ACUPUNCTURE LIPOLYTIC • SLIMMING • VACUUM THERAPY • FIRMING MASSAGE • DIET PLAN
Eliminate Cellulite
and Localized Fat
Non-invasive method, 100% natural, and respecting your body's rhythm!
Lipolytic Acupuncture · Integrative Aesthetics · Lisbon
Cellulite and Localised Fat
100% natural, non-invasive and personalised treatment — working from the inside out.
Recognised by
WHO · Integrative Medicine
Certified
ACSS · ERS No. 39558
Location
Marquês de Pombal, Lisbon
Understanding
What Is Cellulite, Really?
Cellulite — clinically known as oedematous-fibrous-sclerotic panniculopathy — is not simply excess fat. It is an alteration of the subcutaneous tissue architecture: adipocytes (fat cells) become hypertrophied, lymphatic and blood circulation becomes compromised, nodules of fat, water and toxins form, and collagen fibres harden — creating the characteristic “orange peel” appearance.
Science confirms what clinical experience already knows: 80 to 98% of post-pubertal women have cellulite, regardless of weight, fitness level or diet. It is not a matter of discipline — it is a multifactorial condition with hormonal, circulatory, inflammatory and connective tissue components that requires a correspondingly multidimensional approach.
Grade I
Initial
Visible only when pressing the skin. Palpation reveals increased consistency. Ideal stage for preventive intervention.
Grade II
Moderate
Visible standing when pressing the skin. More elastic consistency on palpation. Good response to integrative treatment.
Grade III
Advanced
Visible lying down and standing. Hard palpation, may be painful. Requires a more intensive and sustained protocol.
Article
Dr. Fernando
Fernandes
“Fighting Cellulite through Chinese Medicine”
Revista Zen Energy · Read the full article →
The TCM Difference
Why Is Chinese Medicine Effective in Treating Cellulite?
Traditional Chinese Medicine — a medical system recognised by the World Health Organisation — has a simultaneously global and localised approach: it treats the internal imbalances underlying cellulite and acts directly on the affected areas with precise physical techniques. It is this dual action that distinguishes it from any purely cosmetic solution or isolated diet.
Global Action — Systemic
Rebalancing of the endocrine and hormonal system
Improved blood and lymphatic circulation
Reduction of anxiety, stress and cortisol
Regulation of appetite and metabolism
Promotion of restorative sleep
Release of endorphins and serotonin
Local Action — Target Areas
Direct lipolytic effect on adipocytes
Activation of the local lymphatic system
Elimination of toxins and fluid retention
Stimulation of muscle fibres and collagen
Combats sagging and orange peel appearance
Harmonious redefinition of body contour
The Protocol
The Techniques — A Layered Approach
At Five Clinic, cellulite and localised fat treatment combines several techniques synergistically, personalised to the degree of cellulite, the areas to be treated and each person’s energetic constitution. Each session is built in layers — from deep to superficial action — for more complete and lasting results.
Phase 1 · Deep Action
Systemic Acupuncture + Local Lipolytic Acupuncture
The session begins with systemic acupuncture — body points that globally rebalance the organism, improve circulation, regulate metabolism and reduce stress. This is followed by local lipolytic acupuncture: specific, larger-gauge needles inserted directly into the treatment areas (thighs, buttocks, abdomen, knees) with precise stimulation frequency. This electroacupuncture triggers lipolysis — the breakdown of fat cells — and activates local lymphatic circulation, initiating the natural drainage of toxins and mobilised fat.
Phase 2 · Drainage and Contouring
Cupping / Vacuum Therapy + Drainage and Contouring Massage
Immediately after acupuncture, we apply cupping or vacuum therapy to the treated areas — a technique that creates suction on the skin, dramatically increasing local circulation, destabilising fat nodules and activating the lymphatic system. Scientifically, mechanical massage has demonstrated a 23% increase in lipolytic responsiveness of femoral adipose tissue after 12 sessions. The drainage and contouring massage complements this process, eliminating fluid retention, firming the tissues and sculpting the body contour.
Phase 3 · Enhancement (Optional)
Seaweed Wraps and Active Ingredients
Where indicated, the protocol can be enhanced with marine seaweed wraps and other natural active ingredients — such as caffeine, retinol or Centella asiatica extracts — with lipolytic, antioxidant and endogenous collagen-stimulating effects. Applied after the massage phase, when local circulation is maximally activated, the absorption and efficacy of these actives is significantly potentiated.
Phase 4 · Sustainability
Chinese Dietary Plan and Yang Sheng Guidance
No result is sustainable without addressing lifestyle. We develop a personalised Chinese dietary plan — adapted to energetic constitution, life stage and the imbalance patterns identified at diagnosis — and provide practical Yang Sheng guidance: anti-inflammatory nutrition, appropriate movement, sleep quality and stress management. These habits consolidate and prolong the results achieved in sessions.
Scientific Evidence
What Science Confirms
Mechanical Massage · Lipolysis
A study published in the International Journal of Dermatology demonstrated that mechanical massage (vacuum technique) increases lipolytic responsiveness of femoral adipose tissue by 23% after 12 sessions, with an average reduction of 3.1 to 3.3 cm in thigh circumference.
