Eliminating Stubborn Belly Fat

Have you noticed your waistline expanding as you’ve gotten older? If you answered yes, you are not alone.

In fact, according to the CDC, women’s waist circumference has steadily increased over the past 20 years from an average 36.3 inches to 38.6 inches.

This statistic is particularly concerning because fat accumulation around the abdomen can increase your risk for a host of health issues and even death.

What’s more, central belly fat can be extremely stubborn and resistant to diet and exercise.

Fortunately, there are a number of surgical and non-surgical treatments in Washington DC that can aid in eliminating stubborn belly fat.

What Are the Dangers of Fat Around the Abdomen?

Stubborn belly is not only a cosmetic concern, it can also pose a significant health risk.

A clinical study published in American Medical Association’s Network Open assessed the link between abdominal fat and mortality.

Researchers evaluated the data of 156,000 post-menopausal women over a 20-year time period. Measurements included weight, BMI, and waist circumference.

Based on this information, they concluded that women who were at a normal weight and BMI, but had a waistline measurement greater than 34.6 inches, were 1/3 more likely to die compared to women with comparable weight and BMI, but smaller waistlines.

Researchers also found that accumulation of fat around the abdomen posed a comparable risk to obesity.

Types of Stubborn Abdominal Fat

When it comes to eliminating stubborn belly fat, it’s important to know the type of fat you are dealing with.

Visceral fat occurs deep within the abdominal cavity and surrounds organs. As such, it is especially dangerous and cannot be readily removed with medical or surgical intervention. Rather, this type of abdominal fat can only be reduced through diet and exercise.

Subcutaneous fat is found under the skin and can be pinched or grabbed. Because it’s positioned in front of the abdominal wall, and not behind like visceral fat, this type of belly fat can be eliminated with surgical and non-surgical body contouring treatments.

What Treatments Can Aid in Eliminating Stubborn Belly Fat?

If you are interested in eliminating stubborn belly fat, there are several treatment options to consider.

Liposuction

Liposuction is a surgical treatment that may be performed under general or local anesthesia. It involves making small incisions in the skin and inserting a thin tube called a cannula to extract unwanted abdominal fat.

Although it does require surgery and a longer recovery than non-invasive approaches, liposuction is an excellent option for those that want to remove larger volumes of fat or fat from multiple areas.

Tummy Tuck

In many cases, loose skin, excess skin, and separated abdominal muscles can contribute to an expanding midsection.

This is especially true for women who have a rounded belly when standing, but a flatter abdomen when laying on their backs.

Fortunately, an abdominoplasty, also known as tummy tuck, can safely and effectively tighten skin, remove lax tissue, and repair abdominal muscles.

CoolSculpting

CoolSculpting offers a non-surgical option for fat removal and is ideal for patients with pinchable pockets of fat that have not responded to diet and exercise.

Using a patented cooling technology, CoolSculpting selectively freezes and destroys subcutaneous fat cells. In the coming weeks and months, fat cell remnants are eliminated from the body via the lymphatic system.

Visible fat reduction can be noted within four-to-six weeks, and final results are evident by three-to-four months.

CoolTone

CoolTone is an FDA-approved body contouring treatment and the counterpart to Coolsculpting.

During treatment, it delivers magnetic muscle stimulation (MMS) in order to engage abdominal muscles and produce a series of involuntary muscle contractions. This causes muscle fibers to undergo dramatic remodeling and become stronger, thicker, and firmer.

As such, non-invasive CoolTone can help build abdominal muscles and reshape the mid-section without surgery or downtime.

Learn More About Eliminating Stubborn Belly Fat

If you are concerned about an expanding waistline and want additional information about eliminating stubborn belly fat, please call our office today to schedule a comprehensive consultation with board-certified dermatologist Dr. Eliot Battle or board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Kelly Bolden.