Use of the Microdialysis Technique to Assess Lipolytic Responsiveness of Femoral Adipose Tissue After 12 Sessions of Mechanical Massage Technique

Background: Adipocytes in femoral areas are known to be metabolically 'silent'. Changes related to fat cell hypertrophy may be involved in the formation of cellulite. A mechanical massage technique, with circulatory and dermotrophic properties, has been shown to have an impact on clinical evaluations (i.e. changes in morphometric measurements) in cellulite areas. Whether this technique affected lipolytic responsiveness in subcutaneous adipose tissue of cellulite areas was not known.

Objective: Using a microdialysis technique in subcutaneous adipose tissue, a study was carried out to test the in situ incidence of a mechanical massage technique in terms of adipose tissue responsiveness to a lipolytic challenge.

Materials And Methods: Nine healthy women volunteers with cellulite (grade > or = 2) were included and treated with 12 sessions of mechanical massage technique (Endermologie). Microdialysis has been carried out in the femoral adipose tissue in order to assess lipolytic responsiveness via glycerol determination following perfusion of a lipolytic agent (0.1, 1 and 10 microm isoproterenol). Clinical evaluations (measurements of waist, thighs and skin fold) were carried out in parallel. All evaluations were performed before and after treatment.

Results: The studied intervention lowered resting dialysate glycerol levels in femoral adipose tissue. The lipid-mobilizing effect of isoproterenol was enhanced after 1 month of treatment. In addition, a clear decrease of morphometric measurements (mean decrease on thighs perimeter: 3.1 to 3.3 cm, P < 0.01) was observed.

Conclusion: These results suggest an increase in the lipolytic responsiveness of femoral adipose tissue in women with cellulite having undergone 12 sessions of mechanical massage.