Welcome to Monday Night in Carol's Corner. Well today was a very dreary and rainy day in Central New York. Quite a few downpours. In fact in Ithaca there was a tornado warning. Hope everyone enjoyed our feature story last night. I hope to have another one soon. If you know of someone you think should be featured please contact me. Today's outfit is one I throuroughly love. In fact I dubbed it “Simply Fabulous”. This outfit speaks to me in so many ways. Of course it's the blouse that is the centerpiece. There are so MANY things I love about it, just where do I start? First it is fun and flirty. The colors are low key but beautiful at the same time. The material is light and airy, which goes well with the the design of the blouse. The print is almost like ink blots but could also be flowers. I find it very visually appealing. And then there is the fabulous movement because of the design itself. As I said, simply fabulous!

With my jewelry and my FitBit combo I was able to bring in the subtle color tones in the blouse. One of the perks about being able to make your own jewelry is that you can match things to your outfits probably 99% of the time. There are just a small percentage that it's hard to find stones or beads to match.

Tonight I've decided to tackle the subject of “Cellulite”, which was suggested to me by a reader. So let's get started. I'm going to use an article from WebMD, titled “Can you beat cellulite”? Will also probably have some other links for you to read in your leisure.

You have cellulite? So does just about every woman, no matter what size she is. Even some men have it. I bet everyone probably didn't know these two facts.

Some people make their peace with it, other's wage war against it. Half the battle is knowing what cellulite is and what your weapons are.

HOW CELLULITE IS LIKE YOUR COUCH

Cellulite is a little like your couch says a Boston dermatologist . Picture pillowy fat attached to the skin by bands called septae.

In women, the septae pull straight down like the button of a cushion, making dimples. Men's septae come in at an angle, disguising them. Why does something like this not surprise me? Women almost always get the short end of the stick. LOL. Sad but true, most of the time. Don't get me wrong. I'll take being a women every single time. Back to the subject. Guys also have thicker skin than women, helping to hide their cellulite.

There's no cure, says another dermatologist who recently reviewed the science behind most of the popular treatments. ” But there are definitely new things out there that can help.”

WEIGHT LOSS

Weight gain can add to your cellulite by making your fat cells bigger. More fat under the skin makes your legs look lumpier.

Losing weight can reduce the look of cellulite, especially in women who have a lot of weight to lose.

“If you have less fat, you're going to have less cellulite, potentially “.

Weight loss isn't the right approach for everyone though. For women who are already at a healthy weight, dropping a few pounds can loose skin, making cellulite even more noticeable.

CREAMS

Caffeine and Retinol are two ingredients in creams that aim to reduce cellulite.

In test tubes, caffeine and related ingredients shrink fat cells. Still there's scant evidence that these treatments work when applied to the skin, according to recent research. Any improvement is likely to be temporary and minor.

The Personal Care Products Council, an industry trade group declined to comment for this story.

Retinol may help boost the amount of collagen in the skin, making it thicker and more elastic. Thicker skin helps make cellulite less noticeable.

In one small study, a cream with .03 retinol, improved cellulite when used at least 6 months. The study found it increased skin thickness by an average of 2 milliliters on a treated leg compared to the skin on an untreated leg.

A study funded by Johnson and Johnson that tested an unnamed anti-cellulite cream with active ingredients including caffeine and retinol,found that the cream reduced the size of the stomach, thighs and upper arms slightly more than a placebo gel when both were used twice daily for 12 weeks.

MASSAGE

A treatment for cellulite called endermologie, uses rollers and suction to knead the skin, improving circulation. Treatments last 10-45 minutes and are typically repeated twice weekly for several months. A package of 10-12 sessions runs $1000 and up.( not exactly affordable for the average person) Despite the hefty price, there's little evidence that it works against cellulite.

AT THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE

One of the dermatologists in this article says a “dizzying ” number of machines are available through doctor's offices that promise to treat cellulite without surgery. Some cellulite machines( I won't bore you with all their names) use radio wave energy, others lasers, and a newer group use high intensity sound waves.

Laser and radio waves work by applying heat. The heat is meant to firm and thicken skin, and it may help by melting some of the bulging fat underneath. Acoustic waves aim to break up the septae bands that pull down the skin, creating dimples.

Most of these technologies require multiple treatments. The cost can range from $1,500 to $5,000, depending on how many times you go and which technology you use. (again not affordable to the average person)

How much improvement can you expect? One of the dermatologists say even using the best technologies “about 25% to 50% of people may see an improvement of 25% to 50% , which may diminish over time”.

FROM A COSMETIC SURGEON

In January of 2012, the FDA approved a surgical treatment for cellulite called Cellulaze.

Cellulaze is a side-firing laser that's inserted under the skin using a few tiny cuts. Working in a grid pattern , a surgeon uses the laser to sizzle away the septae bands that are pulling down on the skin. The laser, also cooks pockets of fat, reducing bulges. The company that makes the laser says it also helps thin, sagging skin.

The surgery may take several hours, depending on the size of the area being treated. The doctor injects a painkiller to numb the area before starting.

Recovery may take 3-4 weeks to get over bruising and soreness. Other side effects include temporary swelling, itching , and discoloration, similar to those seen with liposuction. Peak results are achieved 6 months after the surgery which costs about $7,500. ( again probably not something the average person can afford and is probably not covered by insurance since it is, I'm sure classified as elective surgery.)

Despite the initial discomfort,” patients have had a high degree of satisfaction, above the 90° mark “, says Barry DiBerdino,MD. He's a board-certified plastic surgeon in MontClair , NJ, and the lead clinical investigator for Cellulaze.

So far the procedure has only been studied in about 50 patients. He says people see about a 65% improvement in their cellulite, on average, and the improvement seems to last as long as 2 years. DiBerdino says Cellulaze works well for dimpling and for women who have mild to moderate ” hills and valleys “. But he says it doesn't appear to be the right tool for women with deep depressions and large folds of fat.

One of the dermatologists who has no financial interest in Cellulaze says,” it is a technology that really does attempt to change the three-dimensional structure of the skin, which she finds very interesting “. She cautions that there are still questions that need to be answered , like who the technology may work best for and how long the results may last. The other dermatologist agrees, saying, “it appears to be probably the most effective single treatment for cellulite out there, but how effective it is and what the long-term results are{are} still not known,” he says.

Now here are some other links to the topic you might find helpful.

http://www.besthealthmag.ca/best-looks/beauty/cellulite-what-it-is-and-what-you-can-do-about-it#Z7vfkSHWpqrOESye.97. Cellulite, what it is and what you can do about it.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/angelo-poli/get-rid-of-cellulite_b_2959637.html. Fat anyway but there: how to get rid of cellulite

http://mycellulitebuster.com/5-keys-2-international/?gclid=CLWGqcmHgsYCFdYXHwod03QAcA

5 Keys to nailing Cellulite

This is an interesting but not scientific read.

So that brings me to the end of this issue of Carol's Corner. I hope you found this to be interesting and beneficial. Hope to have another special feature soon. So stay motivated, stay focused , and stay moving. Till next time, God Bless.