Can Cupping Reduce Cellulite? Here's What the Experts Say

Most of us have cellulite, and we've all been fooled into despising it by gimmicky workout routines and diets that promise to banish it. But having cellulite is totally normal, beautiful even. That being said, just as you're allowed to love your form the way it is, you're also free to want to change it

When it comes to cellulite treatments, creams don't always work, and lasers can be painful and expensive. However, a holistic treatment called cupping could actually help diminish the dimpled texture of cellulite (and provide some relaxation in the process). Ahead, doctor of East Asian acupuncture Gudrun Snyder and alternative medicine guru Robert Youngs explain how cupping could impact cellulite.

What Is Cupping?

Cupping is a practice dating back as early as 3000 BCE throughout Asia and Europe. According to Snyder, it is a tool that acupuncturists can use in the treatment of various health and wellness concerns, from pain relief to relaxation. "We use suction to bring blood and energy, qi, as it's called in traditional Chinese medicine, to the area," says acupuncturist Robert Youngs. "It's meant to break up stagnation and move your blood, increase circulation and lymphatic drainage, and resolve issues that are sometimes deep in the fascia and muscle layers."

How Does Cupping Work?

"The suction in cupping brings red blood cells to the area, which can often cause bruising because the red blood cells stay in the area to continue healing—much like if you had an injury from falling down," Youngs notes. Cupping is proven to increase red blood cells. Essentially, the idea is your practitioner is artificially bringing those red blood cells to an area using suction, and if there is something that needs to be healed deep within the muscle layer, the bruising will stay there to heal it.

"I think of the cupping marks as somewhat diagnostic," says Youngs. "You can use the same pressure on both sides of the body, and sometimes you'll have a much darker mark in certain spots than others. Therefore, those areas are ones that need healing," he says. While Snyder agrees that cupping can improve blood flow, stimulate lymphatic drainage, and break down fat cells, she explains that there is very limited research on cupping for cellulite specifically, and most studies conducted have only produced mixed results.

Does Cupping Improve Cellulite?

"In traditional Chinese medicine, they see ailments as caused by a stagnation or blockage of energy flow, and cellulite is no different," explains Youngs. "Specifically, cellulite can be a result of poor blood circulation, lymphatic issues (where it is not draining as well as it should), fluid retention, and hormonal imbalances." He says cupping moves your blood, increases circulation, and reduces the buildup of fluid, so it's pretty much perfect for helping to reduce the look of cellulite. "The suction of the cups also breaks up the cellulite and changes the texture of your skin with repeated use," Youngs claims. Even better, it can be used in very specific areas on the body—your butt, thighs, and the like. It's hard for a diet to target certain body parts, but cupping might.

"Some small studies have shown a temporary improvement in the appearance of cellulite after cupping therapy, but these effects may be due to temporary changes in skin appearance caused by the suction," notes Snyder. "The actual reduction of cellulite itself has not been consistently demonstrated. It's important to note that cellulite is a complex condition influenced by multiple factors, as mentioned earlier. While cupping might provide some temporary improvements in skin appearance, it is unlikely to provide a long-term solution for cellulite."

Different Types of Cupping for Cellulite

"We like to use a combination of cupping and Chinese herbs, both internally and topically for cellulite treatment. You can choose to do either stationary cupping or running cupping," says Youngs. With running cupping, he explains, the cups move across your skin while suctioned, using oil to create slip. However, Youngs notes that stationary cupping is used more often, as moving the cups can create discomfort. In the first session, cups are left on the skin for approximately five to 10 minutes, building up the duration to up to 20 minutes as the person acclimates to the treatment. "You can expect changes within two to four visits with six to eight treatments," says Youngs.

How to Correctly Use Cupping for Cellulite

1. Apply body oil or cream to the area you would like treated. This will aid in facilitating the movement of the cups.
2. Place the cup on the treatment area, squeeze, and release.
3. Glide the cup using circular or back-and-forth motions.
4. Continue for 15 minutes and repeat three times per week, eventually working your way up to daily ten-minute sessions.

How to Treat Bruises After Cupping

"If you see a licensed acupuncturist who is trained in cupping therapy, you should not be 'bruised,'" says Snyder. "Instead, there may be marks due to underlying health imbalances that have a similar appearance to bruises. You can take oral arnica or put topical arnica on the site." Her personal recommendation is to apply Vertly’s Body Lotion "for soothing sore, bruised, or any area that needs a little attention."

Youngs likes to use a topical herbal formula. It's a blend commonly used in mixed martial arts to speed the healing of bruising and injuries. "Another important aspect of herbs is they can help to treat some of the root issues that cause cellulite in the first place, like hormonal [influences]," Youngs says. "Women's Harmony is an herbal formula that includes Dang Gui, a well-known Chinese herb that is adaptogenic, contains phytoestrogen, and will help balance hormones. Irregular periods and painful periods can often accompany cellulite (if it is due to a hormonal influence), and we like to treat it with an herbal supplement combined with acupuncture, rather than just use one treatment." It's the combination that helps your entire body, he notes.

The Final Takeaway

"It's important to note that the effectiveness of cellulite treatments can vary, and none of them provide permanent results," says Snyder. "Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including regular exercise, a balanced diet, and staying hydrated, can help improve overall skin health and reduce the appearance of cellulite." But, for those looking for a slight, if temporary, improvement in skin texture, cupping is worth a try. Even if results are minor or mixed, it can deliver a myriad of health benefits, from pain relief and increased circulation to improved lymphatic drainage and general relaxation.