Forskolin: a key anti-cellulite cream active

Forskolin: a key anti-cellulite cream active

Forskolin, is the extract of the South Asian plant coleus forskohlii / plectranthus barbatus. It has been extensively researched for decades for its lipolytic action and is routinely used in lab experiments when it is needed to stimulate lipolysis in fat cells. (Lipolysis refers to fat release from fat cells, leading to fat cell size reduction and, if sustained, eventual fat cell death.) However, due to its high cost (10x more than the highest quality caffeine) it is rarely used in anti-cellulite creams - although it is way more important than caffeine in this regard…

Cellulite treatment results

Cellulite treatment results

It is quite natural to be excited about seeing results from your aesthetic treatment, be it an anti-ageing procedure, a cellulite removal treatment etc. And living in a fast paced world, where instant gratification is considered the norm, people want to see results from anything they undertake as soon as possible - ideally yesterday. But let’s see how realistic such expectations are and what to expect from your cellulite treatment, really…

Can you take collagen and whey protein powder together?

Can you take collagen and whey protein powder together?

Whey protein powder (10-40g/day) is usually taken in combination with resistance exercise, as it has the exact aminoacid profile for this purpose. Hydrolysed collagen protein (5-20g/day) is usually taken to help support joints and maintain/boost skin firmness, sometimes in combination with radiofrequency treatment, as it has the exact aminoacid profile for this purpose (more glycine, proline and hydroxyproline). Hydroxyproline, specifically, is only found in skin / hydrolysed collagen protein…

Does exfoliating and hydrating help with cellulite?

Does exfoliating and hydrating help with cellulite?

Exfoliating and/or moisturising your skin would not make the tiniest difference to your cellulite. Exfoliation / hydration work on your epidermis, i.e. the top 0.1mm of your skin. Cellulite is located in the hypodermis, i.e. the deepest 2-8mm of your skin and 20-80 times deeper than the width of your epidermis. There is absolutely no connection…

Cavitation / radiofrequency for cellulite at home: does it work?

Cavitation / radiofrequency for cellulite at home: does it work?

The truth is that quite often even professional RF treatments do not offer any significant benefits, simply because they are provided with the wrong equipment, usually cheap chinese low-power, bipolar machines, which are too superficial, too weak and, quite frankly, not very safe or sturdy to use in a professional setup. Home-use radio frequency equipment is even worse than cheap professional equipment, as it is even lower spec…

Infrared light therapy for achilles tendinopathy

Infrared light therapy for achilles tendinopathy

The most common treatment regime for achilles tendon injury involves eccentric exercises to effect fibre remodelling. However, low level light therapy (LED or laser), usually in the infrared range for improved penetration, is also used for soft tissue / sports injuries, such as tendinopathies, always in combination with exercise. The randomized controlled trial listed below investigated the clinical effectiveness of an eccentric exercise regime for achilles tendinopathy and evaluated the additional benefits of photobiomodulation (low level light therapy, LLLT) as an adjunct treatment. The study challenged the necessity of the intensive Alfredson protocol…

Glaucine and cellulite

Glaucine and cellulite

Yellow poppy (glaucium flavum) is a plant that belongs to the poppy family and is primarily found in western Europe. Studies undertaken by a cosmetics ingredient manufacturer have shown that the yellow poppy extract glaucine exerts a pronounced inhibitory effect on fat cells, that can be used in the fight against cellulite, as a cellulite cream ingredient.

Weight loss / slimming leggings: they don't work

Weight loss / slimming leggings: they don't work

The very tight compression garments (such as Spanx, Skims etc) do improve the appearance of the body while being worn, so there is not much discussion to be made on this aspect. They do hide the fat and improve the appearance of the body contours. However, do they reduce fat wherever they are worn?

Is it fat or cellulite that I have on my thighs?

Is it fat or cellulite that I have on my thighs?

This is a very common question at the clinic, as most people are misinformed about what cellulite is. Cellulite is hypodermal adipose tissue, i.e. fat within the deepest skin layer (hypodermis). Fat is subcutaneous adipose tissue, i.e. fat under the deepest skin layer (hypodermis). But how can we differentiate between cellulite and fat in our own body It’s simple. At the clinic we offer the following simple way to help clients differentiate between fat and cellulite…

Does skin shrink after weight loss?

Does skin shrink after weight loss?

After weight loss most people experience skin laxity, as the increased skin length that used to accommodate for the fat volume becomes “excess skin” and looks loose and saggy. So it’s no wonder that many people ask if skin can naturally contract on its own…

What is radio frequency butt lift? How long does it last?

