If you’ve ever searched for “how to get a slimmer stomach” on the internet, you definitely have not alone. More than half of Americans follow some type of diet to lose belly fat, and the demographics are extremely interesting. Exposure to social media seems to increase the desperation people feel as they search for a reliable stomach slimmer and Millennials and members of Gen Z it’s very likely they’ve been trying to lose weight based on what they see there, although Gen X and Boomers, especially women, aren’t far behind in their desire to slim down that belly. What’s more frustrating is that for many of us, no amount of diet and exercise seems to get rid of those last belly bumps. So, if you’ve done everything you can and you’re just not seeing the results you want, we’ve got something for you: CoolSculpting. It’s safe, non-invasive and ends those last pockets of fat once and for all.
“CoolSculpting can be a great confidence booster when diet and exercise still leave stubborn areas of fat behind,” says Oliver. “CoolSculpting treatments can result in up to 20-25% reduction of stubborn fat in the treated areas. In addition to the fat reduction benefits, CoolSculpting treatments are non-invasive, permanent and require almost zero downtime!”
First of all, let’s answer the question on almost everyone’s mind at some point: why the heck can’t I get rid of that belly fat? It’s very common that no matter how much you exercise, what your exercise goals are, and even what healthy diet you eat, midsection fat will just… hang around and be annoying. There are several reasons for this:
Yes, yours genetics doto a large extent, they affect how and where your body stores fat. And for some people, their genes tell the fat to go to the visceral area around the belly. For others, it may be the hips, thighs or buttocks. But you know how genetics works: your sister may be able to successfully slim down her belly through diet and exercise, but no matter what you do, you just can’t. You’ve tried everything, and yet that stubborn lump persists. It is terribly disappointing! However, the endless combinations of genetic variations, even among close family members, are enormous. Maybe you’re after your great-grandmother Hilda, but your sister is after your great-great-grandfather Bruce. Who knows? Furthermore, genetics is not the only factor.
We also know that our fat metabolism and distribution tend to we change as we grow. If you could eat a bowl of ice cream every day when you were in high school without gaining weight, you know that you definitely can’t get the same results as a 30, 40 or 50 year old. As we age, our bodies tend to go into “fat storage” mode, and many times, this natural aging process focuses on hiding fat around the belly.
And speaking of belly fat, hormonal changes can do that to you, too. The menstrual cycle itself often causes a few kilos of weight to shift in the abdominal area regularly, on its own. And if you’re a woman cruising perimenopause or menopauseyour body can do it even more. During this phase of a woman’s life, estrogen levels rise while androgen levels increase, which in itself can cause belly fat to increase.
Hormonal changes can also make you crave different kinds of sweet, carb-heavy foods that aren’t doing your health any favors. And regardless of your age, chronic stress levels and environmental factors can increase levels of a hormone called cortisolwhich is essentially the flight fight hormone. It helps your body cope and deal with stressful situations in the moment, but our hectic lifestyles often mean cortisol hangs around more often than it should, shedding more belly fat “in case of emergency”. Thanks, cortisol. Chronic stress, therefore, can also promote the accumulation of belly fat.
So the question remains: how do you get a slimmer stomach even when your genetics, hormones or age are working against you? CoolSculpting to the rescue!
CoolSculptingat its core, it’s cooling and killing fat cells using a precise, controlled range of cold temperatures. After a series of CoolSculpting treatments, these fat cells will be processed and eliminated from your body forever.
“CoolSculpting is an FDA-approved fat reduction treatment that is non-invasive, permanent and requires zero downtime,” he says. “CoolSculpting uses a process called cryolipolysis which eliminates fat cells through low temperatures. This state-of-the-art technology allows precise temperatures to freeze fat cells, leaving the skin and other nearby tissues intact. During one CoolSculpting treatment, the area of concern is suctioned into an applicator, cooled for 35-75 minutes and then massaged to help break down dead fat cells. The body then naturally sheds the dead cells over several weeks leaving behind lasting effects.”
And yes, by sloughing off dead fat cells, we mean that’s what happens when you go to the bathroom over the next few weeks. You simply flush out those dead fat cells, unlike liposuction where the fat cells can be moved to other places in your body. They are gone!
The reason CoolSculpting is becoming so popular is that, apart from these positive results, it does not come with any of the risks of fat removal surgery such as liposuction. It is non-invasive, so there is no risk of infection or a long surgical healing process. There is also very little downtime. Except at the time of your appointment and some rest afterwards, you can return to your normal activities while enjoying this technologically advanced yet natural stomach thinner.
One of the things that patients really like about CoolSculpting is the natural results that gradually appear after the recommended series of treatments. It’s not sudden, but people are noticing. Best of all, you’ll notice it in the mirror and from the fit of your clothes. And once the fat is gone, it’s gone forever.
“A CoolSculpting Treatment ranges from 35-75 minutes depending on the area or areas being treated, with the total treatment session averaging around 1-3 hours,” explains Oliver. “For most patients, I recommend three total treatment sessions spaced 4-6 weeks apart.” After that, the fat cells continue to be shed for a few weeks afterwards.
CoolSculpting is revolutionary because it requires so little downtime and has far fewer risks and side effects than surgical fat removal techniques like liposuction. But there are some things patients should know.
And while CoolSculpting is generally considered safe and effective for stomach slimming for a wide range of people, it’s still important to consult with your dermatologist to determine if you’d be a good candidate for the procedure, as Oliver explains: “Patients who don’t would be Good candidates for CoolSculpting include people with cold sensitivity disorders such as Raynaud’s, those who are pregnant, those who want to treat sagging skin, those with visceral fat, those with an active skin infection in the treatment area, and those with current or previous herniation in treatment area.’
One of the most important things in deciding if CoolSculpting is right for you is by talking to your dermatologist. The best results come for people who are already doing everything they can to live a healthy lifestyle, but just can’t seem to get rid of stubborn pockets of belly fat (and we’ve all been there).
“CoolSculpting is not intended for weight losssays Oliver. “It is a body contouring procedure that reduces fat cells in the area or areas being treated. Fat cells eliminated with CoolSculpting weigh less than a pound, so while you may look thinner in the mirror due to tissue loss, you won’t see significant weight loss on the scale.”
At the core of everything we do here at Apex Skin, we encourage our patients to actively work towards a healthy lifestyle that makes them feel good from the inside out. Eating well leads to good results, as does staying hydrated, exercising regularly in a way that makes you feel happy and getting enough rest and stress relief to keep your cortisol levels low. All of this together, combined with the CoolSculpting stomach areas, will lead to the best possible results and overall satisfaction.
Post-treatment care is also important, Oliver stresses: “Patients should maintain a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet and regular exercise. Any significant weight gain can compromise the result.”
How to Get a Slimmer Stomach: Realistic Expectations and Results
As Oliver mentioned, CoolSculpting treatments reduce stubborn belly fat by 20-25% in treated areas. But just as genetics, hormones, stress, age, environment and personal factors converge to make you the unique person you are, results can also vary from person to person when it comes to CoolSculpting. Based on extensive discussions with your provider at our dermatology office, we’ll create a 2- to 4-session CoolSculpting program tailored to your needs so we can help you get your stomach slimmer than it has been with all the other hard work you have done did.
Here at Apex Skin, we understand your struggle with stubborn waist fat and want to tell you to stop blaming yourself! If you’re eating right and exercising and the belly fat just won’t budge, we get it! There are so many reasons for being there that have nothing to do with factors you can control. You can, however, check this: schedule a consultation at the Apex Skin location closest to you in Northeast Ohio to find out if CoolSculpting is right for you. Let us guide you through your mid-section renovation journey today!
