In our quest to look and feel our best, it’s important to understand which factors pave the path toward success and which ones can hinder our journey. Fat often gets a bad rap, rejected as the enemy of health, but nothing could be further from the truth. Fat is actually an essential part of the human body, playing a number of important roles in our overall wellbeing.
Fat Wears Several Hats
Subcutaneous fat is located directly beneath the skin and acts as insulation, helping us to retain heat and protect our inner core from dramatic shifts in temperature. If our surrounding conditions become too cold, this fat can release energy and generate much-needed warmth.
Visceral fat, on the other hand, forms a layer around our bones, tissues, nerves and major organs, including the heart and brain. This fat has the distinguished role of protecting vital parts of our body from trauma by acting as a shock absorber to protect against damage.
Fat is also an essential source of energy. Although the body first looks to carbohydrates to provide energy, this supply can become quickly exhausted. Fat acts as a backup, storing energy for crucial moments.
Stubborn Subcutaneous Fat
Subcutaneous fat can gather in certain parts of the body and don’t respond to diet and exercise. Regardless of how many calories you count or crunches you manage, problem spots often hold on to their bulges. If you’re plagued by pesky pockets of fat, there’s good news: liposuction preserves the good fat while helping you to lose the bad stuff.
There are two types of subcutaneous fat: deep and superficial. Liposuction targets the deeper layers of subcutaneous fat to give you a more sculpted appearance. The body contouring procedure dissolves and eliminates stubborn fat for a smoother, leaner look.
Author: Dr. Joseph Castellano
Dr. Joseph Castellano is a native Floridian who grew up in the Tampa Bay area. After medical school and residency, Dr. Castellano returned home and has opened a practice in Tampa, Florida focusing on breast augmentation, abdominoplasty, liposuction, facelift, and eyelid rejuvenation. He is a member of the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, American College of Surgeons, and American Medical Association
