Many of us are already familiar with weight loss techniques that can help lower the number on our weighing scale: count your calories, drink more water, and exercise regularly.
While weight loss is certainly an essential part of achieving our body goal, fat reduction is an even more important factor if you have an ideal silhouette in mind.
Pesky body problems such as a bulging tummy, flabby arms, and large thighs may not go away even if you have gone on a weight loss plan and have an ideal number on the scale. These are fat-related problems that can only be eliminated if you have the right fat reduction plan.
Understanding body fat
Before we dive into fat-reducing solutions, let’s try to first understand what body fat really is.
The food we consume is broken down and transformed into fatty acids, glucose, or amino acids, depending on what has been eaten. These molecules provide energy for every bodily function, and if the energy isn’t burnt away, they get stored in cells. And guess what they are converted into if they aren’t used right away: yes, fat cells.
Not all fat cells are equal – some are more stubborn and resistant
There are two problems to look at:
- First, fat cells aren’t easy to get rid of because you can’t reduce their number, you can only shrink them (through conventional weight loss methods)
- Next, the problem at hand isn’t just about getting rid of fat cells to achieve fat reduction, it’s also about removing them at the “right places”, for example, around the tummy, instead of at the chest.
Everyone has problem areas that they may find are harder to slim down. For instance, after you’ve worked hard to lose weight and are seeing a slimmer face or arms, no matter what you do, you still have a visible tummy. It is not uncommon for someone who is “slim” to have problem fat areas that can’t be reduced.
The reason? Our body has a defence mechanism to make sure you won’t burn through all your stored fat and end up in starvation.
Our hormones are responsible for mobilising fat from our fat cells to be burned for energy, and at the same time, they also tell receptors in our fat cells not to release stored fat.
So think of the receptors for the former function as “gas pedals” and receptors for the latter function as “brake pedals”. Some fat cells have more “brake pedals” than “gas pedals”, and that’s when they are inclined to store instead of release.
Fat reduction solution: How do you get rid of stubborn fat?
1. Fat Freeze
Fat Freezing, or cryolipolysis, is a popular treatment among those looking for non-surgical fat reduction solutions.
Fat Freezing works by delivering a precise, controlled cooling technology onto targeted areas to freeze fat cells underneath the skin, while leaving the skin unaffected. Frozen fat cells die and are naturally metabolised by the body.
While some have achieved optimal results from fat freezing, some unlucky ones end up suffering from a little known side effect called Paradoxical Adipose Hyperplasia (PAH). PAH is a side effect, albeit rare, of fat freezing treatment. Those who suffer from PAH will notice that the treated area gets larger weeks after the treatment. The affected mass is usually large, well-demarcated, and slightly tender. This effect doesn’t just feel uncomfortable but look bad too.
This is a risk that many patients are unaware of, but it appears to be getting quite common (this could be because there have been more reports in the last few years).
“I was assessing a young lady who had fat freezing, also known as cryolipolysis, on both arms eight years ago, presented with disproportionately enlarged fat ‘lumps’ on both her treated areas soon after. The fat ‘lumps’ had grown in size over the past years, making her arms looked rather strange. It had affected her so much that she dared not wear any short-sleeved or sleeveless attire all these years.
I still remember another patient who suffered from PAH who came with his father for consultation not too long ago. During the consultation, his father mentioned that he was distraught with guilt since his son developed this condition a few years ago, as he was the one that brought him for the fat freezing treatment. His son suffered from depression after that. He blamed himself ever since.”
Unfortunately, PAH, once developed, is permanent and can only be treated with liposuction.
2. VASER Lipo
Liposuction is 30% science and 70% art
Ask Dr. Ivan Puah about VASER Lipo and Fat Freezing
The Ministry of Health in Singapore is strict about which health professional is allowed to perform liposuction. This is why they issue licenses based on strict criteria and only a certified, recognised, and licensed doctor is allowed to perform liposuction in Singapore.
Founder of Amaris B. Clinic, Dr. Ivan Puah has more than 15 years of experience in performing body sculpting procedures, including liposuction.
He is a VASER® Certified Physician and is accredited by the Ministry of Health Singapore to perform liposuction, Dr. Ivan Puah was trained in Colorado and Argentina for VASER® Body Sculpting and was trained and guided by renowned French plastic surgeon, Dr. Pierre Francois Fournier, in syringe liposculpture. His surgical skill in gynecomastia surgeries was further honed under the mentorship of Dr. Miguel Delgrado in San Francisco.
Amaris B. Clinic is located at 140 Arab Street, Singapore 199827. Call 65364211 or email [email protected] to schedule for a consultation.
This article is brought to you by Amaris B. Clinic.
