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What Makes Stubborn Fat So Stubborn And How To Lose It

By SL Aesthetic Clinic
Last Updated:
August 1, 2023
What Makes Stubborn Fat So Stubborn And How To Lose It

Do you work out regularly and eat in a calorie deficit, but just have that last bit of fat in certain areas (e.g. armpit, tummy, double-chin) that refuse to budge?If so, you’re not alone. Stubborn fat is an incredibly frustrating issue that plagues many individuals, regardless of their fitness level or diet regimen.

Where we store and lose fat is largely genetic – so you and someone else could go on the exact same training regime and diet plan, but find that your physiques turn out differently.

Fortunately, there is an array of professional fat removal treatments that can enhance your weight loss results from a healthy diet and exercise. These treatments are designed to help you zap away the bulge safely and effectively.

In this article, we’ll go through the science behind stubborn fat, why some fat is necessary, and clinically proven treatments to get rid of stubborn fat.

What Is Stubborn Fat

Stubborn fat, as the name suggests, is fat that is difficult to lose. It is subcutaneous (under the skin) fat that accumulates in areas of the body such as the belly, hips, thighs, and arms.

Cosmetic reasons aside, we need to minimise excess fat in our bodies to prevent the following problems:

  • Hear disease and stroke
  • High blood pressure
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Certain cancers
  • Sleep apnea
  • Fatty liver and kidney disease

While some people may be able to lose fat easily, others struggle largely because of how fat is stored in their body.

How The Body Stores Fat

To understand why stubborn fat is so difficult to lose, you need to know how fat cells work. The human body is designed to store fat as a means of preserving energy, insulating the body, and protecting vital organs. When you consume food:

  1. your body breaks down the nutrients
  2. fats then move into the bloodstream
  3. fats are then transported to different parts of the body, where they are stored in fat cells

These fat cells are found in adipose tissue throughout the body. The amount of fat that is ultimately stored is determined by the balance between energy intake and energy expenditure. If we consume more energy than we expend, the body stores the excess energy as fat.

What Are The Types Of Fat

White Fat

  • Most abundant type of adipose tissue: protects the internal organs such as the liver and the kidney
  • Important for the function of hormones such as:
    • oestrogen
    • leptin (a hormone that stimulates hunger)
    • insulin
    • cortisol (a stress hormone)
    • growth hormone

Brown Fat

  • Primarily located in the neck and upper back regions
  • Important to maintain body temperature,increase energy expenditure and for overall metabolic health

Location Of Fat And Weight Loss

Where WAT and BAT are located in your body can determine how difficult it will be to shed them.

Visceral Fat

Visceral fat consists of WAT and is located deep in the abdomen and surrounds vital organs. Fat of this nature is necessary to protect organs and blood vessels. However, excessive visceral fat can pose serious health risks such as:

  • heart disease
  • type 2 diabetes
  • coronary artery disease
  • stroke
  • certain cancers

The good news is that when you embark on a fat loss treatment plan, visceral fat is often the first to disappear, and, consequently for most people, noticeable fat loss in the abdominal area.

Subcutaneous Fat

Subcutaneous fat is the stubborn fat on your arms, belly, thighs, and buttocks that you can squeeze or pinch. It’s a combination of WAT and BAT, situated under the skin.

Due to its function in the body, stubborn subcutaneous fat is harder to shed than visceral fat. When subcutaneous fat accumulates in excessive amounts, it can result in an increase in WAT in the body. This is particularly concerning for individuals who are overweight or obese, as their high levels of WAT make them more vulnerable to health risks

Fat Removal Treatments

A caloric deficit and regular exercise with strength training can help you lose stubborn fat naturally. To kickstart such a regime, you can refer to this blog post.

However, it is not uncommon for stubborn fat to remain after all that hard work and discipline.

For some individuals, professional treatments may be necessary to remove stubborn fat. At SL Aesthetic Clinic, we provide minimal to non-invasive treatments for stubborn fat removal. The method used will depend on the problem areas of your body .

1. Ultrasound Therapy

Ultrasound treatment is effective for belly fat removal. Ultrasound therapy works by focusing ultrasound energy below the surface of your skin in order to heat and destroy fat cells in the targeted areas. The treated fat tissue is removed through the body’s natural healing process, leaving you with a slimmer, more contoured waistline.

Non-surgical ultrasound therapy for fat removal costs around $200 to $400 per square of skin.

2. Laser Therapy

Laser therapy is effective for stubborn fat on the face and the body, including the arms, hips and thighs. This non-surgical fat removal method involves the use of laser energy to target and break down fat cells in specific areas of the body, without damaging surrounding tissues. The laser energy is absorbed by the fat cells, causing them to heat up and eventually shrink, resulting in a reduction in body fat.

This non-surgical fat removal method costs around $1,000 to $1,500, depending on the treatment area.

3. Selective Radiofrequency Treatment (Selective RF)

Selective RF is a contactless and non-invasive fat removal method. Selective radiofrequency energy is emitted from the treatment device to target and heat fat cells. This process kills the fat cells without affecting your skin and surrounding tissues. It is ideal for treating large areas such as the entire waistline, full thighs and arms.

Selective RF belly fat removal costs around $350 to $550.

4. Ultrasound-assisted Liposuction

Ultrasound-assisted liposuction is a surgical procedure that is performed under general anaesthesia. An incision is made into your skin before inserting a cannula suctioning device. Ultrasound-assisted liposuction sucks out fat deposits from under your skin while creating contours to give the appearance of a toned physique.

The cost of an ultrasound-assisted liposuction treatment starts at $4,000.

Don’t Suffer Alone. We Can Help!

Stubborn fat can take a toll on your mental well-being, especially if you’ve tried various solutions and found them to be unsatisfactory.

Going for a consultation with a professional can help you identify the exact problem area that needs treatment and the best solutions. SL Aesthetic Clinic has years of experience in stubborn fat removal treatment. Contact us today.

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