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For appointments call 1 203 661 7546

February 13, 2020

How to Eliminate Stubborn Belly Fat

Losing weight around the belly is about as tricky as keeping New Year’s resolutions. Diet and exercise can sometimes work, but there often seems to be a layer of fat that is simply impervious to natural efforts. If you’ve been struggling to get rid of those last few pounds for many years, why not try something new that you know will work?

Before considering going under the knife, think about this: we have the most advanced non-surgical fat reduction options that offer amazing results with minimal invasion and carry way less risk than Liposuction. New treatments using cold, heat, radiofrequency, and electromagnetism all work to target fat cells and get rid of them in the longterm.

Discover some procedures below that may be the perfect solution for eliminating your stubborn excess tummy fat!

flat belly

Freeze away the fat with Coolsculpting 

Here’s a fun fact: Coolsculpting was originally invented because doctors noticed that children eating Popsicles showed fat reduction and developed dimples in their cheeks. Sounds counterintuitive, right? Believe it or not, extreme cold is actually capable of getting rid of fat cells by freezing them. Fat cells are much more receptive to cryolipolysis (Coolsculpting) than other cells, so when the treatment paddles are applied to the affected area, only the fat cells and not the skin are crystallized. After freezing, the fat cells then break down in the body through natural metabolic processes. If we look at the Greek word cryolipolysis (imagine reading this it the voice of Mr. Portokalos from My Big Fat Greek Wedding) cryo = cold, lipo = fat, lysis = breakdown. The word literally means fat breakdown due to cold.

Coolsculpting is safe and effective for many different areas of the body. Reduce fat in the stomach, get rid of love handles, say goodbye to that double chin, slim the inner thighs, and get rid of excess back fat all with Coolsculpting. When you come into the clinic for the procedure, the area to be treated will be marked and covered with a gel pad. The area will be placed between two paddles that safely target the fat layer and crystallizes its cells. You’ll feel an intense cold at first, but it goes away after the area is numbed. You’ll find results of a 20-25% reduction in the fat layer’s thickness after one session, with full results visible after two months.

Coolscupting is an FDA-cleared treatment that is considered to be safe for all skin types. However, Greenwich Dermatology will hold off on treating the darkest skin types 5 and 6 until further notice because this skin type is naturally more cold sensitive. If you suffer from cryoglobulinemia, cold agglutinin disease, or paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria, you are not eligible for Coolsculpting. Please tell your doctor about any pre-existing conditions, surgeries, or allergies before deciding on this treatment. 

flat stomach with toned abs

Eliminate fat and build muscle with Emsculpt

Are you someone who works out, but still feels overwhelmed by how slow progress is in shaping and toning your abs? Perhaps you’re starting to feel the effects of gravity as you age on your body and want to take charge of the process and feel younger again. If you’re looking for a non-invasive treatment that eliminates fat and simultaneously builds muscle, Emsculpt may be right for you. It’s the only fat reduction treatment that actually targets the muscle and not just the layer of fat. Greenwich Dermatology was the first practice to introduce Emsculpt in CT and the first in the US to purchase the Emsculpt for biceps, triceps, and calves, so you know you are in great hands when you do the treatment with us.

FDA-approved, Emsculpt uses HIFEM (high-intensity electromagnetic energy) to decrease fat and increase muscle thickness in the abdomen. The energy creates muscle contractions that far outweigh the possibilities you could achieve on your own. To put it into perspective, it’s about the equivalent of doing 20,000 crunches in 30 minutes. With this high frequency targeted energy, the overlying fat is broken down into free fatty acids that slowly exit the body over the next few months. At the same time, as your muscles don’t have time to relax during the procedure, the creation of new muscle fibrils occurs. The HIFEM procedure on the bum does not eliminate fat but rather focuses on lifting and toning.

toned body with no tummy fat

Heat things up and Vanquish the fat fast!

Finally, there’s BTL VANQUISH ME, using patented Selective RF™ (radiofrequency) technology. It’s the only FDA-cleared no-contact selective radiofrequency technology that targets the largest treatment area in a single session. Whereas Coolsculpting is made more for stubborn pockets of fat, Vanquish targets the entire abdominal area. You can reduce ‘pinchable fat’ on your abs and outer thighs with this non-invasive treatment that sends intense pulses of radiofrequency to heat up targeted fat cells. The fatty cells break down and after several months, they are completely eliminated from your system. The average patient has four to six Vanquish treatments, spaced a minimum of a week apart.

During the Vanquish procedure, the device will be placed over the treatment area, but will not touch the skin. You will feel a gentle warming akin to using a heating pad or getting close to a heater, but it should be comfortable. Some patients even fall asleep. If there is any discomfort, you can press a button that will immediately alert the technician. If you have metal implants, pacemakers, defibrillators, cochlear implants or diabetic pumps, or are pregnant or breastfeeding, you are not eligible for this procedure. 

Three solutions to kick troublesome fat to the curb

Depending on which area of the body you want to target and tone, and what your lifestyle is like, one of these treatments may be right for you. Talk to your doctor about your history and what you’d like to personally achieve to help you make your decision. Each of these non-surgical treatments typically takes about 30-45 minutes per session and the results are lasting. The best part is, the fat cells can’t grow back once they’re gone. Goodbye fat and hello to a whole new you!