Women Search For Cellulite Solution

NEW YORK -- There are many creams and high-tech machines on the market that claim to get rid of unwanted cellulite, but what works and what doesn't?

The battle of the bulge for many women goes way beyond losing weight. For many women, the battle over cellulite is the war that is the most difficult to win.

Medical experts say little can be done to help the millions of women who have it.

"The one problem with cellulite is nobody really knows what causes it," said Dr. Michael Kaminor, a dermatological surgeon.

Another problem is that, unlike other fat cells that live deep below the skin, cellulite is a very thin layer of fat that sits close to the surface, virtually impossible to eliminate.

Working out, creams and machines are different ways women fight the dreaded lumpy, dumpy, bumpy look of cellulite. Recently, two new treatments were put to the test.

Catharine Uyenoyama of Boston had a baby nine months ago. She has lost all of the baby weight, but believes she has two trouble spots on her thighs. She has been slathering on Sheishedo Body Creator, which promises to shrink almost 2 inches of treated areas. Its secret weapon is grapefruit and caffeine.

"I used it faithfully for almost a month, every morning, and about two weeks into using the product, I thought maybe there's a little bit of a change. Then when we measured now, there was a small change," Uyenoyama said.

Kenzie Stroud tried out another cream, Avon's Cellusculpt. After three weeks, Stroud reported that her butt and thighs were "a little firmer."

Kaminor said often you can see a reduction with creams because caffeine, a stimulant, is a main ingredient in most. The moisture base that caffeine provides actually pushes out puckered areas in addition to sealing in moisture.

"Skin that is hydrated will look and feel a little plumper and that can mask the look of cellulite," Kaminor said.

Machines may also be a way to do away with the dimples. The endromology machine, which is originally from Europe, has two rollers moving in different directions that actually work to knead away flab.

"It doesn't get rid of fat because it's not invasive," said Cara Pound, an endromology technician. "It just smoothes out the appearance and tones and firms the skin."

Clients who can afford the $100 sessions swear by it.

"Before, you could see a dimpling effect on the front of my legs, and now it's entirely gone," said Pamela Rowland-Hill.

But the wave of the future in cellulite treatment may be a device called Thermage. While it's not available to the public yet, this gadget uses an electrical current that, in theory, melts the cellulite away.

"We have had some preliminary good results," Kaminor said. "I think people think that their skin is smoother, their cellulite is better. But, again, it has been just a small number of patients and we're not quite there yet."

Experts warn that to date there are no cellulite remedies that give permanent results. So it's important to remember to keep up the treatments to keep off the cellulite.