Cellulite is a common beauty problem among women. In fact, about 90% of women, fat or thin, have cellulites, and all of them want to get rid of the "cottage cheese skin" around their thighs and buttocks.

However, some women are afraid of going under the knife to get rid of cellulite. Fortunately, there are a number of ways to reduce cellulite without surgery.

Non-surgical ways to reduce cellulite

Keeping fit and healthy is a great way to start. Though there is no cellulite-reduction diet plan, eating healthy foods can improve cellulite-related functions such as lymph flow and blood circulation.

However, in his website http://www.murad.com , Dr. Murad believes that cellulite is caused by free radical damage. He lists a number of foods that he calls "Cellulite Stoppers." He claims that these foods "aid in tissue repair, rebuilds cell walls, helps produce collagen and elastin, smooths tissues, and neutralizes cell damage." The 7 Cellulite Stoppers include:

Lecithin: eggs, soy, cauliflower, peanuts

Glucosamine: taken as supplement

Essential Fatty Acids: fish oil, flaxseed oil, olive oil, seeds and nuts

Essential Amino Acids: eggs, poultry, non-fat dairy, soy

Antioxidants: colorful fruits and vegetables

Anti-inflammatories: fruits, vegetables, soy, olive oil.

B Vitamins and Trace Minerals: whole grains, legumes, dark green vegetables, non-fat dairy.

Regular exercise, on the other hand, can help reduce cellulite. The best exercise for reducing cellulite are cardiovascular exercises such as jogging and swimming. Lungs and squats are also recommended by fitness experts.

Anti-cellulite creams are also endorsed by most cellulite treatment websites. However, these products only work on the surface of the skin. Anti-cellulite creams lift the surface of the skin and smoothen it to reduce the appearance of cellulite. It also take months to see the effect, and only lasts as long as you use the product.

Mesotherapy is another popular treatment for cellulite. Mesotherapy.com refers to this process as a "minimally invasive procedure that is widely used… to treat various injuries and medical conditions." During this procedure, conventional or homeopathic medicines, vitamins, minerals and amino acids are injected directly into the mesoderm (middle layer of skin). According to the website, it takes 10-25 sessions for an average patient to be rid of "all visible cellulite."

Non-invasive skin tightening is another non-surgical procedure used to treat cellulite. It uses unipolar volumetric radiofrequency to tighten skin. Reports say that about 8-14 sessions are needed to see the results.