You can exercise, eat well, have low body fat—and still have cellulite.

This week on Beauty & The Brain, Dr. Chris Croley and Jerry Drinkard, NP tackle one of the most common and frustrating concerns in body aesthetics: cellulite.

They explain why cellulite isn’t simply “fat,” how fibrous bands beneath the skin create dimpling, and why genetics, hormones, skin thickness, body composition, and aging can all influence its appearance. That also explains why cellulite can show up in people who are extremely fit.

Then they get into treatment.

Chris and Jerry discuss why cellulite often responds best to a combination approach rather than a single procedure, including subcision to release tethering bands, collagen biostimulators such as Sculptra or hyperdilute Radiesse, and shockwave therapy to improve the surrounding tissue.

They also talk candidly about what patients should expect: results take time, treatments may require multiple visits, improvement isn’t always permanent, and the goal should be meaningful improvement rather than an unrealistic promise of perfection.

For aesthetic providers, there’s also a practical discussion about designing treatment packages, pricing expensive technology and injectables appropriately, and why recommending the complete treatment protocol is ultimately about achieving better outcomes—not simply selling more treatments.

Whether you’re considering cellulite treatment yourself or you’re a provider trying to build better treatment plans, this episode offers a realistic look at what works, what takes time, and why the right sequence of treatments matters.

Follow Beauty & The Brain so you don’t miss next week’s conversation on beauty, health, confidence, and the science behind aesthetic medicine.