Many women who want to get rid of the “orange peel” try anti-cellulite massage. Experts approve of this choice, since warming up is the most effective way to eliminate subcutaneous fat deposits. The procedure activates blood circulation and circulation of fluids in soft tissues, stimulates metabolism, calms the nervous system and has a positive effect on the body.
The procedure is absolutely painless and has a minimum of contraindications compared to other treatment methods. Anti-cellulite body massage is equally popular among men and women. Let's look at the basics of massage, its techniques and rules.
Anti-cellulite body massage
Why is massage useful against cellulite?
Anti-cellulite massage is a kind of warm-up, which differs from the standard procedure in its special technique and principle of action. If a regular massage, which is carried out in a salon or at home, is aimed at developing muscles and joints, then the target of anti-cellulite is adipose tissue. The specialist works on problem areas affected by the “orange peel” – usually the abdomen, butt and thighs.
On a note!
A massage against cellulite on the thighs and buttocks should last from 30 minutes to half an hour. If you are doing a manual warm-up, the pain should be moderate, and bruises after the anti-cellulite massage should be present in a minimal amount. This is the main sign that you are visiting a good specialist.
By carrying out the procedures you can achieve the following results:
- Eliminate the cause of cellulite - anti-cellulite massage helps not only with fat deposits, but also has a general strengthening effect. After warming up, blood flow and lymph outflow improve, metabolism is activated, which are optimal conditions for eliminating leg diseases;
- Allows you to get rid of the “orange peel” on the skin - a cosmetic defect is eliminated by activating the circulatory and lymphatic systems and improving metabolism. Gradually, lipid cells dissolve, the external manifestations of cellulite disappear;
- Thanks to the procedures, the body is rejuvenated - massage tones and strengthens the skin, its surface is gradually smoothed. Against the background of general weight loss, which is also an anti-cellulite effect, the skin looks healthier and younger;
- Swelling is reduced - after a course of massage therapy, the swelling of the legs, which sometimes occurs with cellulite, is reduced. This effect occurs not only due to good lymph outflow and improved blood circulation, but also due to the slight diuretic effect of anti-cellulite foot massage;
- Massage stabilizes psychological health - warming up is not only useful, but also a pleasant procedure. Professional anti-cellulite massage calms the nervous system, allows a person to relax and enjoy.
But good results will only come from comprehensive anti-cellulite treatment. To do this, you should change your lifestyle, adjust your diet and start playing sports.
The benefits of massage against cellulite
Working out the hips
Work on the thighs begins with fingering with the thumbs. The thigh area should be grabbed with your palms so that you grab the center of its back with your thumbs. Smoothly move your palms higher, so with circular rubbing you will knead the skin.
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Further:
- Strokes-combs. They should be done with your knuckles, so don’t forget to apply a little massage cream or oil to your fingers. Work the thigh in a circle, smoothly moving from the hollow under the knee up to the buttock itself. Next, come back down to repeat the exercise.
- Squeezes. Clench your right hand into a fist and place it above the knee area. Place your other hand on top to make it heavier and forcefully pull it up with your fist towards your buttocks. If this movement is uncomfortable for you, bend your limb at the knee, raising your foot.
- Stroking the inner thigh. Move from the knee above with an open palm - along the path to the lymph nodes. This part of the leg is very sensitive, avoid strong manipulations.
- Fixation of trigger points. Place your elbow under your buttock, moving in a circle, begin to descend towards your knee. You can even bend the limb to make it easier to work.
- Pinching/patting. You need to gently beat the back of the thigh with your fingers.
The same exercises are repeated for the second limb. The shins are treated in a similar way. A typical program for this part of the limb includes: strokes, fingering, combing, wrist squeezing, as well as fist and thumb presses, fingering and pinching. This session ends with squeezing over the entire limb. You need to grab your leg with your palm (or two) and move your arms higher with force. In the area of the knee you should ease the load, but on the hip, on the contrary, raise it. Similar techniques are used for the front of the thighs, the “abdomen” and the upper arms.
How massage affects cellulite
Now let's talk about the mechanism of action of massage - why this type of treatment actively fights the subcutaneous layer of fat.
Nature has programmed that a person must constantly eat - this is the basis of his normal life. For many centuries, food has been irregular - so we always want to eat more than we need. Excess nutrients are deposited in the form of subcutaneous fat; according to gender, in women it appears on the hips, buttocks and abdomen. “Orange peel” is its consequence, which develops due to the proliferation of fat cells and their death against the background of poor blood circulation and lymph outflow.
On a note!
You can break down excess fat with the help of anti-cellulite massage - this method accelerates the blood, which triggers the burning of lipid cells.
After the procedures, tissue trophism improves and the death of adipose tissue, which forms during cellulite, stops. In conclusion, it is worth noting that circulatory disorders that occur with pathology are also eliminated with anti-cellulite massage of the hips and buttocks.
What is cellulite
Cellulite is a pathological change in the structure of adipose tissue as a result of the accumulation of excess fluid and toxic substances. Because of this, a homogeneous mass of fat becomes lumpy, compactions appear in it, which inevitably affects the appearance of the skin in this area - it begins to resemble a kind of “orange peel”.
