Different types of fat

So just a brief Blog today. I thought it would be interesting to discuss the different types of fat in the human body. Most of us are familiar with the yellow fat. That's the stuff we want to get rid of! Our mature bodies store long term energy as yellow fat (for the most part). In response to carbohydrate stimulus, the pancreas produces insulin, which helps to shunt the sugar in the blood to (yellow) fat.

Children have something called brown fat, which is set up more for "easy access". This fat burns off quickly in response to metabolic need. This is "healthy" fat. Adults can make brown fat as well. In fact, a good friend and mentor of mine, Dr. Jame Lyons has published a book on this at http://www.thebrownfatrevolution.com


Finally there is the fibrous structural fat, such as cushions the soles of the feet, the palms of the hands, and protects and cushions the vital organs. We don't want to lose any of this fat. This really doesn't vary much with weight or diet.

So Liposuction targets the unwanted yellow fat. For a general overview of liposuction, you can take a look at the blog of another friend of mine, Dr. Kenneth Rose at http://www.drroseblog.com/2010/03/liposuction-the-basics/

Is Liposcution for Me? What about SmartLipo?

Straight off, Liposuction is NOT a weight loss method. It is ideal for stubborn, localized accumulations of subcutaneous (just under the skin) fat. Most people don't understand just how much fat is in a pound. Fat is lighter than water, and much lighter than muscle, which is how most people envision body weight (like a pound of steak, for example).

Liposuction is not without potential for complications like contour irregularities, prolonged swelling, scarring, and even life-threatening ones such as deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary or fat embolism. So it shouldn't be taken lightly. Having said that, in the vast majority of cases, on the right candidates and done by the right surgeons, it is extremely safe and effective.

Great candidate: right around ideal weight, but with extra fat in the buttocks or lower abdomen, thighs (saddlebags) or hips ("love handles"). Inappropriate candidate: 5 ft 4 in and weighing in at over 200 pounds. It is not a way to take off ten pounds. Or even five. Or where you've had too much stretching of the skin or your skin tone is very slack from aging. A certain amount of tightening can be achieved with Smart Lipo, but only the Surgeon can determine this.

But to complete that plan for the summer, smoothing out those thighs, tummy or "love handles" Liposuction is ideal.

Next time:

How is it done? How long will I be out of commission? When can I get into my bathing suit after Liposuction?

Stay warm

Dr. Verne

Spring Liposuction Season

As the days get longer, and the sun is higher in the sky, we start to imagine ourselves outdoors in shorts, tank-tops and bathing suits. Most of us start the New Year with a plan to trim off and shape up. But right around April, people start to realize that their fitness plan hasn't quite worked as effectively as they had hoped.

So they think about finishing off the plan with liposuction. Spring is traditionally the time when requests for liposuction increase. April is a great time to get liposuction. The problem is that by the time you get around to making an appointment, seeing the Plastic Surgeon and booking the surgery, April has turned in to May and June. Not enough time to recover.

That's why it's important to plan earlier than April. The time to schedule is now.

Next Blog I'll talk about how to decide if liposuction is for you.

Till then, enjoy every sandwich

Dr. Verne