We all have to admit that losing weight in general is hard, but losing stubborn fats is even tougher. There are many methods to lose weight such as trying out different diets, hitting the gym and doing yoga and with determination and perseverance, these methods will inevitably give you results.
But, despite all these hard work, there are still stubborn lumps or pockets of fat around your lower belly or love handles. Looking in the mirror, you get depressed and frustrated. It’s normal for such circumstances to happen among both females and males.
This is because these areas receive less blood flow and contain fat cells that are more stubborn to burn off compared to other areas of our bod
Women have, on average a 6 to 11 percent more body fat than men. Studies show that oestrogen reduces a woman’s ability to burn energy after eating, resulting in more fat being stored around the body. Common areas where fat is being stored are in the bust, glutes, waist and arms.
Quit worrying, because there is a solution to target fat loss at these specific areas, thanks to the advancement in technology.
But first, let’s understand what is fat.
Types of Fat Cells
There are 3 main types of fat cells – white, brown, and beige cells. They can be stored as essential, subcutaneous, or visceral fat.
White fat: Important in energy metabolism, heat insulation and mechanical cushioning.
Brown fat: Found mostly in newborn babies, between the shoulders, and is important for thermogenesis (making heat).
Beige fat: Consisting of both white and brown fat cells. They come from white parent cells, but function like brown fat cells by burning energy to produce heat when the core body temperature dips. The browning process is helped by cold temperatures and the nervous and immune systems.
How body fat is formed
Subcutaneous body fat lies between the muscles and the skin. The process of creating new body fat is called lipogenesis (lipo = fat and genesis = creation).
As soon as our body detects protein, fat, or carbohydrate, it turns them into amino acids, fatty acids, or glucose, respectively.
Fat is converted to fatty acids and if there are more fatty acids around than we currently need, all of them are sent off to be stored as body fat, because of glycerol-3-phosphate.
Fat cells do have their benefits. It provides triglycerides ( a type of fat (lipid) found in your blood) to fuel much of the body’s internal work and physical activity. It also helps to insulate the body to keep it warm. Pads of fat act as shock absorbers and support and cushion vital organs. Fat also helps the body use carbohydrate and protein.
However, too much fat stored in our body will naturally lead to weight gain.
There are surgical ways such as Liposuction and non-surgical ways such as the latest TruSculpt iD, CoolSculpt, and Ultrasound Therapy. While both options help to reduce fat, it is always important to note the pros and cons of both surgical and non-surgical options before deciding which option best suits you.
Assuming that you would want to avoid the high risks and long downtime of the surgical option, here are the most common Non-invasive fat removal treatments in Singapore.
What is the TruSculpt ID?
TruSculpt ID is the latest Non-Surgical fat removal treatment by world-renown Cutera™, providing an innovative RF technology that delivers clinically proven results to effectively destroy fat cells.
The Trusculpt ID has 7 fat-busting probes that allows you to personalize treatment areas that require fat reduction and target pockets of fat in these stubborn areas.
It can also target larger surface areas and previously hard to reach areas of the body and the double chin.
1 session only takes about 15 minutes.
Apart from targeting the tummy, here are the other parts of the body that are suitable for the TruSculpt ID fat removal treatment:
- Arms
- Thighs / Legs
- Love Handles
- Stubborn Double Chin
How does TruSculpt ID fat loss treatment work?
Fat cells are heated using Cutera’s™ patented monopolar radiofrequency technology until they are destroyed and naturally eliminated by our body. According to research, there is an average of 24-26% fat reduction after just one treatment session.
Multiple body areas can be simultaneously treated thanks to the system’s versatility. It also features Real-Time Temperature Control for clinically proven results, safety, and patient experience.
The TruSculpt ID delivers optimum heat to the entire fat layer to destroy the fat cells whilst maintaining a comfortable skin temperature – optimizing clinical efficacy and maintaining maximum patient comfort.
Cutera’s™ patented 2 MHz Monopolar RF: Low frequency and uniform delivery of RF technology, penetrates deep to treat the entire fat layers.
Real-Time Temperature Control: Skin temperature is continuously monitored and energy delivery is automatically adjusted to reach and maintain a therapeutic and optimal temperature of >45ºC for fat destruction, while maintaining 3-4ºC cooler than usual skin temperature for patient comfort.
12 Weeks After truSculpt iD Treatment: Average of 24-26% fat reduction
Fat-Heat Selectivity: Optimized energy delivery and heating enhances selective apoptosis/destruction of the subcutaneous adipose tissue.
An average of 24-26%% fat cells are irreversibly damaged and excreted from the body after the treatment.
What is the non-invasive procedure like?
During the non-invasive fat reduction procedure, the TruSculpt iD probes are placed on the areas of concern. The treatment then commences and patients will start to feel heat from the probes.
