If you’re like most people, you may have one or more areas of the body that you wish were toned or firmer. The sad part is some fat bulges are so stubborn and won’t go away despite regular diet and exercise. Disguising these areas with clothing may be an option, but this isn’t always an ideal and long-term solution.
What is stubborn fat?
Stubborn fat, as its name suggests, refers to the type of fat that is so resistant to being burned even with regular diet and exercise. It is the pinchable fat or subcutaneous fat located under the skin. Stubborn fat can be found in different areas of the body such as the belly, arms, chins, buttocks, and thighs.
In most men, stubborn fat is usually located on the belly, chest, love handles, and chin. While in women, this type of fat is commonly found on the upper arms, under arms (bra bulge), abdomen, and thighs.
What causes stubborn fat?
Body fats have receptors that tell the cells to store or burn fat. Stubborn fat contains a higher density of alpha-2 receptors. These enable fat storage for future use and hinder fat burning. Alpha-2 receptors are beneficial for the times your body needs extra energy, but they are considered the bad guys when it comes to fat burning
A number of other things also contribute to the development of stubborn or subcutaneous fat in the body. These include:
- Genetic factors – Genetics can influence the amount of fat your body carries and where it stores it. It also suggested that apple-shaped physiques are more genetically linked than other types of body.
- Hormone fluctuations – When hormone levels change, your body may find it hard to burn fat away. An increase in estrogen, for instance, prompts the body to store more fats, resulting in the formation of more stubborn fat bulges.
- Poor diet – Your body is likely to retain extra fat with constant consumption of unhealthy foods. These include junk and processed foods, as well as those that are loaded with salt, sugar, and unhealthy fats. The same is also true for alcohol, soda, and other fizzy beverages.
- Irregular eating habits – Mindless snacking or late night meals can make it a bit hard for your body to process what you’ve consumed. These may also cause your body to store and retain excess fat.
- Sedentary lifestyle – Sitting for hours or throughout the day is associated with excess fat, especially around the abdomen. Having a sedentary lifestyle can also mean fewer calories burned or lower metabolism.
Non-invasive fat reduction procedures can help address stubborn fat bulges. These involve safe devices that use either heat or cooling temperatures to target and kill fat cells.
What areas of the body can benefit from non-invasive fat reduction?
Nonsurgical fat reduction procedures involve freezing or melting the fat cells to the point of natural elimination. This then helps in reducing fat layer thickness. Here are the areas that can benefit from non-invasive fat reduction:
- Belly – Excess fat in the belly is one of the most common problem areas for both men and women. It can be due to aging, lack of exercise, consuming more calories than you burn, and other factors. Excess weight in your midsection can increase your risk of certain health conditions.
- Chest – Excess fat in the area is common among men and is also referred to as man boobs or “moobs”. Male breast enlargement can be due to gynecomastia (caused by hormones and use of certain medications) or pseudogynecomastia (caused by excess fat deposits).
- Love handles – These refer to the excess fat deposit at the sides of the waistline. Love handles are located around the abdominal area, waist, and hips. They affect both men and women and are one of the hardest areas in the body to lose fat.
- Muffin top – This is the term used to describe the overhanging or bulging fat that spills over the waistline of pants or skirts. Love handles on the sides of the stomach often lead to the appearance of a muffin top.
- Saddlebags (Thighs) – This is the term used to describe extra fat stored on your thighs. Saddlebags are a common problem among women and make it difficult to fit into a pair of jeans.
- Arms or upper arms – Flabby arms can sometimes make you feel conscious about your upper body. They don’t respond well to diet and exercise, but non-invasive fat reduction can help reduce their fat layer thickness.
- Other smaller areas – These include the chin, knee, and bra or underarm fat. Certain fat reduction devices have specialized handpieces that can target smaller areas of fat.
How can we help?
Do certain fat bulges in the body bother you? We, at Cutis Laser Clinics, provide a number of non-invasive fat reduction procedures that can reduce fat layer thickness. Whether you’re worried about your belly pooch, love handles, arm fat, or double chin, we can help.
Your individualized treatment plan, depending on various factors such as your acceptable social downtime, your expected time frame and budget, will be explained in detail during your consultation with our Harvard trained Medical Director, Dr. Sylvia Ramirez.