Excess moisture and toxins accumulate in adipose tissue due to metabolic disorders. The following reasons for slow metabolism can be identified:
- sedentary lifestyle;
- hormonal imbalance;
- poor nutrition;
- genetic predisposition;
- circulatory disorders.
Important! Mild cellulite does not cause physical discomfort, however, in later stages it can cause regular pain in areas of fat accumulation on the buttocks.
Advantages and disadvantages of massage treatment
Let's consider the benefits of anti-cellulite massage and try to evaluate the pros and cons of its implementation. Much depends on the smoothness and sequence of techniques that the massage therapist does. If you ignore the technique or do not follow the instructions, you can get more harm from the massage than good. These requirements apply to both manual and hardware or cupping massage.
Based on statistics and patient reviews, the following disadvantages of anti-cellulite massage are distinguished:
- Painfulness – finding a specialist who performs painless procedures is difficult, and the first sessions, even in capable hands, will take place with a certain discomfort;
- The presence of bruises after the procedure - the warm-up is particularly intense, and the presence of internal microdamages is normal;
- Price – learning how to do a good anti-cellulite massage at home is difficult; for effective treatment you need to find time to visit the salon and pay for the services of a professional massage therapist.
Disadvantages and side effects of anti-cellulite massage
The advantages of anti-cellulite massage include:
- Efficiency - with proper sessions, after a couple of months there is a decrease in “fat tuberosity” in problem areas;
- Possibility of treating concomitant diseases - during procedures there is a systemic effect on the entire body, which ensures its recovery from many diseases;
- Moral satisfaction – even if the first procedures were carried out with some discomfort, after a few hours there is a feeling of lightness in the legs and relaxation of the body. The effect is complemented by the pleasant contemplation in the mirror of a slender figure and smooth, healthy skin.
We have listed the main characteristics that allow a person to decide on the choice of anti-cellulite treatment technique. If you are still in doubt about making a decision, we recommend that you read the reviews of our patients on the website.
Before you start
There are certain nuances that directly affect the result; they cannot be ignored.
If you expect massage to be effective:
- Be sure to warm up your hands before the procedure - your palms can be neither cold nor wet;
- Make sure you are full of strength - massaging is very difficult and physically demanding, you need hand strength and a certain stamina;
- Relax problem areas before massage;
- Remember not to massage the groin area, the upper peripubic inner thighs, or the popliteal cavity (the site of the lymph nodes);
- Make sure you know how to regulate the intensity of your movements - too much pressure will cause bruises on the skin.
The first massage session is a warm-up session. The skin must be handled delicately and carefully. She needs to get used to the course of loads, which should not become stressful. You must evaluate for yourself how your body responds to such actions. Do not focus on pressure - in anti-cellulite massage the main thing is not that, but the flow of blood to the tissues. The skin should be almost hot, pinkish, but not on fire.
Indications and contraindications
Each patient should know the list of indications when anti-cellulite massage is desirable. These include:
- Cellulite;
- Obesity, even in the initial stages;
- Metabolic disorders;
- Swelling that did not arise due to vascular diseases;
- Flabbiness of skin and soft tissues;
- Decrease in the body's defenses;
- Violation of lymph outflow.
Massage against cellulite is an effective way to eliminate the disease, but it has some contraindications. You should not ignore them, as this can cause systemic disorders in the body.
Indications for anti-cellulite massage
Contraindications to anti-cellulite massage:
- Treatment should not be carried out during pregnancy;
- Varicose veins are present;
- Infectious diseases diagnosed;
- There are skin lesions, open wounds or ulcers.
Procedures are carried out with caution for menstruation, general weakness and diseases of internal organs.
Expert opinion!
The question is often asked whether it is possible to do anti-cellulite massage every day. Daily warm-up is not advisable, since during intense procedures minor soft tissue injuries occur and the body needs time to recover. It is better to supplement the treatment regimen with other methods - add “fasting days” or perform light exercises.
Types of anti-cellulite massage
To eliminate the “fat lumpiness,” several anti-cellulite warm-up techniques are used. The choice of treatment method is influenced by the patient’s health status and the expected result. Each method differs in its technique, the degree of influence on lipid tissue and human well-being. Let's consider the types of anti-cellulite massage.
Manual massage
The simplest and oldest way to warm up. To carry it out, it is necessary to select a good specialist - since the result largely depends on the technique of execution. The massage therapist's hands are used as tools to warm up. The dry method is allowed only for massage with fists - which is the most traumatic; in other cases, a special anti-cellulite cream or oil is applied to the body. These substances not only reduce friction, but also fight fat deposits in problem areas. The advantages of manual anti-cellulite massage include efficiency, the disadvantages are the need to find a good specialist.
Hardware massage
This is a more modern type of warm-up using special massagers. These devices greatly facilitate the procedure, allowing sessions to be carried out by ordinary people who do not have a massage therapist certificate. Warm-up follows standard rules, which require mandatory knowledge of the permitted areas of the body that need to be massaged. The disadvantages of hardware anti-cellulite massage include the high cost of devices for procedures, as well as the lack of an individual approach to each client, as with manual warm-up.
