Massage for cellulite correction

Author: Victoria Sazonova, cosmetologist, visceral therapist, master of Thai massage, member of the Association of Chiropractors of Ukraine (Ukraine, Berdyansk)

Source: KOSMETIK international journal, No. 1 (55) / 2014, pp. 34-39

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Cellulite is structural changes in the subcutaneous fat layer, leading to impaired microcirculation and lymphatic drainage. This condition can be characterized as stagnation in adipose tissue, leading to its degeneration. Recently, specialists with medical education prefer not to use the term “cellulite”, but call this phenomenon “gynoid lipodystrophy”, especially when it comes to its last stage.

The causes of cellulite are as follows:

• hormonal imbalance;
• violation of the correct daily routine and nutrition;
• physical inactivity;
• acute and chronic stressful situations;
• hereditary and constitutional factors.

There are dense, soft, edematous and mixed cellulite.

Dense cellulite is observed in young women who lead a physically active lifestyle. Its manifestations do not change depending on the position of the body; it is often accompanied by stretch marks.

Soft cellulite is accompanied by sagging muscles and occurs in women who have suddenly lost weight. The softness of the surface is obvious, the skin shakes with movement and changes depending on the position of the body. Often accompanied by telangiectasia and varicose veins.

Edematous cellulite manifests itself in the form of an increase in the volume of the lower extremities; when pressed with a finger, a trace remains for some time - a sign of swelling. Frequent complaints include a feeling of heaviness and pain in the legs.

Mixed cellulite is the most common and is characterized by different skin types in different areas.

Each form of cellulite can go through four stages in its development. The effectiveness of treatment depends on the ability to recognize each of them.

I. Pre-cellulite. It begins with a slowdown in venous blood flow and lymph circulation, increased wall permeability, and impaired fluid circulation in the lymph system. There are no visible signs at this stage, but one – the appearance of bruises from the slightest blows and longer healing of scratches – is present.

II. Initial. Slight swelling of the tissues and lumpiness occurs when the muscles are tense. Lymphatic vessels are compressed, little oxygen is supplied, and toxins accumulate. When the skin is folded or muscle tension occurs, an “orange peel” is formed.

III. Micronodular. The fat cells coalesce into clusters and are surrounded by scar tissue. The skin has a finely knotted appearance, with visible bumps, bulges, and depressions. The condition is often accompanied by impaired blood supply, swelling, and varicose veins.

IV. Macronodular. Stagnation of lymph, swelling occurs in the tissues, and venous outflow is impaired. The stage is final. Large nodules can be felt with your hands; there are dense depressions and areas of hardening. Pain on palpation, local change in tissue temperature.

When examining problem areas in one person, cellulite can be detected at different stages of manifestation, for example: on the stomach - the second, and on the hips - the third.

The degree of cellulite is usually determined by visual inspection and palpation, during which the following indicators are assessed:

• increase in the thickness of subcutaneous tissues;
• density change;
• changes in sensitivity and pain;
• decreased mobility.

More informative is the contact thermography method, based on temperature changes in the surface areas of the skin.

Success in treating cellulite depends on:

• stages of cellulite;
• chosen program (treatment method);
• procedure frequency systems;
• professionalism of a cosmetologist.

Principles and rules for selecting procedures

When treating cellulite, depending on the form of its manifestations, different approaches are needed. With dense cellulite, the main efforts are aimed at softening the tissue. For this purpose the following are used:

• vacuum massage using a labile technique;
• ultrasound therapy;
• lymphatic drainage;
• electrolipolysis;
• intensive anti-cellulite massage;
• honey massage;
• warming wraps;
• careful adjustment of nutrition.

As a result of the procedures, cellulite becomes softer and more pliable. Then you can add myostimulation, individually selected physical activity, cold and algae wraps, vacuum massage and electrotherapy.

Methods of combating cellulite came from practical medicine, in cosmetology they were worked out empirically, in practice. Currently, there is no single methodology and much (!) depends on the professionalism of specialists

For the edematous form, the main procedure is both manual and hardware lymphatic drainage. It is advisable to use diuretics and antioxidants in combination. A properly performed foot massage always improves the results.
To work with cellulite, you need to pay attention to its manifestations. Typically, procedures are changed every 3-4 sessions.
Now let's turn our attention to the technology of influence at various stages of the process.

