Cellulite: Etiology, classification, pathology, and treatment

Abstract

Cellulite refers to the popular description of the uneven, bumpy, “orange peel,” or “cottage cheese” appearance of the thighs, buttocks, and breasts of postpubertal women. Incipient cellulite is recognized by the mattress phenomenon upon pinching of the skin and moderate fat lobule enlargement with reactive focal fibrosclerotic hyperplasia of connective tissue strands partitioning the subcutis. Severe full-blown cellulite rarely develops in women who do not put on excess bodyweight. Subjective complaints include feeling of tightness, heaviness, and tenderness or diffuse, spontaneous pain. Treatment includes a variety of topical agents but this does not cure cellulite. Classification of cellulite, pathology, and treatment are discussed.