“I have studied cellulite and the superficial connective tissue for 24+ years and one of the things I have learned is that if you shield connective tissue from mechanical stimulation it will become looser. So graduated compression leggings (only) have a role to play if used in a limited capacity for temporary water retention but long-term use or continuous use throughout the day is detrimental for both cellulite and skin laxity.”
Compression leggings, stockings and tights: a double edged sword
Leggings and stockings that hide cellulite - and cause skin looseness
The effect of cellulite leggings, stockings and other compression garments on skin tightness / firmness
Compression leggings vs vibration platform training
The effect of compression garments on fat tissue
Fat versus firmness?
How didn’t I hear of this before?
LipoTherapeia® Plus: Have a skin tightening/cellulite treatment with London’s cellulite experts
The Cellulite School™: Get advanced training in cellulite reduction and skin tightening
Leggings and stockings that hide cellulite - and cause skin looseness
In a separate article we analysed the two types of so-called anti-cellulite leggings (constant compression and graduated compression) and saw that they don’t “work” for most types of cellulite.
But how do cellulite hiding stockings/leggings affect skin firmness?
Here we analyse the effects of compression leggings and other garments on skin firmness.
The effect of cellulite leggings, stockings and other compression garments on skin tightness / firmness
How can compression leggings/stockings affect skin firmness/tightness?
Constant movement and vibration throughout the day provide mechanical stimulation to cell mechanosensitive receptors via a process called mechanotransduction. This results in collagen and elastin synthesis stimulation in your skin’s collagen cells (fibroblasts) and even in fat cells (adipocytes)
By wearing tight compression stockings, leggings and tights, you shield your tissues (fat, cellulite, skin, fascia, other connective tissue) from that all-important vibration / mechanical stimulation, to quite a large extent
With continuous use of compression garments your skin, fat tissue and superficial fascia will have less collagen and this will result in looser skin / connective tissue
This effect is even more pronounced with the super-tight, so-called “slimming tights”
Compression leggings vs vibration platform training
In effect, wearing compression tights is the opposite of doing vibration plate training:
Vibration plate training boosts collagen production via intense vibration
While compression tights inhibit collagen production via lack of vibration
The effect of compression garments on fat tissue
Compression leggings have two different effects on fat accumulation in adipose tissue
(+) The reduced mechanical deformation / stretching that occurs due to the compression leggings will lead to more fat accumulation. This is in addition to reduced collagen production mentioned above (fat cells tend to accumulate fat faster if they do not receive any mechanical stimulation). This end result can be more cellulite.
(-) On the other hand, compression will lead to reduced fat accumulation
From these two opposite effects the second one is stronger, i.e. new fat accumulation will probably be inhibited more than stimulated (existing fat, however, will remain largely unaffected).
This is the basis of the use of slimming leggings - that’s how slimming leggings work.
The price you pay for the slimming effect is that your skin becomes flabbier.
This is not just theory. The vast majority of women who continuously wear compression leggings and other garments, report skin looseness after a few months.
On the other hand, occasional use of compression garments, for an instant cellulite hiding effect, is absolutely fine. Just don’t turn occasional into permanent.
Fat versus firmness?
All in all, although compression leggings would seem to have a favourable effect on fat accumulation prevention, and thereby on new cellulite prevention, they also have a very negative effect on skin firmness.
And given that usually cellulite and skin looseness go together, there is no point wearing compression stockings ALL THE TIME to either hide cellulite or to slightly reduce cellulite fat accumulation, as at the same time you will considerably reduce skin firmness.
There is a better way, and this is regular exercise and healthy nutrition, which also happens to be an established way to stimulate firmness and reduce fat. We know it’s boring advice but it’s the best advice.
And for faster results there is high-power, deep tissue radiofrequency and high-power ultrasound, which provide fast, impressive cellulite reduction and skin firming results, especially in relation to compression leggings and stockings.
How didn’t I hear of this before?
Unfortunately few people in the beauty industry - and even in aesthetic medicine - have ever heard or have any awareness of the effects of mechanotransduction in the connective and adipose tissues.
So you will rarely hear about this from the so called “experts” in the aesthetic / beauty industry - and almost never from consumer websites / magazines.
But you can definitely see with your eyes and feel with your hands the negative effect of compression on skin firmness after just a few weeks of compression garment use: skin simply becomes softer, squishier and looser.
Of course, as mentioned above, the occasional wearing of a tight corset or compression tights to hide the extra fat/cellulite for one day is absolutely fine. Just don't make it a day-in, day-out, year-in year-out habit…
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We are proud to be the first and only cellulite clinic in the world to offer Cellulite Ultrasonography™ to our clients, for accurate assessment, better treatment and enhanced results. Since 2022 we have assessed and provided valuable insights to hundreds of clients to better understand their specific case, see how their skin looks from inside and make informed decisions.
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Cellulite surgery, such as cellulaze, cellutite, cellfina, subcision etc
Face-lift surgery
Non-surgical procedures, such as RF microneedling, extreme intensity HIFU, extreme intensity RF, extreme intensity ultrasound etc
Everything will be shown and explained to you clearly and you can see and understand how the different structures inside your skin affect your appearance.
If there is scar tissue / fibrosis, those will be clearly seen and you can differentiate between fibrosis, water retention or unremoved fat after all types of cosmetic surgery or harsh non-surgical procedures such as RF microneedling, extreme intensity HIFU etc.
(DISCLAIMER: Please note that this service is for your informational purposes only and does not constitute medical diagnosis or advice.)
The 45’ appointment includes full assessment and consultation and optional treatment plan for cellulite reduction and/or skin tightening.
If you do wish to have treatment with us, the ultrasound scan, assessment and consultation will be used to optimise your course of treatments and maximise your results.
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