Body treatment · Cellulite
Photoderma offers Endermologie Cellu M6 lipomassage to work on the appearance of cellulite. A consultation helps assess the area of concern and define a tailored treatment, without a weight-loss program.
« Restoring smooth skin without surgery. »
Understand before treating
Short answer: cellulite is made up of fat clusters — groupings of fat cells — compressed under the skin. The connective tissue surrounding them is stretched by their swelling. This stretching produces the wavy appearance, orange-peel skin or visible dimpling on the surface. Understanding the mechanics guides the choice of treatment.
Layer 1 · Epidermis
This is the visible layer. It doesn't produce cellulite: it reflects its presence through ripples, dips and the "orange-peel" effect when the skin is pinched. Working on this layer without touching the underlying tissue won't smooth anything in a lasting way.
Layer 2 · Dermis and connective tissue
Connective tissue surrounds every fat cell. When the cell swells, the fibrous network stretches around it and creates the visible bumps and hollows. This is the real mechanical lever: if these fibers relax, the surface smooths out.
Layer 3 · Hypodermis
Adipocyte clusters, known as "fat deposits," are found in this deep layer. The appearance of cellulite is assessed during consultation before a lipomassage treatment is proposed.
A vocabulary pitfall: cellulite doesn't mean being overweight. As the source fact sheet reminds us, the phenomenon isn't necessarily linked to body shape. You can be slim and dimpled, in good shape and dimpled. A targeted treatment is therefore not a disguised slimming program.
Six triggers identified by the clinical fact sheet
Short answer: the swelling of fat cells — the one that tightens the connective tissue and creates the dimple — is caused, among other things, by six factors listed in the source fact sheet. Reading them is also a way to see what can still be adjusted before an in-clinic session.
01
Estrogen variations, menstrual cycle, pregnancy, menopause: hormonal mechanics influence retention and localized fat storage — hips, thighs, buttocks. This is why cellulite can appear as early as puberty, with the first hormonal shifts.
02
A diet too rich in lipids or carbohydrates, as the fact sheet explicitly mentions. Fast sugars and industrial fats feed localized fat storage rather than energy expenditure. The dimple settles in wherever the body builds its reserves.
03
It swells fatty tissue and amplifies pressure on the connective network. The dimple appears more pronounced at the end of the day, after a flight, in intense heat or before menstruation. In-clinic lymphatic drainage is often paired with the cellulite program for this reason.
04
Without activity, local circulation slows down: oxygen gets through less, waste stagnates, adipocytes swell. "Sedentary" zones — the back of the thighs, the buttocks — are often the first to show a visible dimple. The source fact sheet names this factor explicitly.
05
Some long-term treatments — hormones, corticosteroids, antidepressants — alter retention and fat metabolism. They don't rule out an in-clinic program, but the technician factors them in to adjust session frequency and intensity.
06
It appears on the source fact sheet's list, but in its proper place: one factor among six, not the sole cause. Many people with dimpling aren't overweight. Many overweight people don't develop marked cellulite. The two issues exist independently.
In-cabin lipomassage
Endermologie Cellu M6 is the lipomassage treatment offered for cellulite. The plan is personalized after an in-clinic assessment.
Device #2 · Lipomassage
A mechanical lipomassage using a motorized head that kneads the skin. It works on the connective tissue stretched around the fat cells — the mechanical cause of the dimple — rather than fat volume itself.
The diagnostic consultation
An in-clinic consultation allows us to gather your history, examine the area of concern and give you the information you need about the proposed lipomassage.
Step 1
A gentle pinch of the area of concern — back of thigh, hip, buttock, inner knee. She notes the depth of the dimple when pinched, the presence of spontaneous ripples, the overall suppleness of the tissue.
Step 2
Hormonal variations, pregnancy, medications, water retention and treatments already tried are discussed during the consultation to assess your situation.
Step 3
The technician specifies the number and pace of the sessions planned. A drainage treatment may be discussed depending on your situation. Medicard financing can be presented at this time.
The initial consultation also serves to set aside expectations that don't hold up: complete removal of the dimple, results without a program, results without physical activity. The dimple is worked on — not "removed."
What keeps the program going between visits
Supportive advice is discussed in consultation, as a complement to the lipomassage. It does not constitute a weight-loss program.
Supportive advice is specified during the consultation, based on your situation and the treatment chosen.
A sedentary lifestyle is among the six causes of engorgement. Walking every day, moving regularly, varying long seated positions: these habits restart local circulation and extend the effect of the lipomassage between sessions.
The source fact sheet explicitly names a diet too rich in lipids or carbohydrates. Not a slimming diet — a focused lightening, consistent with the sessions. The visible results of a program consolidate when diet stops feeding the dimple.
Before booking
Cellulite is a cluster of fat cells compressed under the skin. The connective tissue surrounding them is stretched by their swelling, which creates the wavy appearance, orange-peel skin or visible dimpling on the surface. It isn't a matter of weight: 9 out of 10 women are affected, at any age.
No. Cellulite isn't necessarily linked to being overweight. Photoderma offers lipomassage to work on its appearance, without a weight-loss program.
Photoderma offers Endermologie Cellu M6, a mechanical lipomassage that works on the connective tissue. An experienced esthetician assesses the area and recommends a tailored plan.
The phenomenon can begin as early as puberty and fluctuates throughout life, with hormonal, dietary and physical-activity variations. Men can also be affected, although less often. So it isn't restricted to a specific age bracket.
A consultation helps assess your expectations and whether an in-cabin lipomassage treatment is appropriate for the appearance of cellulite.
Next step · open the dimple file
An experienced esthetician examines the area of concern and listens to your history before proposing a tailored Endermologie Cellu M6 treatment. The duration and pace of the sessions are specified during this consultation. Medicard financing can also be presented.
Clinic Photoderma · 4672 Blvd. Saint-Martin Ouest, Laval, Québec H7T 2X9 · ste-dorothee@photoderma.ca · Medicard financing available on all medical-aesthetic treatments.