When it comes to fat reduction and maintaining your ideal weight, you probably know that nothing beats regular exercise and a healthy diet. While this is true in most cases, this is not always the same for fat loss, especially in stubborn areas like the belly, thighs, and hips. This can be incredibly frustrating, especially if you have been engaging in healthy habits for several months now.
Why are some fats resistant to diet and exercise?
Not all fats in your body are the same. There is the subcutaneous fat, which is under the skin, and visceral fat, which surround your organs. The former is more stubborn to get rid of than the latter.
- Subcutaneous fat. Also known as pinchable fat, subcutaneous fat can be found all over the body, such as the belly, thighs, and arms. While this is not as dangerous as visceral fat, storing too much of it can increase your risk for health problems like high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, and fatty liver.
- Visceral fat. Unlike its counterpart, visceral fat is harder to measure or pinch. It can be found around the abdominal area, near the liver, stomach, and intestines. Having too much visceral fat is dangerous to your health, as it can increase your cholesterol levels and risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, and cancer.
Good habits like regular dieting and exercise are beneficial in getting rid of visceral fat. This is not always the case for pinchable fats due to the receptors found in the fat cells.
- Alpha-2 receptors. Subcutaneous fats have more of alpha-2 receptors, which cause the fat cells to remain in the body. While these receptors assist in storing energy for future use, they make the fats resistant to diet and exercise. Lower body fats like hips and thighs contain a higher density of alpha-2 receptors, as well as abdominal fat.
- Beta-2 receptors. These receptors help fat cells to break down to provide fuel for energy. This then speeds up fat burning. Beta-2 receptors also increase lipolysis and adipose tissue blood flow, which help in burning fat.
What can I do?
Diet and exercise can still do wonders in helping you lose fat, but it is still a good idea to consider non-invasive fat reduction procedures. This is especially true if you see little to no result despite months of dieting and exercise. A non-invasive procedure like CoolSculpting is an excellent alternative to surgical liposuction, as it can help reduce fat without cuts and incisions.
CoolSculpting is an FDA-approved device that uses Cryolipolysis or controlled cooling temperature to kill only fat cells. CoolSculpting in Utah features many applicators to target and treat different areas of the body such as belly, thighs, arms, and chin. It can also work well in smaller areas of fat.
The procedure draws out the fat tissue, which is then cooled to freezing temperatures. This causes the fat cells to die, triggering apoptosis or natural cell death. Over time, the frozen fat cells will then be naturally processed and expelled in the body, giving you a more sculpted physique. It can target your fat cells without harming the skin or surrounding tissue.
If diet and exercise are not giving you the results you wanted, it is okay to get help with non-invasive procedures. Contact a cosmetic surgery clinic today to learn more about this procedure and find out if you’re a good candidate.