After achieving the desired result, it is important to carry out maintenance procedures at least 1-2 times a month.

Before starting a course of anti-cellulite massage, it is necessary to compare all the pros and cons of this procedure, since it has the following contraindications:

• chronic skin diseases, as well as inflammatory processes in the area of ​​massage;
• blood clotting disorder;
• varicose veins, thrombosis, thrombophlebitis;
• pregnancy and breastfeeding period.

The benefits of anti-cellulite massage are due to the following factors:

• strengthening capillaries, thereby improving blood supply to tissues;
• accelerating the movement of lymph, which allows you to quickly remove salts and toxins from the body;
• skin smoothing;
• preventing an increase in the size of fat cells;
• prevention of the growth of the fat layer and the appearance of tubercles;
• muscle relaxation.

Anti-cellulite massage is the most popular method of getting rid of skin unevenness in problem areas. If you combine it with exercise, a healthy diet and an active lifestyle, you can achieve excellent results. In addition, this is an effective way of overall health and strengthening of the body.

What foods should you not eat if you have varicose veins?

When discussing nutrition, the doctor will specifically focus on foods prohibited for varicose veins of the legs. The intake of some foods only needs to be limited, and it is better to avoid some dishes and drinks altogether, so as not to worsen the condition of the veins.

• Flour and sweet products. Small amounts are acceptable, but you should limit the intake of foods rich in light carbohydrates. Excess calories with excessive consumption of baked goods and sweets threatens overweight and obesity, which increases the load on the legs and impairs blood circulation.
• Dishes with animal fats and trans fats. It is worth limiting fried foods and dishes with butter. And trans fats are food products that are included in the list of what you should not eat if you have varicose veins. Excess fat threatens pathological weight gain and changes in the tone of the vascular wall.
• Spicy and highly salty dishes. This is another group of foods that you should not eat if you have varicose veins. They retain water in the veins, causing swelling, especially in the lower extremities. The retention of excess fluid in the vessels increases pressure on the walls of the veins, expanding and deforming them even more.
• Alcohol. You should not believe the myths that small doses of alcohol are good for blood vessels. Ethyl alcohol and its metabolic products briefly dilate, but then greatly constrict blood vessels. Thinned venous walls may suffer from excess load, and inflammatory processes are possible. In addition, alcohol increases the risk of blood clots in the veins.

• Coffee. Doctors recommend avoiding this drink or limiting it to 1-2 small cups per day. But why is coffee forbidden for varicose veins? The biologically active substances in coffee inhibit intestinal peristalsis, causing constipation, which is dangerous for hemorrhoids and varicose veins in the legs.
• Drinks with chicory. Patients have a logical question: why can’t you drink chicory if you have varicose veins, since it doesn’t contain caffeine? The plant compounds in this drink help thin the blood, actively dilate blood vessels, and increase the permeability of the vascular wall. This worsens the course of the disease.

The effect of anti-cellulite massage and technique

It is worth noting that only a set of anti-cellulite measures will get rid of this aesthetic flaw. If you limit movements, lead a sedentary lifestyle and do not control your diet, you cannot expect a pronounced effect from massage.

In order for the results of the anti-cellulite massage course to be maximum and the “orange peel” to no longer appear, you should follow some rules:

1. Regular massage sessions. Achieving a pronounced effect depends on the degree of development of cellulite and the area of ​​its formation. Usually 10–12 procedures are done every other day, and then the course is repeated after a few days of break. When the problem is solved, massage can be performed much less frequently to maintain the result.
2. It is more effective to massage before lunch. Active movement after the procedure will help achieve the best effect.
3. Evening massage sessions are best complemented with anti-cellulite wraps.

There is a certain technology for anti-cellulite massage. The first step is to steam the skin and clean it thoroughly. It is important to follow the correct movement technique. Moving your hands clockwise should be done with maximum effort, and counterclockwise - vice versa.

During an anti-cellulite thigh massage, it is important to follow the basic rules:

• the inner surface of the thigh is massaged from top to bottom;
• the outer surface of the thigh is massaged from bottom to top;
• The buttocks are massaged in a circular motion from the center to the sides and from bottom to top.

Movements during the massage should be energetic and rhythmic so that the muscles do not have time to cool down.

Following this technique will significantly tighten the skin of the thighs and buttocks. The formation of small hematomas after a session is considered normal.

Anti-cellulite massage at home

You can perform anti-cellulite massage at home yourself, using any manual technique on problem areas. It is important to first study the correct massage movements. Legs and arms need to be massaged from ends to bases. This will stimulate lymph flow. The stomach, on the contrary, is rubbed from the center to the sides. It is important not to overdo it with pressure.

Basic movements during massage:

• vibration;
• capture;
• cutting;
• kneading

At home, it is enough to use the simplest massage techniques: classic, honey, salt, as well as rubbing with a dry brush. Dry anti-cellulite massage can be performed before taking water procedures so that the skin is not steamed. All other techniques, on the contrary, are best performed after a bath or sauna. This is due to the fact that under the influence of high temperature the anti-cellulite effect is enhanced. Make sure your movements are smooth and try not to stretch the skin.

Massage should be performed with special creams or oils. This way you can avoid mechanical damage to the skin.

If you do anti-cellulite massage in combination with sports, keep in mind that before training it will help warm up the body, but after it it will give the most visible result.

What exercises should you not do if you have varicose veins?

Although physical activity for varicose veins is necessary, it should be moderate and proper exercise. It is important to discuss with your phlebologist what exercises you should not do if you have varicose veins in your legs. The danger comes from those sports and exercises that increase the load on the leg muscles (strength training, weight lifting) and the impact load (jumping, squats, running).

What sports should you not do if you have varicose veins?

• any type of weightlifting;
• volleyball and football in the presence of protruding veins (in the early stages of varicose veins, non-professional activities are acceptable provided that elastic bandaging is used before the game);
• sprint, marathon types of running.

What exercises are not allowed for varicose veins of the legs:

• it is important to give up squats;
• Jumping rope, step aerobics, and trampoline are not allowed.

All the prohibited exercises described above for varicose veins increase the load on the walls of the veins, contribute to blood stagnation and can lead to the development of complications (thrombophlebitis, thrombosis).

The whole truth about anti-cellulite massage

Anti-cellulite massage is not able to help you get rid of extra pounds. This procedure is only effective in combating skin unevenness. A visual effect of volume reduction can be achieved, but this is due to the removal of excess fluid and redistribution of adipose tissue. In this case, the liquid will return back very soon. Therefore, if you don’t watch your diet and don’t exercise, you won’t be able to burn fat, no matter how many massage sessions you perform.