Cellulite on the Butt: What Actually Works (and What's a Marketing Lie)

Updated September 2026

Can you get rid of cellulite on your butt? Not completely, and no cream or scrub will do it. Cellulite is the dimpling you see when fibrous bands that connect skin to muscle pull down while fat underneath pushes up, and 80% to 90% of women who've gone through puberty have it. The options with the best evidence for making it look less noticeable are in-office procedures such as subcision (Cellfina), laser (Cellulaze) and acoustic wave therapy, and building muscle can help it look flatter.

Quick honest disclaimer: we sell a butt scrub. It will not change cellulite. Nothing topical gets rid of it. Here's what does and doesn't help, and how to think about it.

What is cellulite, really?

Cellulite isn't a skin problem in the way acne or dryness is. According to Cleveland Clinic, it forms when the fibrous bands connecting your skin to the muscle below tighten unevenly, so the fat beneath the skin bulges up between them. That's the "orange peel" or "cottage cheese" look.

Why it shows up on some bodies more than others:

1. Connective tissue pattern. In women these bands tend to run in the same direction, parallel to each other; in men they crisscross. That's a big part of why fewer than 10% of men have cellulite.
2. Hormones. Estrogen may play a role, which is why cellulite often shows up during puberty or pregnancy.
3. Skin thickness. Thinner skin shows what's underneath more easily.

Most women, including very fit women, have it. It isn't a sign you did something wrong.

Which cellulite treatments actually work?

The American Academy of Dermatology has reviewed the main options. Here's the short version:

Subcision and laser

Both are FDA-cleared procedures that go after the bands causing the dimples. They're best for distinct, defined dimples and are done by a dermatologist or plastic surgeon. They're cosmetic, so expect to pay out of pocket.

Acoustic wave therapy and radiofrequency

Noninvasive and no downtime, but you'll need multiple sessions, and radiofrequency results fade.

Building muscle

Cleveland Clinic notes that regular exercise increases muscle mass, which flattens cellulite, and that results typically take at least two to three months. It won't erase cellulite, but squats, hip thrusts, glute bridges and deadlifts are good for you regardless.

What doesn't work (despite the marketing)?

• Creams that promise to eliminate cellulite. No topical product changes the band-and-fat structure underneath.
• Dry brushing, massage tools and cupping as a cure. They might feel nice. Any smoothing is temporary.
• Body wraps and "detox" treatments. You lose water, then it comes back.
• Fat freezing for cellulite. The AAD says it can't get rid of it.

Does a butt scrub help cellulite?

No. A scrub works on the surface of your skin; cellulite lives underneath it. What an exfoliating scrub like Becky Booty Scrub can do is make the skin itself feel smoother and softer and look more even. That's nice, and it's a separate thing from dimpling.

What Becky does:

• Exfoliates rough, dry surface skin
• Leaves skin feeling smoother and softer
• Helps skin look smoother and more even

What Becky doesn't do:

• Change the connective tissue bands
• Reduce fat
• Get rid of cellulite

If soft, smooth skin is what you're after, our how to make your butt soft guide covers that routine. Just don't expect it to touch cellulite.

Should you even worry about cellulite?

You almost certainly think yours is more visible than anyone else does. Bathroom lighting is harsher than a beach, a bedroom or anywhere else people actually see you. And nobody else is examining your butt under a ceiling light over their shoulder.

If you want to treat it, the in-office options above are real. But if you've spent years on "miracle creams" that didn't work, they aren't going to start. Spend that money on something with evidence behind it, or on something that doesn't make you feel bad about a body feature most women share.

FAQ

Why did my cellulite get worse?

Aging thins skin, which shows more of what's underneath. Weight changes can make existing cellulite more visible, and pregnancy shifts hormones and fat distribution. Our postpartum butt skin guide covers what else changes after a baby. None of this means you did anything wrong.

Do men get cellulite?

Rarely. Cleveland Clinic puts it at fewer than 10% of men, largely because their connective tissue crisscrosses.

Is cellulite a sign of poor health?

No. Lean, fit, athletic women have cellulite. It's about structure, not fitness.

Will losing weight get rid of cellulite?

Not reliably. It can make cellulite look less obvious for some people and more obvious for others, especially after rapid weight loss. If you're losing weight quickly on a GLP-1 medication, see our guide to GLP-1 body skin changes.

Is cellulite the same as stretch marks?

No. Stretch marks are scars in the skin; cellulite is dimpling from beneath it. See stretch marks on the butt.

Does Becky help with cellulite?

No. It exfoliates and leaves skin feeling smoother and softer, but it doesn't change cellulite.

The bottom line

Cellulite is structural, and it's normal. No cream or scrub gets rid of it. The best-supported options are in-office procedures like subcision, laser and acoustic wave therapy, plus building muscle. A scrub can make your skin feel smoother. It won't change the dimples, and we're not going to pretend otherwise.