For the past week or so, I’ve been cupping my thighs to reduce the appearance of cellulite. You may have heard of cupping. It’s a technique that’s been around for thousands of years and is thought to have originated in ancient Chinese, Egyptian and Middle Eastern cultures. It is traditionally used to alleviate pain and inflammation and hasten recovery from injury. Cupping enthusiasts, who include members of the NFL, a slew of celebrities and fans of alternative medicine, believe that cupping increases blood flow and relaxation. It is now also thought to aid in the reduction of cellulite.
The cups I’m using are soft, made of silicone, and are cheekily called Cheeky Cups from a company called Cheeky Physique, (because cellulite is often found on the butt). Cute!
Time out for a moment of self-doubt …
I received complimentary Cheeky Cups in exchange for my honest review, which you are reading right now. I was excited to receive Cheeky Cups and start using them. Contrary to my husband’s opinions of my thighs – “you don’t have cellulite” – I’ve disliked them since I was a skinny girl in my 20s. I’ve tried exercise, scrubs, lotions, coffee-laced soaps, brushes, you name it, to make them appear smoother. As I’ve aged, they’ve gotten, well, I’m not here to disparage myself. And so, here’s my conundrum, the self-doubt part of this post: Cellulite, although not unique to women, occurs on approximately 80 to 90 percent of women, according to MedicalNewsToday.com. Some estimates say that as many as 98 percent of women will have cellulite at some point in their lives. It tends to get worse after menopause.
Given the fact that the vast majority of women have or will get cellulite in their lifetime, I had misgivings about writing this article. Instead of trying to reduce cellulite, why not accept it and, in fact, embrace it, since it’s a part of most women’s bodies? But, truthfully, I’m not happy with my cellulite and if I could reduce its appearance, I would. Plus, the number of articles about cellulite reduction; the number of treatments that reduce cellulite, including laser therapy, Endermologie, and acoustic wave therapy; and the number of women I know who complain about their cellulite made me think that this post – and Cheeky Cups, in particular – are worth writing about.
So what exactly is cellulite, what causes it, and how can you get rid of it? Hm, there’s no simple answer to these questions. Cellulite is the appearance of dimpled skin and most often appears on the thighs, butt, stomach and upper arms. The exact cause of cellulite is not known, but many experts say it’s fat found just below the surface of the skin that bulges out through a web of connective tissue. Causes include heredity, smoking, age, nutrition, and fitness (although experts say you cannot exercise cellulite away. In fact, it’s also been termed the “skinny woman’s fat.”)
Enter Cheeky Cups. Made of soft silicone, Cheeky Cups, according to the company’s literature, “invigorate and tone skin for a firmer look, help reduce the appearance of cellulite, and refine body contours for a sleeker look” through the use of gently applied suction that massages the area. “The deep tissue ‘reverse massage’ detoxifies dimples, helps smooth and firm the skin, and visibly reduces the appearance of cellulite.” (I’m all in!)
Cheeky Cups are simple to use. After applying lotion to reduce friction and make the Cheeky Cups easier to manipulate on the part of the body being cupped, you place a Cheeky Cup on your body, squeeze it gently to create suction and then you move it around in a circular motion for a couple of minutes. You control the suction. Squeeze the Cheeky Cup a lot for more suction; squeeze it gently for less suction. I could feel the Cheeky Cups doing something. There was no pain and, because I’d frequently lose the suction, I made it stronger. Yowza! That hurt and the Cheeky Cups pulled my skin. I learned that there’s a Goldilocks learning curve to using Cheeky Cups correctly and I found the perfect level of suction after a few tries. They didn’t hurt to use and I was able to smoothly move them around my thighs.
Nope. I did not take pictures, but, after about a week or so of using Cheeky Cups, I did ask my husband if he noticed anything different and he told me that I did not have cellulite. (And that’s why we’re happily married these many years.) When I pressed him though, he said my thighs looked smoother.
The effect is cumulative and so I will continue to use Cheeky Cups. It takes a couple of minutes on each body part and, unless you go overboard with the suction (DON’T!) there’s no pain. The company states that the massage should never feel painful. If you experience pain, you’re using Cheeky Cups incorrectly. I also did not experience any bruising, although the company warms that using too much suction may result in bruising. Now’s the time to tell you about contraindications. Cheeky Cups’ literature states that if you have a medical condition, consult your physician before using them. Don’t use them if you’re pregnant, have a bleeding disorder, and broken or irritated skin. Use Cheeky Cups only on the legs, buttocks, arms and stomach. Do not use them on varicose veins.
I haven’t given Cheeky Cups a long enough trial to see if they decrease the appearance of my cellulite. But I am going to continue to use them. Cupping has been around for thousands of years. Who am I to quibble with longevity?
Visit the Cheeky Physique website to learn more about the process, to read reviews, and to purchase. Or you can get them here:
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