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How cellulite forms
The process is complex and multi-stage. Below are the stages at which cellulite most often appears or worsens in people with a predisposition to it. Not every stage applies to every person.
Stages of development
The assessment of the grade is based on when the unevenness is visible: only after pinching the skin, when standing, or also when lying down. The grade determines whether treatments make sense, and which ones.
Stage 0
No unevenness, even when the skin is pinched.
Stage 1
No visible signs. Unevenness appears only when the skin is pinched.
Stage 2
Unevenness visible when standing, not noticeable when lying down.
Stage 3
Unevenness visible both when standing and when lying down.
Forms of cellulite
The type has practical significance, as the approach is chosen differently for firm skin than for flaccid skin, and the oedematous type first requires ruling out other causes of swelling.
Firm type
The skin feels firm to the touch. It usually occurs in teenage girls and young women, even with a healthy lifestyle.
Flaccid type
It occurs mainly in women who are not very physically active, over 40 years of age, or following diets. The skin has indentations and is less taut.
Oedematous type
The rarest and at the same time the most severe form. After pressing, an indentation remains, which gradually fills back in. It requires ruling out other causes of swelling.
Mixed type
It combines features of the other types. It is the most common.
Why it mainly affects women
What matters is the structure of connective tissue in the areas where cellulite most often appears: the thighs, buttocks, abdomen and hips. In women, the collagen fibres there are arranged in parallel, which, together with a larger amount of fat tissue, promotes the formation of indentations and bulges. In men, the fibres form a crisscross pattern, and this structure prevents it.
Oestrogens also play a role. They affect the water balance, increase the permeability of blood vessels and promote water retention in the intercellular space, which increases the dimpled skin effect. They also affect the distribution of fat tissue, promoting its accumulation in areas typical for cellulite.
Adipocytes, or fat cells, are located in the subcutaneous tissue. In men they are found more often in the upper body, in women around the hips, thighs and buttocks. The process is also intensified by hormonal changes during pregnancy, menopause and hormone replacement therapy.
Practical conclusion: a predisposition to cellulite results from body structure and hormonal balance, not from neglect. No treatment can change this structure, but it can affect how clearly it shows.
Cellulite and body weight
Cellulite does not affect only people who are overweight or obese. It can also occur in people with a normal body weight, and even in slim people. A higher BMI usually increases its visibility, for several reasons.
A higher BMI is usually associated with more fat tissue. Its excess in predisposed areas increases pressure on connective tissue, and collagen fibres may become deformed, which promotes the formation of unevenness.
A higher BMI can be linked to a diet rich in fats and simple sugars, which may increase fat tissue and promote water retention in the body.
A less active lifestyle weakens the muscles and worsens blood and lymph circulation, which makes it harder to remove metabolic waste products.
Although a link between cellulite and BMI exists, reducing body weight does not always eliminate cellulite completely. The phenomenon is multifactorial, so the approach involves diet and physical activity as well as treatments.
What affects visibility
Some factors remain beyond control, for example genetics and hormonal conditions. The others can be influenced, and it is these that determine how well the effect is maintained after treatments.
Hormonal balance
Oestrogens affect the distribution of fat in the body, and their fluctuations promote the formation of cellulite.
Genetics
A predisposition to cellulite can be inherited. If it runs in the family, the likelihood is higher.
Diet
A diet rich in fats, sugars and processed foods can contribute to the formation and worsening of changes.
Physical activity
Exercise supports the metabolism of fat tissue and improves circulation. Its absence can increase the visibility of cellulite.
Lifestyle
Smoking cigarettes and excessive alcohol consumption can disrupt circulation and promote fluid stagnation in the subcutaneous tissue.
Treatments we consider
We work with thermal, mechanical or chemical treatments that act on locally concentrated fat tissue and lead to the breakdown of adipocytes. The released fat enters the intercellular spaces, from where it is removed through the lymphatic vessels.
Below are the directions only. The course of the treatment, preparation, possible reactions afterwards and prices are on the pages of each method. Which one we choose and in what order is decided after assessing the area.
