Removing Fat - What Works?

Contributed by: Dr. Roy G. Geronemus

Clinical Professor of Dermatology, New York University
Past President, American Society of Dermatologic Surgery
Past President, American Society for Laser Medicine & Surgery
Medical Director, Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York

Video: Fat Treatment

Dr. Eric Bernstein discusses the future of fat removal

How can I get rid of fat?

Regular exercise and healthy eating are the best, most reliable ways of removing unwanted or excess body fat. By reducing caloric intake to a level appropriate to your body and burning off extra calories with healthy exercise, you can prevent extra fat, sugar, protein, and carbohydrates from accumulating as stored fat.

That said, no amount of exercise or dieting can remove fat from specific areas of your body--you can only decrease the total amount of fat that you carry. To put it another way, "spot reduction" isn’t possible.

What kinds of treatments are available?

Some of the most exciting advances we are seeing today in aesthetic medicine is in the area of body contouring and fat reduction. While you may not be able to "spot treat" with a regular gym routine, there are a multitude of new options becoming available -- both surgical and otherwise -- for removing localized pockets of fat that don't respond to traditional diet and exercise.

Minimally-invasive removal

Surgical or "invasive" techniques (procedures which involve the cutting of the skin) are the more familiar solutions for getting rid of unwanted fat. They include liposuction, buttocks lifts, and tummy tucks. Now we also have new procedures which involve less risk and downtime known as “minimally invasive” procedures. Such procedures include laser-assisted techniques like SmartLipo® or SlimLipo®, popular lipolysis (or fat removing) procedures.The best advice is to consult with an experienced expert physician on how to achieve the best results in your particular case. They can provide you guidance on what treatments are now available.

Non-invasive removal

There are also non-surgical,non-invasive ways to get rid of fat. Light energy, radiofrequency energy, and mechanical massage have all been used to effectively dissolve unwanted fat found deep under the surface of the skin, all without an incision. Ultrasound technology is one such technology undergoing clinical testing right now, with early results showing great promise. If tests continue to show positive results, ultrasound treatments may become available in the United States in just a few years.

However, there is one caveat regarding non-invasive procedures. While they can very effectively treat problem areas, they only shrink fat cells--they do not destroy them. As time passes, fat cells will become full again, especially in cases where a patient gains weight. This means that maintenance treatments and a healthy lifestyle are both necessary for long-lasting results.