For stages I and II it is necessary to use:

• wrapping areas affected by cellulite;
• lymphatic drainage;
• manual and vacuum massage;
• myostimulation and electrotherapy;

At stage III it is worth using:

• ultrasound therapy;
• vacuum and honey massage alternately with lymphatic drainage and wraps;
• drainage and wraps;
• electrolipolysis, myostimulation, etc.

At stage IV the following are relevant:

• ultrasound therapy;
• lymphatic drainage;
• electrical stimulation;
• vacuum massage.

A comprehensive anti-cellulite program is usually built using:

• medications;
• hardware influences;
• diets;
• dietary supplements;
• exercises and gymnastics;
• massage.

The emphasis is always on procedures such as lymphatic drainage, myostimulation and massage.

The number of procedures is assigned individually.

Lymphatic drainage effect

Any anti-cellulite program begins with lymphatic drainage.

Lymphatic drainage is a non-invasive process of stimulating lymphatic drainage and detoxification, eliminating excess fluid from adipose tissue, which contains a lot of waste products that poison the tissue. With cellulite, blood vessels, including lymphatic ones, are pinched by scar partitions, which causes swelling. If a patient begins myostimulation without lymphatic drainage procedures, swelling of the legs will be noticeable from the first sessions. It is with swelling that tissue pain associated with cellulite is associated. Therefore, the very first aid to the body is to restore the “natural pump”. Lymph, washing the tissues, collects and removes metabolic products.

Methods for performing lymphatic drainage are different. These include:

• medicinal (local vascular preparations that improve the tone of veins, dilate capillaries; mud, algae procedures);
• hardware: pulsed currents (sequential muscle stimulation, microcurrent stimulation); pressotherapy; vacuum therapy;
• manual (lymphatic drainage massage).

Vacuum massage

Let us dwell in more detail on the basic and accessible to all vacuum method of work, which is best carried out using tools for cupping and vacuum-roller massage. In ancient China, hollow thin sticks made of clay or bamboo were used to treat many diseases. The doctors created negative pressure in them and applied them to the patient’s body. The skin was drawn inside these sticks, resulting in a flow of blood to the affected organ. Ancient Chinese healers rightly believed that a diseased organ could be healed with good blood circulation. Currently, this procedure is called vacuum massage.

The chopsticks were replaced by the well-known jars, inside of which a vacuum is created. With vacuum massage, the intensity of metabolism increases, blood circulation improves, and tissues are better supplied with oxygen. In addition, under the influence of vacuum massage, toxic substances and toxins are removed from the body.

“Cupping massage” is a local irritation of the skin in the area of a powerful reflexogenic zone using a massage with rarefaction of air.

During a cupping massage session, the epidermis (the surface layer of the skin), superficial blood and lymphatic vessels, nerve endings in the skin and subcutaneous tissue are irritated, and blood and lymph circulation is enhanced. The direction of movement of the can also has a certain impact on the mechanism of blood flow in the area exposed to vacuum: a redistribution of venous-arterial blood flow occurs, as a result of which the flow of arterial blood to the tissues increases, and with it the flow of oxygen and nutrients.

At the site of vacuum exposure, the breakdown of red blood cells also occurs, the products of which are a stimulator of local tissue immunity. The feeling of warmth under the jar occurs not due to heating the air underneath, but due to increased local blood circulation and irritation of nerve endings located in the skin.

Cupping massage basics

The action of cupping massage is based on a reflex method, which implies the occurrence of hyperemia and irritation of skin receptors by the vacuum created in the jar. Under the influence of cupping massage, peripheral circulation of blood, lymph, and interstitial fluid improves. The phenomena of stagnation are eliminated, metabolism in the massaged area of the body is enhanced. The skin becomes elastic, its resistance to temperature and mechanical factors increases, the contractile function of muscles improves, their tone and elasticity increase. When exposed to vacuum therapy, an extract of the sebaceous and sweat glands is released, which, in addition to salts, contains urea, acetone, and bile acids, which are toxic to the body in certain concentrations. This makes it possible to compare the cupping massage method with the effect of a bath.

