Struggling to lose body fat but not sure how? You’re not alone. Getting rid of stubborn fat can be a major hurdle to overcome during a weight loss and toning program. It often takes many people several years to achieve this goal.

As we get older, our bodies don’t respond the same way to weight loss efforts, and science has some explanations to offer. As we age, we naturally tend to gain weight, to the tune of 1 to 2 pounds per year. Our bodies tend to retain subcutaneous fat, which is the fat that accumulates just below the skin.  This type of fat is also referred to as stubborn fat because it is more resistant to burning than the other types.

Excess body fat can be distributed in various body parts including the belly, under arms, love handles, thighs, back, face, neck, and the under-chin area.  Belly fat is the fat that appears around the abdominal area. Some people have the more dangerous visceral fat, which is fat that surrounds your organs and raises risk for heart disease. It is possible for a slim person to have visceral fat.

These reasons could explain the presence of belly fat and the challenges to get rid of it:

• It’s a quick source of energy for the body. It’s easy to accumulate but harder to lose since the body doesn’t want to part with easy energy.
• Dietary habits such as foods high in sugar and saturated fat can lead to more belly fat.
• Excessive and daily alcohol consumption can lead to the infamous beer belly.
• Stress and poor sleep stimulate the release of the stress hormone cortisol. High cortisol levels are associated with the accumulation of fat in the midsection.
• As men age, the testosterone levels tend to drop. This results in a decrease in muscle mass and increase in body fat.
• The loss of estrogen through menopause can change fat distribution in a woman’s body, even if there isn’t a major weight gain. The fat that once gathered in the breasts, hips and thighs instead concentrates in the abdominal area. Women also tend to naturally hold on to more midsection fat for childbearing and nursing.

With lifestyle changes, such as an increased physical activity and healthier eating, you have some control over losing stomach fat at any age.
It takes more diligence and intention with food, exercise, and overall lifestyle habits. It can be incredibly frustrating when you are doing all the right things, eating healthily and exercising, but still not achieving the results you are seeking. Some types of fat can be particularly stubborn and especially as we age, it can become harder and harder to shift. Fortunately, there are medical treatments available to you that can remove unwanted fat, and give you back your confidence. In the past, surgery used to be the only treatment option for removing unwanted fat. With the advent of technology in the various energy-based modalities, we are now able to achieve excellent results with a less risky approach using noninvasive techniques. At Aesthetics and Medical Lasers of Colorado we offer a non-invasive body contouring and fat destruction treatment that uses a combination of ultrasound cavitation, lipo-laser and radiofrequency.

With our team of highly trained staff, we are proud to offer this cutting-edge technology to our clients.

BODY CONTOURING AND CIRCUMFERENTIAL REDUCTION FAT DESTRUCTION (LIPOLYSIS)
The number of fat cells in adults remains fairly constant throughout life, regardless of age, sex, body weight, race, diet or exercise.   It was previously thought that adult humans generally do not produce new fat cells.  We have thought, until now, that humans only simply increase their fat mass by storing more lipids inside existing fat cells.   A group of scientists in Sweden demonstrated that adult humans are constantly losing fat cells and replacing them with new ones. Our DNA is programmed to maintain a fairly constant number of fat cells throughout our lifetime. Obese people have a larger number of fat cells. They also lose and replace dead fat cells at a faster rate than their leaner counterparts.

FAT CELL LOSS
Fat cells can be removed from the body either surgically or by the use of non-invasively treatments. These non-surgical treatments include cryolipolysis (fat freezing), thermolipolysis (fat heating) and ultrasound cavitation.

COOLSCULPT
Coolsculpt uses a process of fat cell destruction called Cyrolipolysis (fat freezing).  This is a treatment involves fat cells for extended durations resulting in cell death.  Our white cells the macrophages then slowly remove the dead fat cell products. This process takes several weeks and therefore sessions have to be spaced out several weeks apart.  Treatment sessions in COOLSCULPT take several hours. Patients may require up to 8-10 sessions over several months to a year. There is also an increased risk of nerve damage, blood clots and other dyscrasias as well as the shark-bite appearance.  There has been a less than 1% incidence of paradoxical fat hyperplasia (enlargement in the size of the fat cells) in patients that underwent cryolipolysis.

