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In brief
There are three main types of cellulite: watery (linked to water retention, soft and often with heavy legs), adipose (linked to localised fat storage, soft to the touch) and fibrous (harder, established and sometimes tender). They are often mixed. Identifying the type helps choose the right treatment: drainage, tissue mobilisation or firmness work.
Understanding the different types of cellulite
Cellulite is often called “orange-peel skin”, but it does not always look the same. Its appearance, texture and the sensations associated with it can vary depending on its origin: water retention, fat storage, tissue fibrosis or a combination of factors.
That is why it is important to distinguish between the different types of cellulite. Soft cellulite linked to water is not treated in the same way as hard, old, fibrous cellulite.
There are generally three main types of cellulite:
- Watery cellulite
- Adipose cellulite
- Fibrous cellulite
In some cases, several forms can be present at the same time. This is known as mixed cellulite.
1. Watery cellulite
Watery cellulite is often associated with water retention and circulation problems. It usually affects people who feel swollen, have heavy legs or feel uncomfortable at the end of the day.
It can appear on the thighs, calves, knees or ankles. The skin may look slightly uneven, sometimes tight, but the cellulite is usually quite soft to the touch.
How do you recognise it?
- A feeling of heavy legs
- Swelling at the end of the day
- More visible marks from socks or clothing
- Slightly padded-looking skin
- Rather soft cellulite
- A feeling of water retention
For this type of cellulite, the goal is often to support drainage, circulation and a feeling of lightness.
2. Adipose cellulite
Adipose cellulite is more closely linked to localised fat storage. It is often found in areas where volume is naturally more pronounced, such as the thighs, buttocks, hips, stomach or sometimes the arms.
It is usually soft to the touch and rarely painful. The orange-peel appearance is mostly visible when the skin is pinched or the area is compressed.
How do you recognise it?
- Localised fat deposits
- Cellulite that is soft to the touch
- Orange-peel appearance visible when pinched
- Little or no pain
- Areas affected: thighs, buttocks, hips, stomach
Adipose cellulite often calls for a holistic approach, combining lifestyle, regular physical activity and targeted figure treatments.
3. Fibrous cellulite
Fibrous cellulite is often older and more established. It is usually more compact, harder to the touch and sometimes tender, even painful when pinched.
It often gives a more marked orange-peel appearance, visible even without compression. The nodules can be deeper and the skin may look less supple.
How do you recognise it?
- Hard or compact cellulite
- Nodules visible even without pinching
- Tenderness or pain to the touch
- Less supple skin
- Cellulite that has been there for a long time
- A more marked uneven appearance
Fibrous cellulite often requires more gradual work, with treatments adapted to the sensitivity of the tissues.
“Identifying the type of cellulite is an essential step before offering a treatment. Cellulite linked to water retention is not treated the same way as older, established or fibrous cellulite.”
STARVAC partner professional
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Key takeaways
- There are several types of cellulite: watery, adipose, fibrous and sometimes mixed.
- Watery cellulite is often associated with a feeling of swelling, heavy legs or water retention.
- Adipose cellulite is usually softer and linked to localised fat storage.
- Fibrous cellulite is often harder, more established and sometimes tender to the touch.
- Recognising the type of cellulite helps adapt the treatments, techniques and goals of the programme.
4. Mixed cellulite
In reality, it is common for a person to have several types of cellulite at the same time. For example, cellulite can be both watery and adipose, or adipose and fibrous.
This is called mixed cellulite. It combines several signs: a feeling of heavy legs, localised fat deposits, uneven skin, harder areas or less supple tissues.
In this case, the approach must be personalised. It can be useful to start with draining work and then move on to more targeted contouring or tissue-quality treatments.
Why identify the type of cellulite?
Recognising the type of cellulite avoids an approach that is too general. Each type of cellulite has its own characteristics, and therefore its own needs.
A good assessment helps you better adapt:
- The type of treatment
- The areas to treat
- The intensity of the protocol
- The frequency of sessions
- Realistic goals
- The overall support
The goal is not to promise that cellulite will disappear completely, but to gradually improve the appearance of the skin, comfort, circulation and tissue quality.
Conclusion
There is no single form of cellulite. Watery cellulite is often linked to water retention, adipose cellulite to localised fat storage, and fibrous cellulite to older, compact and established cellulite.
Identifying the type of cellulite helps you better understand the body's needs and guide treatments more coherently. For visible, lasting results, the ideal is a personalised, gradual approach adapted to each profile.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know whether my cellulite is watery, adipose or fibrous?
By touch and sight: watery cellulite is soft and varies during the day, adipose cellulite is supple and easy to pinch, fibrous cellulite is firmer and more marked. A professional can complete the observation with a body assessment such as the STARVAC DIAG®.
Which in-salon treatment for each type of cellulite?
Watery cellulite responds well to drainage, for example with Pressodynamie®. Adipose and fibrous cellulite require tissue mobilisation, such as next-generation Stretching Cellulaire®. In most cases, a programme combines both.
Can cellulite be made to disappear?
Cellulite is a natural phenomenon. Regular treatments, combined with good lifestyle habits, visibly reduce its appearance and smooth the skin, without promising that it will disappear completely.