What is radio frequency butt lift? How long does it last?

There are two types of butt lifting procedures: surgical (BBL/brazilian butt lift) and non-surgical. From the myriad non-surgical bum lifting procedures the only one that really works, and is SAFE, is deep-acting, high-power radiofrequency. Deep-acting, high-power radiofrequency works my stimulating collagen and elastin synthesis as well as collagen contraction on both the dermis and hypodermis, where all the important collagen structures are found (the ones that give shape to your skin). The end result is skin tightening that lifts the skin and helps it defy gravity, i.e. bum lifting…

The reason we do NOT offer RF microneedling at our London clinic

The reason we do NOT offer RF microneedling at our London clinic

Radiofrequency microneedling has become extremely popular the last few years. We have tried RF microneedling around 2014, way before it became popular around 2019 and all the rage around 2022, and found it lacking, both in terms of effectiveness and especially safety. In fact, we found the treatment quite horrid and gave back the machine after a few days of training (a doctor had to come from abroad specifically for us for the training) and after trying it with a few clients. The best way to understand the reasoning against RF microneedling is real world evidence, consisting of feedback and reviews from real people in the real world, as opposed to the virtual reality of instagram, tiktok or even science papers…

Advanced LED light therapy treatments for back acne in London

Advanced LED light therapy treatments for back acne in London

Advanced blue, infrared and red light therapy treatments in London for back and shoulder acne, at LipoTherapeia, in the heart of London. Two decades of experience, honest advice, personalised treatment, caring service. Book now!

Advanced red light therapy treatments in London

Advanced red light therapy treatments in London

Advanced blue, infrared and red light therapy treatments in London for anti-ageing, skin rejuvenation, acne, wound healing, skin firming, back pain, sports injuries, stress relief and deep relaxation at LipoTherapeia, in the heart of London. Two decades of experience, honest advice, personalised treatment, caring service. Book now!

Can radiofrequency treatments cause spider veins?

Can radiofrequency treatments cause spider veins?

Deep-acting, high-power radiofrequency and deep-acting, high-power ultrasound cavitation are the strongest SAFE technologies for cellulite reduction and skin tightening. As both technologies produce heat (more with RF, less with ultrasound), and as both technologies are used with varyign levels of training and equipment quality, some people worry that their thread / spider veins may worsen.

At LipoTherapeia we have provided about 13,000 radiofrequency and ultrasound cavitation treatments in the last 14 years (January 2025) and we have never, ever had a problem with causing the creation of new thread veins (also known as spider veins or telangiectasia) or making existing ones worse. In theory, spider veins may become worse with the application of extreme heat (spider veins…

Can chokeberry and tart cherry juice prevent or reduce cellulite?

Can chokeberry and tart cherry juice prevent or reduce cellulite?

The plant chemicals ‘polyphenols’ are important in maintaining skin and blood vessel integrity, as well as in inhibiting fat accumulation. As such, they are important anti-cellulite agents. Polyphenols are mainly found in red, yellow, purple, blue and black berries and other plants (e.g. blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, black rice, black beans, adzuki beans, purple potatoes, purple broccoli…

Yerba mate vs ozempic: the facts

Yerba mate vs ozempic: the facts

The South American tea drink Yerba-Maté (Ilex paraguariensis) has been in the news again recently (April 2024) when tabloids hyped it up as “Football’s secret Ozempic", apparently because Lionel Messi drinks it, and David Beckham has tried it, so it must be a slimming superdrink - or words to that effect 😂

Does LED light help with nasolabial folds?

Does LED light help with nasolabial folds?

Red and infrared light therapy with an LED device can indeed help with anti-ageing, skin healing and rejuvenation, giving skin a healthy glow and helping prevent skin laxity and fine lines and light wrinkles. However, its effect is not strong enough to reduce nasolabial folds (smile lines), especially deep ones that have formed over…

Does infrared light really tighten skin?

Does infrared light really tighten skin?

Infrared light penetrates more than red light and can better reach the dermis where fibroblasts (collagen and elastin producing cells) and collagen structures are found. High-power LED phototherapy in the near infrared wavelength boosts mitochondrial function via the stimulation of cytochrome C oxidase enzyme. Improved mitochondrial function means better fibroblast function and increased collagen and elastin synthesis, meaning firmer skin. No other procedure is known to have this effect on mitochondrial function - only red light at around 630nm and infrared light at around 830nm. However, this effect is subtle and appears gradually and slowly, so infrared…