Many fit and healthy women still carry around pockets of fat in problem spots like the thighs, tummy, back, and upper arms. No matter what some workout videos try to tell you, spot targeting these trouble areas with diet and exercise isn't truly possible. "Trouble spots like the arms and back can contain localized fat deposits, which contain blocked fat,” says Maruo C. Romito, M.D., a board certified plastic surgeon and founder of the Ajune Center for Beauty Synergy in New York City. "This fat is six times more resistant than normal external fat to be burnt up by diet and exercise alone."
Liposuction was once your only surefire option for getting rid of stubborn fat for good. But lipo requires anesthesia and lots of recovery (not to mention the results can occasionally leave you looking lumpy and scarred—ever seen those Tara Reid and Heidi Montag photos?). Thankfully, there are a few new, much less invasive techniques in use today. Do they really work? Should you give them a try? We asked Dr. Romito to give us his inside scoop on whether two top treatments are actually effective and who would most benefit from each.
Targeted, controlled cooling—delivered through special panels—is directed at love handles, muffin tops, the bra area, or anywhere else that bulges in order to "freeze" and crystallize fat cells. The damaged fat cells are then eliminated by the body, through the liver, with results seen in just a few weeks. The technology, known as Cryolipolysis, eliminates up to 25% of fat cells in the targeted area and undergoing a treatment requires no anesthesia—you can get back to your normal routine and even exercise the same day.
As for side effects, they range from a cool sensation as the panels are applied to the skin (which usually stops 10 minutes into the three hour treatment), a pulling and tugging feeling as the targeted areas are suctioned up between the panels, and possibly temporary redness, bruising, tenderness, and a dulling sensation at treated areas.
Dr. Romita's Advice: "Zeltique is non-invasive and can be done in an office or medi-spa under medical supervision. It's the best non-invasive approved fat reduction method, I think, and is best for small areas around the wait and love handles. Be sure you are carefully assessed before you spend your money for Zeltique because it's not inexpensive. Early results show that if a patient exercises and diets, then the fat that's treated will be used as fuel and burnt up. If the patient uses Zeltique as a substitute for diet, then the fat from the dying cells will be deposited in other fat cells; in other words, it will just go somewhere else!"
With this body sculpting method, a low level laser is used to damage the walls of fat cells. As the cells break down, fat is passed through the body during its normal process of detoxification. Low level lasers are also known as cold lasers because they don't heat up or damage skin the way other lasers can. That means there are no risks or side effects associated with the Zerona laser and you can go back to normal activities hours after treatment, as you won't need anesthesia, or even numbing creams.
Dr. Romita's Advice: "Zerona results seem to be totally unpredictable and dependent on special supplements and diet restrictions, which would probably work without the procedure. Zerona, in my opinion, is not cost effective when compared to liposuction."
Megan O'Neill is Beauty Editor at EndlessBeauty.com.
Comments
I definitely need to lose belly fat however my budget will only allow me to do it the old fashioned way!