Types of anti-cellulite massage
Vacuum and honey massage
This method of anti-cellulite treatment involves the use of special cups that slightly suck the skin into themselves, under which blood circulation and lymph outflow are activated. An alternative to a vacuum warm-up is a massage with honey - it sticks to your hands during a little rubbing or clapping. The advantage of this treatment is the comfort of the procedure - many patients are treated under the skin. Treatment with a bee product can also be carried out at home. The disadvantages include effectiveness - this warm-up is most effective in the initial stages of cellulite than in advanced forms.
Lymphatic drainage massage
If you want to carry out an “exotic” treatment method, you can sign up for an anti-cellulite lymphatic drainage massage. The essence of the technique is to influence the lymph nodes; the massage therapist “pumps” lymph through the vessels from the affected areas.
Interesting!
At the initial stages, honey or vacuum warm-up, which can be done at home, will be effective. If you do not have the opportunity to purchase a special device, you will have to make an appointment at a phytotherapeutic office with a massage therapist.
Anti-cellulite massage in the salon
All types of massage described in this article are available in the salon. The choice depends on the cost, your patience and the desired speed of onset of the effect.
Anti-cellulite products
For work, a massage therapist requires cosmetics. During an anti-cellulite massage, you can use ordinary creams and oils, but there are special developments that are recommended by experts.
Pay attention to contraindications, in particular asthma or allergies.
Oil
The oil can be a special anti-cellulite oil, for example, orange oil or oil saturated with essential oils. All special anti-cellulite products are designed to improve blood flow and provide nutrition to pathological cells.
Ordinary oils, for example, flaxseed, jojoba, olive and others, also cope with these functions.
Hands and jars glide well through the oil, so massage with it is convenient.
Cream
The market is saturated with anti-cellulite creams of various price categories. The main thing is to use them not as an independent remedy, but for massage.
The cream not only moisturizes and supplies cells with nutrients, but also tightens the skin itself, stimulating the production of collagen and elastane. This is the main difference between cream and oil.
Serum
Anti-cellulite serums should not be used during a massage, but after it, when the skin is most susceptible to absorbing any products. It is not suitable for massage because it is not oily, it is a concentrate and this is not provided for by the rules for the use of serums.
Cost of services
If you are given a massage by a private massage therapist at home, the cost of the session varies from 600 to 1000 rubles.
Salon procedures are more expensive, but the service is better there. Here, one session will cost you 1000-2000 or more, depending on the prestige of the salon and the experience of the specialist.
Preparing for a massage
Before starting an anti-cellulite procedure, it is recommended to undergo preparation. It includes compliance with the following rules:
- Start eating less sausages, smoked meats and processed foods;
- 2 weeks before the sessions, it is necessary to exclude strong coffee and tea, alcohol, and alcoholic beverages from the diet. It wouldn’t hurt to give up bad habits;
- Start doing gymnastics in 10 days;
- For 5 days you need to go on a vegetable and fruit diet, you can eat fish, low-fat dairy products;
- Drink at least 2 liters of non-carbonated mineral water per day;
- Take sea salt baths 3-4 times a week.
The same recommendations must be followed during a course of massage therapy.
Massage technique
The technique for performing anti-cellulite massage depends on its type. With manual exposure, it is important to improve blood circulation and lymphatic drainage, as well as warm up soft tissues. If you perform a massage using a special device, you need to choose a device based on its effect on the skin.
The manual anti-cellulite massage technique includes the following steps:
- Stroking is a kind of preparation for the procedure and includes light circular movements;
- Rubbing according to the “pump” principle – the specialist makes spiral movements along the vessels. This technique allows you to empty the lymphatic vessels, rid them of excess fluid, and eliminate congestion;
- The actual warm-up - deep and intense movements are made according to the above-mentioned principle. This allows you to “break up” fat and relax muscles;
- Rolling is alternately pressing your fingers on cellulite areas. At this stage, the adipose tissue itself is affected;
- Tapping - at the end of the warm-up, the specialist makes frequent light blows with the edge of the hands on the skin. This ensures blood flow and resorption of lipid cells.
Anti-cellulite massage technique
The basics of hardware anti-cellulite massage depend on the choice of a specific device that affects the skin. They are:
- Roller;
- Vacuum;
- Vibrating;
- Compressed air based;
- Rotary.
To perform a hardware warm-up, you must select the appropriate device and follow the instructions. When performing any massage, it is prohibited to massage areas where blood vessels are located close to the skin - these are the inner thighs, popliteal fossa, abdomen and groin area.
Important!
It is not recommended to eat 2 hours before and after the procedure. The first results can be seen after 5-6 procedures, but only if you follow a diet and maintain a sports lifestyle.
For clarity, let’s look at the photos before and after anti-cellulite massage:
- Before starting treatment, the patient had all the signs of “orange peel” – uneven skin, dimples, bumps and wrinkles;
- After the 6th procedure, the skin changed noticeably - it became more even and smooth, and acquired a natural healthy appearance.
The effectiveness of anti-cellulite massage
