Could a patch cure cellulite?

When Jerry Hall was pictured recently revealing cellulite thighs, most women grimaced in sympathy. Almost 95 per cent of us suffer from this 'orange peel' effect on our legs and arms - and everyone knows how hard it is to shift.

Though general medical opinion suggests nothing short of exercise and a rigid diet can make a difference, a revolutionary new product promises to get rid of cellulite in 15 days. It is called Patch Contour and consists of tiny transparent patches to stick on the affected areas. But is it effective?

Here, we explain how the patch claims to work, while Femail challenged three women to try it.

What is cellulite?

Cellulite is normal fat which has taken on a different appearance. Women have larger fat pockets than men and weaker connective tissues below the surface of the skin, which allow the fat to swell into unsightly lumps. In addition, this tissue loses its strength and elasticity with age, which is why cellulite becomes more common in those over 40.

How the patches work

Many traditional cellulite treatments include seaweed extracts which are rich in vitamins and minerals and have moisturising properties said to help disperse fatty deposits and smooth out the 'cottage cheese' areas.

Certain proteins found in the seaweed also have a composition which appears to help tone the skin. It is also claimed that fat gets locked in the body and that trace elements in the seaweed help to break it down.

Patch Contour, which has been on sale in Britain for the past two months, contains Rhodysterol and bladderwrack, both rare 'red algae' derivatives. The patches work on the same basis as slow-release trans-dermal ones, such as nicotine patches.

The ingredients penetrate the dermis in a much more concentrated form than creams, so one tiny patch stimulates an area of up to 8cm as it spreads under the skin.

The ingredients are claimed to speed up the metabolic rate in the area covered by the patch and are released slowly, over 24 hours, into the deep layers of skin, breaking down the fatty deposits.

The 11/2cm transparent patches (four on each side of the body) are made by a Spanish company, Germaine de Capuccini, which claims that in the product's first month on sale there this year, it sold 80,000 courses.

It costs £59 for a 15-day course, which is the minimum period the makers claim you need to get a result - if the cellulite is particularly severe, two courses are recommended

At the end of the course, there is no need to continue with the patches unless you want to. Sticking to a healthy diet, limiting alcohol and caffeine, stopping smoking and drinking two litres of water a day should be enough to keep the affected area looking smooth.

It is also important to take as much exercise as possible. But if these measures fail and the cellulite reappears, another course can be used when required.

Nikki Reid is a 38-year-old housewife. She is married to Adam, a sales director. They live in Chester with their children Natasha, seven, and Marcus, four. Nikki says:

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I developed cellulite in my late 20s, which I thought was a cruel twist of fate. At first I could see only a slight change in the skin on my thighs, but after my first pregnancy it got much worse.

By the time I'd had Marcus, I was 3st overweight and the dimples looked like pockets of fat. For the past six months, I have been going to the gym three times a week to tone things up.

I have been on a sensible diet, and drink lots of water, and I have lost weight - though at 5ft 8in and 11st 4lb I'm still a stone too heavy - but nothing made any difference to the cellulite.

I wanted to be positive about the patches, but I couldn't believe they would work. It took a good ten days before I could see any difference, but then my skin did look smoother - particularly my legs. Even in the worst areas the appearance of the dimples was much more regular.

My cellulite has not gone completely, but my skin looks so much better that I will carry on with the patches. My thighs certainly feel firmer.

Connie Peters is a 40-year-old accountant. She is married to John, general manager of a drinks company, and they live in Staines, Middlesex, with their children Joanne, 17, and Jonathan, 14. Connie says:

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I hadn't noticed any cellulite until about five years ago. It must have crept up gradually and it was not until I was saw some holiday photographs that I noticed dimples on the tops of my thighs and above my knees. Over the

next few years, the dimples became worse and although I went to the gym a couple of times a week, this had no effect on them.

I'm 5ft 9in and 10st 7lb, which is about right for me, so I didn't feel overweight. And I'd played badminton several times a week for many years and thought that would have helped - or even prevented it in the first place.

As far as my eating habits went, I can't say I've ever tried to detox, but I have always had a balanced diet. I don't smoke and drink red wine only occasionally - I don't even like coffee particularly - so I couldn't see why I should have developed it.

When I was asked if I would like to try these patches, I was sceptical. They seemed so small - like tiny strips of sticky tape - that I could not see why or how they might work.

But I decided to give them a go because it seemed easy enough. I didn't have to do anything except stick them on to my thighs and buttocks once a day and change them after 24 hours.

At first, I was not impressed, but by day six the skin on my thighs was noticeably smoother. From then on, I saw a daily improvement.

The whole process could not have been easier. My cellulite has not disappeared completely - but I did only one 15-day course, and will certainly start using them again.

I haven't lost any inches, but the dimpled area looks much better and more toned. I think it can only continue to improve.

Lorraine Cooper is a 41-year-old secretary. She is married to Nigel, 42, a site manager at a school. They live in Egham, Surrey, with their two sons Daniel, 18, and Ross, 16. Lorraine says:

About six years ago, I was trying on some summer clothes and noticed patches of lumpy orange peel at the backs of my thighs.

I was annoyed that not only had I put on weight - about 2st - after having the children, but now I had cellulite, too. I hated the sight of my thighs and decided to avoid looking at them, though Nigel didn't seem to care about it.

After a few months I decided that if I made a real effort to do something about the extra flab, then the cellulite would disappear, too. I went to the gym three times a week, working on my legs to try to tone them, cycled as much as I could and tried the Hip And Thigh Diet.

Over 18 months I managed to lose almost all the extra weight - I'm 5ft 6in and a size 14 - yet the horrible dimples remained.

When it was time to go on holiday and strip off on the beach I really lost a lot of confidence and hated looking in the mirror.

I didn't have much faith in the patches. Looking at the little transparent strips, it seemed to be just another gimmick. I applied them every morning after my shower and then forgot about them until the following day. They didn't itch, but if they became wrinkled they did feel a bit uncomfortable.

I noticed a difference within a week - although because I would not look in the mirror, I could only tell that my skin was smoother by feeling it.

I was tempted to have a good look, but decided to leave that until I had completed the 15-day course. I was amazed: they really did look better. The dimples had not gone completely, but there was a big change in the texture of the skin.

For more information, tel: 01784 259988, or log on to www.germaine-de-capuccini.com

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