Many people struggle with the stubborn, annoying and persistent pockets of fat around the hips or waist, infamously known as love handles. All love handle sufferers have one thing in common: the desire to get rid of them! In this article, we ask ourselves what are love handles, how to lose them and if liposuction is a viable option. Read on and discover everything you need to know!
What are love handles? And what causes them?
Love handles are deposits of fat that are found around the hips or waist. They usually extend outwards and when worn with tight clothing are more pronounced, often resulting in ‘muffin tops’.
There are many different factors that cause them but they are all the result of one underlying culprit: fat retention. Fat retention refers to the accumulation of fat cells when you eat too many calories (or don’t burn enough of them). When these fat cells build up in the hip and waist area, they create infamous love handles.
The other factors that contribute to love handles can include:
- An abundance of cortisol
- Increasing age
- Poor diet that is high in fats and sugars
- Not enough sleep and rest
- Lack of exercise and physical activity
Conditions such as hypothyroidism which slows down your metabolism can also lead to more fat retention in your hips and waist.
Love handles are known to be incredibly stubborn. The idea that you can target specific areas of your body to lose fat with exercise (otherwise known as spot reduction) is a complete myth. It’s why constant exercise sometimes isn’t enough to get rid of these fatty deposits.
So what methods are actually effective in getting rid of love handles? One of these is liposuction.
How liposuction can help get rid of stubborn fat
Liposuction is a cosmetic procedure that removes fat from your body. They’re performed by cosmetic surgeons on areas like the belly, thighs, under the chin, buttocks and yes – the waist and hips. It’s an effective, relatively safe way to eliminate love handles and instead, give you a more defined contour.
Because fat cells do not reproduce, liposuction is effectively a permanent solution to the stubbornness of love handles and muffin tops. After a lipo procedure, the skin of the treated area usually molds itself to the new shape of your body, appearing smooth.
What to expect in a liposuction procedure
Before a liposuction procedure, your cosmetic surgeon will mark the areas of your body to be treated. The exact procedure depends on the kind of liposuction technique used. The technique selected is based on both your procedure goals and the area of the body to be treated. The most common technique is known as tumescent liposuction.
This technique involves injecting a mixture of salt water, anesthetic and epinephrine into the treatment area. This injection aids fat removal. Your surgeon will then make small incisions in your skin and insert a tube called a cannula which sucks fat and fluid from your body.
Some procedures will only require local anesthesia though bigger procedures will call for general anesthesia. The procedure can last from one to multiple hours depending on how much fat you want to remove from your waist and hips.
Once the procedure is complete, you can expect pain, swelling and bruising. You may be given medication to help cope with the pain and be asked to rest for a few weeks before returning to normal activities.
How to maintain your new contours
Liposuction is a great way to immediately treat your love handles but it’s important to maintain a healthy lifestyle to maintain your liposuction results. This is because significant weight gain will still affect the remaining fat cells in the treated area and can undo the work of the procedure.
A healthy lifestyle is made up of two main things:
- Regular exercise
- Healthy diet
A combination of cardio or aerobic exercise and abdominal exercises can help burn fat cells and maintain a good figure. But to guarantee that your love handles are a permanent fixture in the past, you will need to embrace a healthy diet. Without one, you will likely regain body fat and put weight back on again. Focusing on a rich, deep diet with quality protein and whole grains while cutting down on simple carbs, sugar and unhealthy fats will give you the shape and figure you’re truly looking for.
If you commit to a healthier lifestyle, the results of your liposuction will be that much more prominent.
Don’t let love handles keep you from feeling confident
If you’re struggling to meet your body goals despite copious amounts of effort, it may be time to consider a liposuction procedure. And while the thought can be a little daunting you’ll be in safe hands at Northern Beaches Cosmetics.
Our surgeons are qualified, professional and extensively trained to help you remove your love handles – or help you achieve any other body goals you may have! Contact us now for your free consultation and start living life confidently today.