Thermolipolysis utilizes infrared laser (Lipolaser) or radiofrequency to permanently destroy fat cells. Examples of devices that use this technology include the VELASHAPE (V-SHAPE), EXILIS ELITE, EXILIS ULTRA and EMSCULPT NEO. These devices use heat to permanently destroy fat cells. The treatments are generally more comfortable, last only about 30-minutes a session and more cost effective. Unlike COOLSCULPTING, sessions can be repeated at 5-7-day interval for one treatment area, or every 2-3 days for different treatment areas. The use of fat loss using heat also has the added benefit of stimulating collagen and elastin production as well as cellulite reduction. 

Ultrasound cavitation destroys fat cells by disrupting the cell membrane thereby triggering cell death. This technology can be combined with heat in the same device for a synergistic effect.

VELASHAPE (V-SHAPE)
The V-Shape combines is a very effective body contouring device that utilizes five different technologies that include IR (Infrared laser), Bi-polar RF, a massage roller, vacuum and ultrasound cavitation. The combination of IR Laser, vacuum and RF causes deep heating of the fat cells, their surrounding connective tissue and the underlying dermal collagen fibers. This type of efficient heating and vacuum stimulates the growth of new collagen and elastin that ultimately results in localized reduction in skin laxity, body circumference, and an overall improvement in skin structure and texture. The massage roller causes an immediate increase in circulation and lymphatic drainage, both essential components for healthy skin structure.

WHAT TREATMENT AREAS CAN IT BE USED TO TREAT?

• Body contouring and circumferential reduction in the abdomen, trunk, arms and thighs.
• Cellulite
• Underarm loose skin
• Neck and jaw line fat
• Turkey neck
• Post lipo-surgery treatment and prevention of fibrosis

HOW MANY SESSIONS ARE RECOMMENDED
Typically, the first treatment involves 6 sessions spaced at 5-7 days per body area. Different body areas can be treated 2 days apart. This allows for the body to excrete the breakdown products of the fat cells in the areas that have been treated. There is no downtime between sessions. We do recommend that patients drink plenty of water to cleanse the waste products of the fat breakdown products.

WHAT ARE THE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF THE V-SHAPE?
The V-SHAPE uses laser energy, bipolar radiofrequency, vacuum, suction and ultrasound cavitation. Because of the laser and radiofrequency energy it produces, there may be over heating of the tissues if improperly used. The most commonly seen effects following treatment are localized bruising and erythema. This normally subsides within the next couple of days. Currently there is no evidence that radiofrequency energy produced by the device causes any other health risks.

IS THE V-SHAPE TREATMENT PAINFUL?
The treatment is generally painless. During the Ultrasound Cavitation phase of the treatment, most patients will hear a ringing sound in the ears. The next phase of the treatment session involves the use of radiofrequency, infrared laser, vacuum suction and massage.  During this phase, some patients with a low amount of subcutaneous fat may experience a skin pinching sensation with the vacuum suctioning of the skin. Those with more subcutaneous fat generally have no issues with any discomfort.  Overall, the treatment process is generally painless and feels like a hot soothing massage treatment. It is a generally a relaxing experience and many patients will fall asleep.

IS THE FAT LOSS FROM THE V-SHAPE TREATMENT PERMANENT?
Fat cells loss following a V-SHAPE treatment is permanent. Patients will continue to lose more inches around the treated area for up to 2-3 months after their last session. The addition of lipotrophic injection containing methionine, inositol, choline and cyanocobalamin will further speed up the fat loss process.

WHAT IS THE EXPECTED WAIST CIRCUMFERENTIAL REDUCTION?
Based on numerous clinical studies, 1.5-3 inch reduction in the waist circumference can be achieved after just one cycle of 6 sessions. This reduction continues for the ensuing 2-3 months after the last treatment session.