You may be skinny; you may be toned. But unless you have Angelina Jolie genes, you are likely to be dealing with the uncomfortable fact that as you head out of your 20s, orange-peel skin becomes harder and harder to keep in check.

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Cellulite is a fact of life. But you don't necessarily have to give up and wobble into the sunset.

Endermologie was first used in France in the mid 1980s and has grown in popularity ever since. Worldwide, more than 11 000 Endermologie machines are in use.

The therapy is basically a machine-assisted massage system that consists of positive-pressure rolling – in other words, pressing onto the skin and the fatty tissue just below the skin – in conjunction with applied negative pressure (that's "sucking" to you and I).

Over time, the treatment smoothes dimples and helps to reduce the circumference of the area being treated. According to the manufacturers of the LPG Endermologie device, the technique is successful in over 80% of patients as an alternative to, and after, liposuction.

What does it feel like?
If you exclude the clingy, see-through body stocking you need to wear for the procedure, Endermologie is a relatively painless, simple procedure that only takes about 35 minutes of your time once a week.

The therapist simply points you to the massage bed, plugs in the machine (which vaguely resembles a vacuum cleaner), and then sets to work across your problem areas. Mostly, this means the thighs, buttocks, tummy and upper arms.

To me, it simply felt like a full-body massage. My therapist, Justine, suggested the reason my upper thighs were quite sensitive at first might be linked to the build-up of toxins, but after I asked her to ease the pressure, I relaxed and enjoyed the "time out".

The verdict
Justine recommends at least 20 sessions to really see results, although a difference can usually be seen by the 6th session. So, the one session I had obviously didn't make a visible difference.

But Robyn von Geusau, one of Health24's contributors who completed an endermologie course a while ago, says that she was impressed with the treatment. "While I now try to avoid looking at myself in the mirror at certain angles in a certain light, I do believe that the treatment was helpful both then and in the long term, in terms of improving my skin tone at the time and helping stave off big, bad and ugly cellulite now."

For a course of 20 sessions, expect to pay a steep R4 400. Depends how much you hate that orange peel.

For more information, contact:
Justine Haddon-Schmid or Chris Lippstreu at Transfit Gym in Claremont, Cape Town
e-mail: info@transfit.co.za
Tel: 021 674 2224
Fax: 086 503 5546

OR

Find an endermologie clinic in other parts of the country by visiting www.endermologiesa.co.za.

- (Carine van Rooyen, Health24, May 2008)
 

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