The Best Cellulite Treatments to Try Before Summer

As beach weather approaches, one concern tends to resurface right along with it: cellulite. Dimples on the buttocks and backs of the thighs affect nearly 90 percent of women, yet treating them can feel frustratingly elusive. While complete elimination isn’t realistic, smoother-looking skin is possible.

To understand why, it helps to know what cellulite actually is—and what it isn’t. “Cellulite is a multifactorial, inherited and progressive condition that involves the change of the fat packaging units to be more tethered and less elastic,” explains Omaha, NE dermatologist Joel Schlessinger, MD. Those fat compartments are pulled downward by fibrous connective bands while surrounding fat pushes upward, creating a dimpled surface.

Miami dermatologist Dr. Deborah Longwill adds that it’s rarely one issue alone. “It’s not just about fat; it involves fibrous connective tissue, skin laxity and even circulation. That’s why a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work.”

From topical creams that offer subtle improvement to in-office procedures that release the fibrous bands responsible for dimpling, here’s what experts say is worth trying.

Featured Experts

• Joel Schlessinger, MD is a board-certified dermatologist in Omaha, NE
• Dr. Deborah Longwill is a board-certified dermatologist in Miami
• Daniel Schlessinger, MD is a board-certified dermatologist in Omaha, NE
• David Goldberg, MD is a board-certified dermatologist in New York
• Charles Galanis, MD is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills, CA

Topical Support for Skin Quality

Creams won’t cut fibrous bands, but they can improve skin quality and thickness over time. “I always tell my patients to view topicals as supportive, not standalone solutions,” says Dr. Longwill. “Caffeine can temporarily firm and tighten by reducing water retention. Retinol and peptides help stimulate collagen over time, which can improve skin thickness and smoothness.”

“There are some topical ingredients that provide marginal improvements in cellulite with consistent use,” says Dr. Joel Schlessinger. He recommends combination formulas over single ingredients and points to Jan Marini CelluliTx ($140), which includes caffeine, aminophylline, l-carnitine, theophylline, peptides, glaucine and retinol.

Omaha, NE dermatologist Daniel Schlessinger, MD often recommends retinol-based body products for the same reason. “The Replenix Retinol Smooth + Tighten Body Lotion ($94) uses medical-grade all-trans-retinol and edelweiss flower to support healthy collagen production, reducing the appearance of cellulite over time. Another ingredient showing improvement in the appearance of cellulite is Augustinus Bader’s TFC8, or Trigger Factor Complex, found in The Body Cream ($200).”

Muscle Building and Contour Support

Building muscle won’t eliminate cellulite, but it can improve overall contour. “I have seen triathletes with cellulite, so I don’t particularly think this has any serious effect on the outcome,” says Dr. Joel Schlessinger, reinforcing that even very fit patients are not immune. Still, stronger muscle can provide a firmer foundation beneath the skin.

“Strengthening the underlying muscle can create a smoother foundation for the skin,” says Dr. Longwill. “I often recommend a combination of traditional strength training and treatments like CoolTone, which targets and tones muscle in specific areas.”

Collagen-Stimulating Treatments

When thinning skin or laxity exaggerates dimpling, collagen stimulation becomes the focus. “I’ve seen great results using a combination of Sofwave for collagen stimulation and radio-frequency microneedling,” says Dr. Longwill. “A combination of these two can be very effective in improving texture and tightening skin, especially in stubborn areas like the thighs or buttocks.” These treatments heat the dermis to stimulate collagen remodeling, gradually thickening and firming the skin.

Realistic expectations matter. “All of these processes work to some degree,” says Dr. Joel Schlessinger, “but most patients are looking for a ‘Botox-like’ effect on wrinkles translated to cellulite, and that simply isn’t even close to what these products can offer.” They improve texture, but they don’t release fibrous bands.

The Carbon Wave Patch

For patients who want something noninvasive yet more targeted, the Carbon Wave Patch is emerging as a middle ground. The treatment pairs a carbon-infused patch with a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser and takes about 10 minutes with minimal discomfort.

New York dermatologist David Goldberg, MD studied the technology. “You put it on the skin, treat with a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser and the laser activation of the carbon disconnects the bands,” he explains. “Clinically, the dimples are improved. You do get some tightening of the skin. Under biopsies, you see changes in the fiber connections.”

The results are not permanent, he says, but improvement is visible because the treatment directly targets the septae, without incisions.

Avéli Band Release

When dimples are deeper and clearly tethered, direct band release remains one of the most definitive options. “Avéli addresses the cellulite dimples and the thickening of the collagen bands—septae—that create a network and pull down on the skin anchoring certain spots and allowing tissue to push up around this netting,” explains Beverly Hills, CA plastic surgeon Charles Galanis, MD. “By cutting these bands, you’re releasing the tightened collagen and allowing the tissue to be flush, eliminating the irregularities in appearance through the skin surface.”

Avéli is best suited for patients with discrete, well-defined dimples rather than generalized laxity. Recovery typically involves compression and swelling for about a week, with continued refinement over the following month. Unlike tightening devices, it corrects the tethering at the source.

The Bottom Line

The biggest misconception about cellulite is that it can be cured. “We have options for modest, at best, improvement, but cures are out of our grasp at this time,” says Dr. Daniel Schlessinger. Smoother is realistic. Erased is not. The key is choosing the right level of intervention for what you are actually seeing—and building from there.