Cupping massage technique and methodology

Before starting the cupping massage, you need to lightly stroke the area that is going to be massaged with your palms, rubbing a small amount of massage oil (gel, Vaseline, cream) into it. Then a vacuum is created in the jar.
“Russian” method: a rod with lit cotton wool, previously moistened with ether or alcohol, is inserted into the jar for one or two seconds, then the tampon is removed, and the jar is quickly applied to the desired area of the body.

Tibetan method: a special lighted candle on a wide base is placed in a jar and placed on the patient’s body, and when the candle goes out, massage begins.

The feeling of warmth under the jar occurs due to increased local blood circulation and irritation of nerve endings

Also, special silicone or plastic jars are used for cupping massage: they are simply applied and compressed, thereby creating a vacuum. Nowadays, it has become advisable to use specialized devices for vacuum massage and magnetic roller therapy. The effect is carried out due to the formation of local vacuum in special attachments, which enhances the effect of drugs, emulsions, gels that are used under the device. It is also effective to use such a device before using other procedures, which helps clean and open the skin pores and increase blood flow in the area of treatment. Using the suction cup, make sliding massage movements: straight, spiral, zigzag. In this case, the skin should be pulled into the jar no more than 1.5 cm. To avoid excessive retraction of the skin, the jar is moved smoothly and continuously throughout the procedure in the following directions: on the back - from bottom to top, on the chest - along the intercostal spaces from front to back ( from the sternum to the spine), on the stomach - clockwise along the large intestine, on the hips and buttocks - straight, in a circle.

There are two methods used for massage:

• labile (sliding): the jar moves gradually, without detaching the massaged area from the skin. The movement during massage is carried out along the lymphatic and blood vessels in a straight line. Thus, massage promotes the outflow of lymph and blood. During the entire procedure, the nozzle should move smoothly, without jerking, jolting or pressing on the tissue;
• stable (immovable): the jar is located in one place for 1–2 minutes. The optimal exposure time for one area is 3 minutes, but not more than 5 minutes. The stable method implies the possibility of acupressure.

Before and after the vacuum massage procedure, it is necessary to clean the patient’s skin. Cupping massage is accompanied by sensations of moderate pain, burning, and warmth. The skin in the area of the procedure becomes slightly swollen. The appearance of bruises on the skin is considered a normal reaction of the skin to a vacuum massage; they go away on their own within a few days. For cellulite, cupping massage of the thigh and buttock muscles is performed. To enhance the effect, the massaged surface is lubricated with anti-cellulite cream.

The massage begins and ends by stroking the massaged area with the palmar surface of the hands for 2–3 minutes. Vacuum massage is a high impact procedure. Therefore, the first few procedures must be carried out with minimal force, which is determined by the tension of the skin inside the jar. During the procedure, the patient must describe his condition and report any unpleasant sensations.

When performing a massage, the specialist should hold the vacuum jar with his right hand and stroke the patient’s skin with his left hand following the movement of the jar. After finishing the massage, the patient should be wrapped in a blanket and given tea with lemon or raspberries. The duration of the massage is 5–15 minutes, daily or every other day.

Contraindications for use :

• tumor formations at any stage of development (benign, malignant);
• hypertension of the third or fourth degree;
• skin diseases in the place where the jars should be placed;
• tuberculosis;
• blood diseases and bleeding of varying intensity;
• vascular thrombosis, thrombophlebitis;
• heart defects;
• acute heart disease;
• increased body temperature;
• second half of pregnancy;
• hernia repair;
• appendectomy.

There are also a number of points on the body where it is contraindicated to place cups and do cup vacuum massage. These areas include the following:

• inner thigh and shoulder;
• area under the knee;
• heart area;
• kidney area;
• directly the spine;
• female breast.

Vacuum massage can be used independently, as well as in combination with acupressure, classical massage, wraps, electrical procedures, and myostimulation.

Of course, cellulite can only be defeated through the joint efforts of a specialist and a patient, in compliance with the clear instructions and instructions of the former.