We all know the challenges of trying to keep our weight down. While we each carry and store excess fat in varying ways, we all tend to put on a few pounds as we age. A struggle for everyone, there are interesting differences based on gender. Whereas women hold weight around the pelvis, buttocks, and thighs—men tend to hold most of their weight around their stomachs.
Understanding Fat Cell Development
For the first six years of our lives, the number and size of fat cells triple in both boys and girls. However, as early as the age of eight, girls start to gain fat mass at a greater rate than boys. During their respective adolescent growth spurts, the ratio of fat increases in girls almost doubles that of boys. Yet, unlike in their earlier years, a girl’s fat cells expand in size, not number. For both sexes, the number of fat cells does not tend to change after adolescence.
Sorry Women, but Women Have a Higher Percentage of Body Fat than Men
By age 25, a healthy weight woman has nearly twice as much body fat as a healthy-weight man. Due to female hormones, women commonly have both a higher number of fat cells as well as larger fat cells. Believe it or not, a woman’s body is efficiently storing fat. Advantageous during pregnancy and nursing, it appears a woman’s fat is held as a reserve storage to meet and support the energy demands throughout these times.
Women also experience cellulite at a far higher rate than men. Seemingly unfair, 90% of women will struggle with cellulite at some point in their life while only 10% of men will.
Men, You Are Not in the Clear
Storing fat around their midsection, this more pronounced belly is often referred to as a “pot belly”. Excess weight in the belly is more metabolically active, enabling the fat to easily break down and enter the chemical processes that are related to disease. Excess stomach fat is strongly associated with an increased risk of coronary artery disease, diabetes, elevated triglycerides, and hypertension. A somewhat losing battle, belly fat is restocked at a faster rate than it is being depleted—and thus is why abdominal fat is often resistant to diet and exercise.
Southeastern Aesthetic Surgery has a Solution
With the assistance of SmartLipo, Dr. Austin is able to permanently remove excess fat. Minimally-invasive, SmartLipo uses an innovative combination of laser energy and tumescent liposuction. Using a tiny laser, fat is heated, melted, and dissolves prior to being suctioned out with a small, straw-like cannula. SmartLipo is unique in that it helps stimulate collagen production which in turn, contributes to skin contraction—giving you firmer, healthier appearing skin.
If you are struggling to rid your body of specific areas of fat, Dr. Austin and his highly skilled team at Southeastern Aesthetic Surgery are here to help you. See what Smartlipo has to offer—schedule a consultation with us today.