Who the treatments may suit
May be suitable
Localised excess fatty tissue on the thighs, buttocks, abdomen or hips with a stable body weight.
The firm or mixed type, where the skin retains its firmness.
Readiness for a series of treatments and maintaining diet and activity between sessions.
A realistic expectation: less visible unevenness, not retouch-smooth skin.
Probably not right now
Ongoing swelling of unexplained cause, especially of one limb. Medical diagnosis first.
A planned reduction in body weight. It is more sensible to start treatments once it is complete.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding, and inflammation in the treatment area.
Expecting permanent removal of cellulite or a slimming effect. These treatments do not deliver that.
If, after assessing the area, it turns out that the treatment is not the right step, we will say so directly and suggest a different direction or advise against the treatment. A consultation is not a commitment to have it done.
What the treatments will not do
They will not remove predisposition: the treatment changes neither the arrangement of connective tissue fibres nor hormonal balance.
They are not a slimming method. They do not replace diet or exercise and are not intended to reduce body weight.
They do not work once and for all. The visibility of cellulite is affected by lifestyle and body weight, so without maintaining these the effect fades.
They do not treat illness. Cellulite is not a medical condition, and swelling with a different cause requires diagnosis, not an aesthetic treatment.
We do not give the number of sessions or the degree of improvement before a consultation. The extent of possible change depends on the type and degree of cellulite, the area, and what happens outside the practice.
When a medical assessment is needed
We do not carry out the treatment until it is clear that we are dealing with cellulite and not swelling with a different cause.
Contact a doctor if the swelling is pronounced and persistent, affects one limb, or is accompanied by pain, redness, warmth or a feeling of heaviness. Such symptoms require diagnosis before any aesthetic treatment.
Before you decide
Consultation with a cosmetologist
Free of charge. We assess the type and degree of cellulite, the condition of the skin and the area, and tell you whether the treatment is the right method here. A medical consultation in aesthetic medicine is a separate, paid visit.
Editorial responsibility
Responsible for the content
NL Clinic, Katowice
How the content is created
Last updated
15 August 2026
This material is informational in nature and does not replace a consultation or qualification.
Frequently asked questions
Is cellulite a disease?
No. Cellulite does not cause pain or threaten health. It occurs in most women and is a feature of appearance, not a medical condition. Treatments are carried out for aesthetic reasons and are not necessary.
Can slim people have cellulite?
Yes. Cellulite is not limited to people who are overweight or obese and can also occur in people with a healthy body weight and in slim people. A higher BMI usually increases its visibility, but it is not a condition for it to occur.
Will reducing body weight remove cellulite?
Not always. Although there is a link between cellulite and BMI, reducing body weight does not always eliminate cellulite completely. The phenomenon is multifactorial, so management includes diet and physical activity as well as treatments.
Why does cellulite mainly affect women?
In women, the collagen fibres in the connective tissue of the thighs, buttocks, abdomen and hips are arranged in parallel, which, combined with a larger amount of fatty tissue, favours the formation of dimpling. In men, the fibres are arranged in a crosswise pattern, which prevents this. Oestrogens also play a role, as they affect vessel permeability and water retention.
What will cellulite treatments not do?
They will not remove a genetic predisposition or change the structure of the connective tissue. They are not a method of reducing body weight and do not replace diet or exercise. They do not eliminate cellulite once and for all, because its visibility is affected by hormones, lifestyle and body weight.
How many treatments are needed?
Treatments are carried out as a series, and its length depends on the type and degree of cellulite and on the area. We do not give the number of sessions before a consultation, because without assessing the area it would be a number picked at random.
When does cellulite require a medical assessment?
When the swelling is pronounced, persistent, affects one limb, or is accompanied by pain, redness or a feeling of heaviness. Such symptoms require medical diagnosis before any aesthetic treatment, because they may have a cause other than cellulite.
The content is for information. It does not replace a consultation, an examination or an individual assessment.