That being said, all of our patients have commented that it is akin to a hot-stone massage and is virtually painless.
After the procedure, the probes are removed and some pinkish-ness may be seen and will subside over 30 mins to an hour.
You may resume normal activities immediately after the procedure as there is no downtime.
Benefits of the TruSculpt iD
- Fast 15-minute treatment protocol
- Single session correction for 24-26% Fat Reduction
- Able to TIGHTEN loose skin as well (2 in 1 procedure): the ONLY device that can do this
- Multiple body areas treated simultaneously
- Safe to treat over tattoos (unlike Laser Lipolysis which is also painful) and Skin Types V & VI
- Comfortable treatment and little/no downtime
- High patient satisfaction (96% says it’s worth it based on US Data)
TruSculpt ID is clinically proven to cause inflammation and fat necrosis from beneath the dermis down to 1.5 cm in depth. The histological findings are complemented by clinical studies which show an average 24 – 26% fat reduction as measured by ultrasound.
Cost of TruSculpt ID
As TruSculpt is armed with 7 fat-busting probes, it gives you the flexibility to only pay for the required number of probes used. Cost per probe for 1 session is from $280 (excl gst).
What is Fat Freezing?
Unlike TruSculpt iD which uses radiofrequency, Fat freezing get rid of fat by freezing the fat cells from outside your body.
How does it work?
Using the process of cryolipolysis, targeted fat cells are exposed to a sub-zero temperature, a process of cellular removal is initiated. Fat cells in the treated area become disrupted and are eliminated from the body through its natural metabolic processes while skin, muscle, and other tissue in the treatment area remain unaffected.
You will need to have a minimum amount of “pincheable” fat as it works by sucking this amount of fat (via vacuum suction) into the treatment applicator and then freezing these fats between 2 cooling plates.
What happens during a Fat-freezing treatment?
During the Fat-freezing session, a gel pad and applicator is applied to the targeted area, and a 35-60 minutes long treatment session ensues. During the procedure, the area of concern is vacuum-sucked into the applicator where it is sandwiched between 2 cooling plates.
The area is then “cooled” to sub-zero temperatures to ensure fat cell death. You will feel a strong suction/tugging sensation followed by cold and subsequently numbness.
Results of up to 25% reduction in fat cells can be seen as early as 1 month, but for most, it takes 2 to 3 months.
Cost of Fat-freezing
It is from $600/applicator per session (excl gst).
Comparison between TruSculpt ID & Fat-freezing
There are a lot of discussions on which is better, here are some differences between TruSculpt ID & Fat-freezing.
| TruSculpt ID | Fat-freezing | |
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|
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| Technology | ● Monopolor Radiofrequency Focused Hyperthermia |
● Cryo-Focused Hypothermia |
| Treatment Time | ● 6 hand pieces, 15 minutes | ● 1 Applicator x 60 minutes |
| Comfort | ● Comfortable, like a hot-stone massage. | ● Painful pulling, tugging, pinching, intense cold, tingling, stinging, aching and possible cramping. |
| Common Side effects |
● Warm & Pinkish Flushing <1 hour ● Mild sensitivity to touch |
● Bruising, swelling, temporary redness, swelling, painful, aching, itching & skin sensitivity. |
| Results | ● 24 – 26% reduction in fats after 1 session. | ● 25% reduction in fats after 1 session. |
| Benefits | ● Treats multiple areas at 1 time. ● Fat Reduction + Skin Tightening at the same time. |
● Can only treat 1 area at 1 time. ● Fat Reduction only. |
| Cost | ● From $280 per probe per session. | ● From $600 per applicator per session. |
| Able to treat Non-Pincheable Fat | ● Yes | ● No |
| After Treatment |
(Just some “pinkishness” immediately after the TruSculpt iD treatment) |
(Not uncommon to have bruising and swelling after Fat-freezing) |
Conclusion
Here at M-Aesthetic Clinic, we choose to offer the TruSculpt iD over Fat-freezing as our primary Non-Surgical fat removal / body contouring option due to two main factors:
Time & Results:
A more dramatic result after 1 session is seen and it is the only device that can destroy fat & tighten the skin at the same time! Each session of TruSculpt ID only takes 15 mins, perfect to get it done during your lunch break.
Patient Discomfort and Side Effects:
While both treatments are non- invasive, patients have feedback that Fat-freezing is more painful and often causes bruising, swelling and sometimes prolonged numbness after the procedure. On the contrary, TruSculpt iD is a very comfortable process without downtime.
The type of non-invasive fat loss treatment you should consider depends on the pros and cons of each treatment modality. To learn more about how TruSculpt ID can tackle your stubborn belly fat, enquire now at M-Aesthetic Clinic.
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