Cellulite massage: a 5-minute how-to that's honest about results

Short answer: massage can make cellulite look smoother for a few hours to a day, and regular sessions took about half a centimetre off thigh measurements in one small study. It doesn't break up cellulite permanently. The easiest way to fit it in is to massage while you apply a body cream.

Here's a simple routine you can do after a shower.

In a Turkish study, 60 women with cellulite were split into three groups: mechanical massage, manual lymphatic drainage and connective tissue manipulation. After treatment, all three groups had thinner skin-fold measurements and about 0.5 cm less around the thigh. There was no untreated group, so we can't say how much was the massage itself.

Dermatologists describe deep massage as something that temporarily puffs up the skin, which fills out the dimples. Cleveland Clinic notes that rollers and handheld massagers haven't been shown to improve cellulite long term.

• Warm up the area. Do it after a warm shower, with skin patted almost dry.
• Apply your cream. Use a palmful of a caffeine body cream such as skincarereceipt Body Butter on one thigh at a time. Its directions are to apply to trouble spots twice daily, massaging deeply to promote healthy blood flow.
• Long strokes. With flat palms, stroke from knee to hip ten times, firm but not painful.
• Kneading. Gently lift and squeeze the skin and the tissue under it, like kneading dough, for about a minute per area.
• Knuckle circles. Make small circles with your knuckles over the most dimpled spots for 30 seconds.
• Finish with long strokes, then move to the other thigh, the buttocks and the stomach.

• Wooden rollers and cups. Fine if you enjoy them, but they don't beat hands and they can bruise. Keep pressure gentle.
• Massage guns. Good for sore muscles. Not shown to change cellulite.
• Professional machines. In-clinic suction massage gives stronger, still temporary, results and needs repeat sessions.

• Over varicose veins, broken skin, rashes or bruises.
• If you have a blood clotting problem or take blood thinners, ask your doctor first.
• Any new swelling, pain or warmth in one leg needs a doctor, not a massage.

Firm massage pushes fluid around and brings blood to the surface. The mild swelling smooths the look of dimples for a while. It doesn't cut the connective bands that cause cellulite, which is why the effect fades.

• Regular massage for a temporary smoother look.limited evidence
• Massaging in a caffeine cream twice daily.limited evidence

• Massage breaking down or dissolving cellulite permanently.
• Cellulite rollers and massage guns giving lasting change.