Is There a Difference Between Fat and Cellulite?

Many people use the words fat and cellulite interchangeably, especially when they’re looking to improve their physical appearance.

At Bergen Aesthetics, experienced physician, Dr. Heripsime Ohanian offers in-office treatment options including body contouring to eliminate stubborn fat and Cellulaze® to reduce visible cellulite and increase your satisfaction with how you look.

To help you better understand which treatment may be right for you, Dr. Ohanian breaks down the key differences between fat and cellulite and what you can do about it.

Fat versus cellulite

Within your body are two types of fat – visceral fat and subcutaneous fat.

Visceral fat is the fat that surrounds your organs. This type of fat can build up under the muscles in your abdomen and increase the size of your waistline.

Subcutaneous fat is found in layers just beneath the surface of your skin. This type of fat pads your muscles and bones. It also provides insulation for your body to help to regulate your internal temperature.

Cellulite develops from the interaction of fat and connective tissue below the surface of your skin, especially around your buttocks, thighs, and hips. Areas of cellulite have a dimpled appearance because of connective tissue that separates fat cells into different areas in the shape of a honeycomb.

Anyone can have cellulite. As you get older and your skin thins out, you’re more likely to have noticeable cellulite. The amount and type of fat cells you have depends on your genetic background and your lifestyle.

Health concerns of excess fat

When you have excess visceral fat, it can increase your risk for certain health conditions such as:

Subcutaneous fat can also increase your risk of these health problems, as well as sleep apnea, some kinds of cancer, and kidney and liver disease. 

While many people are interested in slimming their body and smoothing their skin to enhance their natural appearance, you should also make the necessary lifestyle changes to reduce the amount of fat you carry. Losing fat is possible through a healthy diet and daily exercise.

How body contouring and Cellulaze can work for you

Bergen Aesthetics offers a number of body-contouring services to eliminate excess fat. One popular treatment involves Smartlipo® Triplex® technology that delivers laser energy directly into your fat cells to destroy them.

Dr. Ohanian also offers Tumescent liposuction, a procedure to eliminate subcutaneous fat with injections of liquid, an anesthetic, and medications to constrict capillaries.

Other body-contouring services offered at Bergen Aesthetics include:

For treating cellulite, Dr. Ohanian offers Cellulaze technology. This treatment uses laser energy to destroy fat cells that cause cellulite and relax the connective tissues that pull on your skin and make cellulite more visible.

Additionally, Cellulaze stimulates your body’s natural production of collagen proteins that help tighten your skin and give it a younger, firmer appearance.

If you’re unhappy with how you look because of excess fat deposits or noticeable cellulite, contact our office in Paramus, New Jersey to schedule a body-contouring or Cellulaze consultation.

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