LOVE YOUR HIPS AGAIN
Find out how to reduce the fat around your hip area – even if it seems impossible!
‘Love handles’ have always seemed somewhat inappropriately named, because nobody seems to have a lot of love for them! Men and women across the world seem to have a joint hatred for this area of stubborn fat, and it’s not always something healthy food and a strict gym routine can combat. So if you are someone who can’t embrace your love handles and if a diet and exercise regime just aren’t working for you, don’t fret – there are other options available to help tackle the area.
We spoke to aesthetic practitioner Dr Tatiana Lapa who told us what treatments are out there for people who want to improve the appearance of their love handles.
What causes love handles?
“The term ‘love handles’ refers to an accumulation of weight on either side of the waist, above the hips and below the ribs. The proper name for this area of the body is the ‘flanks’,” explains Dr Lapa.
Dr Lapa notes that love handles are mainly caused by your genetics and body type, as it’s all a factor of your natural fat distribution. She says, “It’s all in your genetic makeup, and what your body shape is. For example, if you’re what we would call ‘an apple’ (see image) you’re more likely to have fat around your flanks (between your ribs and hips), whereas if you’re ‘a pear’ you’re more likely to gain fat in your buttock and leg area.”
Hormones can also have an impact, for example with those that suffer from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). She explains, “PCOS causes insulin resistance which makes it harder for the body to turn food into energy.
This typically causes a more central distribution of fat around the abdomen and flanks. It’s a very normal area that fat deposits can go to.”
She adds that your diet and exercise routine can also play a part, explaining, “If there is a patient with a strong core, they’re less likely to store or build fat around that area. However, if you’re someone that only trains legs, but never
the stomach area, you’re much more likely to end up with fat in the flanks.”
While she acknowledges that all of the above methods can be effective, Dr Lapa notes that throughout her own personal research and experience she has found fat freezing to be the most effective, and safest, course of treatment for her patients, with high patient satisfaction rates. Of course, like with all aesthetic procedures, it comes with potential side effects or complications such as mild pain, swelling and redness. Rarer side effects include scarring, numbness, ineffective treatment, or treatment having the opposite effect.
Patients can of course explore surgical options for fat removal, such as liposuction or a tummy tuck, but this route is more costly and requires a much longer downtime, both usually lasting around six weeks. Depending on your size and desired outcome, your practitioner may refer you for a surgical consultation following your initial appointment.
The results
According to Dr Lapa, patients who undergo cryolipolysis should see anywhere from between 2-8cm reduction in circumference of the flanks, but this depends on body shape/size to begin with. She says, “I normally recommend a course of two to three treatments, and full results can be seen after approximately 12 weeks.”
She notes that undergoing cryolipolysis can give people great results which have a huge positive impact on their self-esteem. “The results can just be amazing, and they really do have an effect on people’s confidence because sometimes we have patients who are truly distressed by how their body looks,” she says. “When their love handles are gone, women often describe feeling more comfortable to wear bikinis, wear tight dresses and nonbaggy jeans, and men say they feel more comfortable taking their tops off or wearing fitted shirts. It opens up a new world for people and treatments like this really can make a difference.”
What if I’m not suitable?
Dr Lapa acknowledges that cryolipolysis isn’t suitable for everyone, for example those with diabetes or nerve conditions. As an alternative, she often suggests that her patients get fat heating treatments instead. She explains, “This option may actually be better for patients who have a lot of laxity in the skin, as it’s a treatment that can help to tighten the skin as well as reduce the fat, therefore helping with two problems at once. It should be noted that there will be less fat loss using fat heating methods than there would be using cryolipolysis, so it really depends on the individual which treatment we go for.”
She adds that this will be determined by your practitioner after an in-depth consultation, in which your medical and personal history is taken, as well as an examination of the treatment area. To ensure that you are getting the right treatment for you, and this is being performed in the safest way possible, Dr Lapa emphasises the importance of going to a qualified medical practitioner who is registered with the relevant bodies, which can be found on p.59.