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Can I get rid of cellulite around my butt? What the heck IS cellulite?

By Paige Waehner, About.com

Updated January 25, 2006

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board

Chair squat for your butt

Chair squat for your butt

Paige Waehner
Question: Can I get rid of cellulite around my butt? What the heck IS cellulite?
Answer: Cellulite is fat. Period. Cellulite is simply a term used by scientists to describe that cottage cheesy stuff that you often find on your thighs, butt, and hips. Women typically have cellulite because their adipose tissue is structured differently from men. As we gain weight, our fat cells swell while our connective tissue stays the same, thereby causing that lovely dimpling effect we all love to hate.

So, can you get rid of it? Since cellulite is fat, there are NO MAGICAL SOLUTIONS to get rid of it. If you reduce the SIZE of your fat cells, you can reduce the cottage cheese look. This is best accomplished with diet and exercise (ugh). Note: body wraps, toning lotions, electrical muscle stimulation, herbal remedies and other quick fix solutions you see on TV and in magazines DO NOT WORK! Any effects are temporary, so save your money and realize that even the fittest folks have cellulite. That's why they have this magical thing called airbrushing.

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