Do certain fat bulges in the body bother you? Do you need help boosting your fitness efforts or sculpting areas that won’t budge down despite regular diet and exercise? Do you want to stop disguising these trouble zones or have more freedom and confidence in wearing whatever clothing styles you want?
Sanctuary by Cutis offers a number of non-invasive fat reduction and body contouring 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.
What is stubborn fat?
Stubborn fat is the pinchable fat or subcutaneous fat located under the skin. It is resistant to being burned despite regular diet and exercise, and can be found different in areas of the body such as the:
- Abdomen/Belly
- Arms
- Chins
- Buttocks
- Thighs
For 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, underarms (bra bulge), abdomen, and thighs.
What causes stubborn fat?
Body fat has receptors that signal cells to either store or burn fat. Stubborn fat has a greater concentration of alpha-2 receptors, which promote fat storage for later use and impede fat burning. While these receptors can be helpful when your body requires additional energy, they are often seen as obstacles in the fat-burning process.
Several other factors also play a role in the accumulation of stubborn or subcutaneous fat in the body. These include:
- Genetic factors – can influence the amount of fat your body carries and where it is stored. Studies suggest that apple-shaped physiques are more genetically linked than other types of body.
- Hormone fluctuations – an increase in estrogen, for example, prompts the body to store more fats, resulting in the formation of stubborn fat bulges.
- Poor diet – regular consumption of unhealthy or processed foods and beverages can lead to weight gain and excess fat. This can also hinder all your fitness efforts.
- Irregular eating habits – late-night meals or mindless snacking can cause your body to store and retain excess fat.
- Sedentary lifestyle – prolonged sitting is associated with excess fat, especially around the abdomen. Sitting for too long also means fewer calories burned.
What areas of the body can benefit from body contouring?
Nonsurgical body contouring involves freezing or melting the fat cells (to the point of natural elimination), reducing the area’s fat layer thickness. Common areas that can benefit from non-invasive fat reduction and body contouring procedures include:
- Belly – excess fat in the area 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, such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
- Arms or upper arms – can sometimes make you feel conscious about your upper body. They don’t usually respond well to diet and exercise, but non-invasive fat reduction can help reduce their fat layer thickness.
- Chest – in men, excess fat in the chest area is referred to as man boobs or “moobs”. Male breast enlargement can be due to pseudogynecomastia, caused by excess fat deposits or gynecomastia, caused by hormones and certain medications.
- Love handles – are the fat deposits at the sides of the waistline, commonly located around the abdominal area, waist, and hips. They affect both men and women and are one of the most stubborn areas to lose fat.
- Muffin top – refers to overhanging or bulging fat that spills over the waistline of pants or skirts. Love handles often lead to the appearance of a muffin top.
- Saddlebags (Thighs) – is the term used to describe extra fat on the thighs. Saddlebags are a common problem among women and make it hard to fit into a pair of pants or jeans.
- Other smaller areas – 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?
If you are looking to target stubborn fat in the belly, hips, and thighs without surgery, you can supplement your fitness efforts with non-invasive fat reduction procedures. Suitable candidates include those with small pockets of fat in certain areas or mild laxity due to minimal weight loss or pregnancy.