Source: Int J Dermatol · LPG Endermologie Study
Prevalence · Global Data
A systematic review published in Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (2025) with 24 RCTs and 2,084 patients confirms that no single treatment is definitively effective — the best results come from combined and multimodal approaches, exactly the philosophy of Five Clinic.
Source: Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 2025 · DOI: 10.1007/s00266-024-04365-8
Active Ingredients · Collagen
A 2026 review published in Cosmetics (MDPI) confirmed that formulations with caffeine, retinol and Centella asiatica extracts act through lipolysis, improved microcirculation and collagen production stimulation — with enhanced efficacy when applied after circulatory activation.
Source: Cosmetics, MDPI 2026 · DOI: 10.3390/cosmetics13010035
Acupuncture · Inflammation
A randomised clinical trial published on PubMed (2025) demonstrated that acupuncture significantly reduces inflammatory markers (CRP) and improves tissue condition — confirming its role in treating inflammatory conditions of the subcutaneous tissue.
Source: PubMed, 2025 · DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000040170650
Yang Sheng · Nourishing Life
Yang Sheng Tips to Support the Treatment
What you do between sessions is just as important as the sessions themselves. These daily practices create the internal environment favourable to treatment — improving circulation, reducing retention and supporting the lipolysis process initiated in sessions.
💧 Regular warm hydration
Warm water throughout the day — not cold — activates Spleen and Kidney Qi, promotes lymphatic drainage and facilitates elimination of toxins mobilised by treatment.
🚶 Daily walks
30 minutes of walking activates pelvic and lymphatic circulation in the most cellulite-affected areas — thighs and buttocks. More effective than intense training that raises cortisol.
🥗 Anti-inflammatory foods
Reducing refined sugar, salt and processed foods decreases fluid retention. Centella asiatica, berries and ginger have proven connective tissue support properties.
😴 Sleep before 11pm
Deep sleep is when the body regenerates tissues and eliminates metabolic waste. Late nights keep cortisol elevated — one of the factors that promotes fat accumulation and inflammation.
🛂 Alternating hot/cold shower
Finishing your shower with 30 seconds of cold water on the treatment areas activates local microcirculation and has a toning effect on the tissue. Simple, free and with a cumulative effect.
🧦 Self-massage with dry oil
5 minutes of self-massage with almond or argan oil on the treated areas, with upward movements towards the heart, prolongs the draining effect of sessions and improves skin texture.
Free Guide
Yang Sheng — 12 Practices to Nourish Life
Receive our free guide with ancestral practices validated by science — to transform your daily routine and create the ideal internal environment for lasting results.
Five Clinic · Chinese Medicine Lisbon
Who It Is For
Is This Approach Right for You?
Persistent cellulite
You have tried creams, diets and exercise without visible results. Cellulite requires action on its internal mechanisms — not just topical treatment.
Localised fat
Stubborn accumulation areas — abdomen, thighs, flanks — that do not respond to exercise or diet alone.
Fluid retention
Heavy legs, swelling and puffiness — signs of lymphatic dysfunction that acupuncture and vacuum therapy address directly.
Skin sagging
Loss of firmness and skin tone after weight loss, pregnancy or ageing. The protocol stimulates endogenous collagen production.
Post-partum / Menopause
Life stages of intense hormonal change that worsen cellulite and localised fat. The integrative approach takes these specific contexts into account.
Preparing for an event
An intensive protocol of 6-8 sessions produces visible and lasting results in circumference reduction, skin texture and body contour definition.
Method
The Five Clinic Approach
At Five Clinic, every protocol is built from the Chinese Medicine diagnosis — identifying the specific energetic patterns underlying each person’s cellulite and localised fat. There is no standard protocol: there is a plan designed for you, for your constitution, life stage and goals.
We work with respect for the body’s rhythm — without invasive procedures, without chemical substances, without side effects. The result is a harmonious redefinition of body contour that starts from within.
The programme is coordinated by Dr. Fernando Fernandes, Clinical Director — Chinese Medicine Professional Licence No. C-006569 and Acupuncture Professional Licence No. C-0500378 (ACSS). Clinic registered with ERS under number 39558/E166752. Avenida Duque de Loulé No. 47, 3rd Floor Right, 1050-086 Lisbon.
Next Step
We Invite You to Discover Your Protocol
The first consultation lasts approximately 45 to 60 minutes and includes a full Chinese Medicine diagnosis, assessment of the areas to be treated and a personalised integrative plan.
Our Brands
About Us
Specialist clinic in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture, located in the heart of Lisbon. Since 2012, we have offered personalised treatments with certified professionals.
ERS Registration
No. 39558/E166752
Follow us
Useful Links
Contacts
📍 Address
Avenida Duque de Loulé, 47
3rd Floor, Right
1050-086 Lisbon · Portugal
✉️ Email
[email protected]🌐 Website
www.fiveclinic.pt/enOpening Hours
Monday to Friday:
10:00 — 13:00
14:00 — 19:00
Saturday:
09:00 — 13:00
Newsletter
National & International Associations
📋 Professional Credentials
Company
FIVE CLINIC by FIVEDIRECTIONS
HEALTH & WELLNESS LDA
VAT No.: 513248889
Clinical Director
Dr. Fernando Fernandes
Chinese Medicine Licence: C-006569
Acupuncture Licence: C-0500378
(Issued by ACSS)
ERS Registration: 39558/E166752 | All practitioners hold ACSS professional licences
