Everyone struggling with stubborn fat has heard it: “Move more, eat less, and the fat will practically melt off!” The people giving this advice generally mean well. Maybe they’ve used diet and exercise to lose weight themselves. But if you’ve already spent months in the gym and cleaned up your diet, this suggestion falls flat. It might even feel rude or tone-deaf!
You’re not crazy. And you’re not lazy. There are reasons why certain pockets of stubborn fat don’t respond to diet and exercise, and those reasons have nothing to do with your motivation or worth. But you don’t have to just live with unwanted fat forever, either. Body sculpting procedures, both surgical and non-surgical, can eliminate fat that exercise won’t touch. As a result, you’ll not only be trimmer, but also more comfortable and confident in your own body.
Why Is Some Fat So Stubborn?
The fact that your fat won’t budge has to do more with biology than psychology. Society and the media sometimes frame people as “lazy” or “indulgent” if they can’t lose fat. But the truth is, losing certain pockets of fat is like fighting an uphill battle against your own body. You’ve already been fighting that battle for months or even years, which makes you anything but lazy!
There are several related biological factors that can make fat loss more difficult:
Genetics
Did you know that more than 244 genes have been found to affect body weight in mice? While we don’t know the exact number of genes that affect body weight in humans, we do know that a person’s genes play a major role in determining how and where they tend to hold fat.
Some people, for example, are genetically prone to holding more fat around their hips or thighs. Others’ genes cause them to hold fat around their abdomen or buttocks. Some people’s genetics cause their bodies to stubbornly hold onto fat, while other people’s genetics predispose them to staying lean. Even if you spend all day on the treadmill, you can’t change your genes.
Hormone Levels
Hormones regulate nearly every function in your body, from how much you eat to how much fat your individual fat cells store. High levels of cortisol, a hormone released when you feel stressed, can cause the body to hold onto more fat. Some people’s cells are also less responsive to insulin, a hormone that can cause changes in fat storage.
Age-related changes in estrogen and testosterone levels can also make it harder to lose fat. Women tend to see this fat accumulate around their midsection when they reach menopause. Men may also accumulate stubborn fat around their abdomen and thighs when testosterone levels start dropping with age.
In a perfect world, you’d be able to reduce your stress to zero and maintain the hormonal balance of your youth. Unfortunately, that’s not always possible, which is why body sculpting procedures can be so helpful for reducing stubborn fat.
Circulation and Hormone Receptors
Fat tends to accumulate in areas that have less blood flow. This is the case with “love handles” and unwanted fat around the thighs. Since they receive less blood flow, the tissues in these areas also receive smaller amounts of the hormones that help support fat loss. If you’ve been losing fat in some areas but not others, differences in circulation could explain the discrepancy.
Tissues in certain areas, like around the abdomen and thighs, may also have fewer receptors that bind to certain hormones associated with fat mobilization. Diet and exercise won’t change that, at least not to a meaningful degree.
Body Sculpting Procedures for Fat Reduction
If you’re tired of fighting that uphill battle against biology, it may be time to call for reinforcements. Cosmetic procedures can be life-changing in cases where diet and exercise have done little to change your shape. Remember, this does not mean you’re a failure. Rather, you’re a human being who has been subject to some annoying biological limitations. Stubborn fat is normal and natural, but that doesn’t mean you have to continue living with it when help is available.
Liposuction
Liposuction is perhaps the best-known of all fat removal procedures, and for good reason. It works! The procedure has been around for decades, and advancements in technology make it safer and more effective than ever before.
If you opt for liposuction, your practitioner will first inject the target areas with a special solution that numbs the region, reduces bleeding, and makes the fat easier to remove. They’ll then make several small incisions, insert the suction device into the incisions, and remove excess fat from beneath your skin.
Liposuction is highly effective. The results are essentially permanent since the fat cells themselves are removed. Since the incisions are so small, the scarring is minimal. Plus, liposuction can be performed in all of the key areas where people tend to accumulate stubborn fat, including the abdomen, thighs, buttocks, and upper arms. If you need more than one area treated, we can often tackle them all in a single session.
When it comes to liposuction, Ormond Beach residents can rely on Dr. DeMercurio for improved self-esteem and stunning results. Check out some of our before-and-after photos to see just how dramatic the change can be.
Tummy Tuck
If you’ve lost some weight but still have flabby extra tissue around your midsection, the problem might not be just fat. You may also have loose skin, along with some stubborn subcutaneous fat attached to that skin. In cases like these, a tummy tuck can be helpful.
A tummy tuck is a procedure in which excess skin is removed from your abdomen. We can also perform liposuction or even repair the underlying musculature during the same surgery. Dr. DeMercurio will work with you prior to the surgery to get a clear picture of your goals. We will then tailor the procedure to suit your unique preferences and anatomy.
Tummy tucks are a common body sculpting procedure among women who have given birth. They are also commonly used for body contouring after weight loss. The procedure can be performed on both men and women, and the results can be life-changing. Imagine feeling confident in a bathing suit for the first time in years! A tummy tuck can give you that, even if months’ worth of sit-ups and Pilates have not.
Recovery is a factor to consider with a tummy tuck. You will need to take some time off from work, and it may be several months before the swelling fully dissipates. However, your surgical team will guide you closely during recovery to ensure you’re as comfortable as possible. The vast majority of patients feel that the results are worth the temporary discomfort.
Non-Surgical Options
While liposuction and tummy tucks can be highly effective, they’re not right for everyone. If you’re looking for a non-surgical approach, there are several to consider. And Dr. DeMercurio can provide guidance and recommendations if that’s the route you choose to take.
If you’re tired of wondering “why can’t I lose belly fat?” the answer may not be to work harder in the gym. Rather, you should consider body sculpting procedures to reduce the stubborn pockets of fat that genetics and hormone levels make nearly impossible to remove through diet and exercise alone.
For stubborn fat removal, contact the Florida Center for Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery. Our practitioners treat every patient as an individual, and we take pride in helping men and women feel more confident and self-assured in their own skin.