Deep tissue massage and cellulite
Your question: "I have tried various types of massage to reduce my cellulite but it seems they don’t really work. At the gym I was advised that deep tissue massage can reduce cellulite - is that true?"
Our answer:
Deep tissue massage is a massage technique specific to muscles, deep fascia and other deep tissues of the body. It improves muscle circulation and lymph drainage as well as reducing tension in the muscles and deep fasciae. It is essential for sportspeople and sedentary people alike in the prevention and treatment of muscular tension. However, cellulite is a superficial tissue, found at the bottom layer of the skin, called the subcutis, which is way above the muscles on which deep tissue massage acts.
In deep tissue massage (also called sports massage or remedial massage) the pressure of the therapist is not applied on the cellulite layer in any specific way that will offer appreciable results in cellulite reduction, and therefore most of the benefits of this massage technique are seen on the muscles - not the “cellulite layer”. Cellulite, being a complicated esthetic skin condition can not be expected to respond to any simplistic, non-specific to it massage measures, including deep tissue massage.
Consequently, I can safely say that deep tissue massage will be a waste of time as a cellulite reduction method and you should consider cellulite-specific massage.
The Cellulite Guru | Georgios Tzenichristos