THE NAKED TRUTH ABOUT BEACH BODIES

LESLEY REYNOLDS, AKA THE QUEEN OF HARLEY STREET, SHARES A CANDID INSIGHT INTO HER CLINIC’S SUMMER MAKEOVERS

It may be dragging its heels but summer is finally in the air, with the promise of warm days and beach holidays. And while jetting off sounds like heaven, our bodies may not be ready to bare all.

A survey at my clinic revealed that over half of us feel worried about being seen in our swimwear, with thighs, tummies and bottoms being the top areas of concern.

Even the fittest people can feel selfconscious. One patient, a 30-something gym instructor, came to see me last week about her cellulite. "I eat well, exercise daily, scrub and rub and I've still got mattress thighs," she moaned.

She's not alone. About 90% of British women over 18 have cellulite, so if you have it, look on the bright side: you're perfectly normal. Cellulite has spawned an estimated £20 million industry to help cure it, but the truth is there is no magic bullet to make it totally disappear permanently.

My patient came in initially to enquire about liposuction, hoping it was the answer to her cellulite. Unfortunately, lipo does not touch the fibrous bands that are components of cellulite, and can even make the condition worse.