Understanding Fat Treatment
Fat treatment is a treatment to remove fat in various areas of the body, such as the stomach, hips, thighs, calves, chin, neck, and upper arms. This treatment can be done surgically or non-surgically.
Non-surgical fat treatment removes fat without making incisions. This procedure uses technology with heat or cooling, or injected drugs to reduce fat cells.
This method of fat removal may not be as effective as surgical procedures, such as liposuction. However, it can be an option for people who want to remove fat without surgery.
Here are some non-surgical fat treatment options:
- Cryolipolysis, also called cool sculpting, is a method of removing fat by freezing fat cells and breaking them down during the process.
- Fat reduction using laser.
- Fat injection.
- Ultrasound therapy.
- Radiofrequency therapy.
Surgical fat treatments, such as liposuction, can remove fat using suction techniques on certain areas of the body. This procedure will provide significant results than other non-invasive procedures.
Unfortunately, recovery time will be longer, and the price is usually more expensive than invasive procedures.
Purpose of Fat Treatment
Fat that is only in certain locations may be difficult to lose with diet and exercise alone. For example, belly fat that doesn’t shrink after pregnancy, fat around the thighs, or along the hips.
Fat treatment can be one solution to eliminate localized fat in certain areas. However, for people whose weight is close to ideal and do not require significant reshaping in an area.
Non-surgical fat treatment can be a good option for reducing isolated pockets of fat without exercise and without surgery. While surgical fat treatment is a good option for reducing larger fat deposits.
Benefits of Fat Treatment
Fat treatment, both surgical and non-surgical, is useful for removing fat in various areas of the body that cannot be treated with diet and exercise. In addition, liposuction can sometimes be used for breast reduction or treatment of gynecomastia (large breasts in men).
However, surgical and non-surgical fat treatments have their own advantages. The advantages of surgical fat treatment can provide significant results after the swelling subsides and the operated area heals.
Meanwhile, the advantages of non-surgical fat treatment include:
- There are no incisions or scars.
- Low side effects for most patients.
- The recovery time is faster.
When Should You Do Fat Treatment?
There are certain conditions that are considered most appropriate to consider doing fat treatment. For example, when you feel that fat in certain areas of the body looks disturbing and makes you feel insecure. Or it could also be when the fat doesn’t go away even though you have maintained your diet and exercise.
Fat Treatment Procedure
The following are non-surgical fat treatment procedures:
1. Cryolipolysis or CoolSculpting
The procedure involves placing a paneled device over the skin in the area of fat. The device transmits a temperature low enough to freeze the fat cells, which then destroys them.
The cold temperature will numb the treated area. However, because the skin, muscles, and nerves are frozen, they remain unharmed. Cool sculpting only takes about 35-60 minutes.
2. Fat Reduction Using Laser
Laser fat removal works by breaking down subcutaneous fat using controlled heat. So, a specific laser wavelength is sent through the skin, which heats the fat tissue to the point where the fat cells begin to break down.
The constant cooling mechanism ensures that the skin is not damaged in the process. The procedure takes only 25 minutes per area.
3. Fat Injection
Fat treatment can also be done by injecting deoxycholic acid to break down fat cells, so that isolated fat pockets can shrink. Deoxycholic acid is a natural substance in the body that helps break down fat for digestion. This procedure takes 20 minutes.
4. Ultrasound
Ultrasound fat reduction uses highly focused sonic waves to break down the walls of fat cells in the treatment area. This causes the fat inside to be metabolized by the body, reducing fat deposits.
The procedure is, ultrasound energy is transmitted through the skin so that it will create a rapid change in pressure. This will then cause the fat cells to be damaged while the surrounding tissue is not injured.
5. Radio Frequency Therapy
Radiofrequency therapy is a procedure that uses radiofrequency to heat fat without attaching a device to the patient’s body. The heating applicator will be used one centimeter from the skin.
The following is a liposuction procedure which is a surgical fat treatment :
- First of all, the doctor will give the patient anesthesia first.
- The surgeon will then make a small incision in the skin and insert a thin tube called a cannula under the skin. The cannula is connected to a vacuum that sucks fat and fluid from the body. Body fluids can be replenished through an intravenous (IV) line.
