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November 17, 2024
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Weight gain in menopause and general middle-age spread are the hardest kind of weight to shift; and belly fat loss is particularly tricky. However, as Anna Murphy from Expat Living explains, women in Singapore do have shortcuts at hand, including Vaser Liposuction.
The transition to menopause
In my twenties, I was a size 10, occasionally a size 8. After having twins in my early thirties, I shrank back into pre-mum jeans and undergarments. The forties were not as kind. Early-onset menopause and couch-potato habits spring-loaded my weight gain to a size 12.
It’s easy for magazine writers and social media to carp endlessly about exercise and diet, but have you been to menopause? Along with the depression, brain fog and hormonal hijinks, there’s also a sense of wading through pea soup; exercise and diet are the top two ‘nopes’ for anyone scraping through this season.
Some women have easy transitions, of course; yet understanding menopause, especially from the perimenopausal period from the age of 30, can help to mitigate the inevitable middle-age spread, where poor choices come home to roost – especially around the abdomen, hips and thighs!
Genetics and other factors in middle-age spread
While declining oestrogen levels cause the most havoc during menopause, genetics and lifestyle also add to weight gain. We are likelier than not to flesh out like our mothers, thanks to genetics. We know this because we have mirrors and photos. Compounding this is age-related muscle loss that slows metabolism. With the body burning less calories, it follows that we have to eat less and move more. The Netflix binge-fest with crisps has to stop! Also, get enough sleep because stress, cortisol and comfort-eating are other factors piling on the menopausal belly fat.
Middle-age spread, especially around the abdomen, carries serious health risks as well, such as breathing problems, cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. The risk of breast, colon and endometrial cancers also increases.
Aside from exercise and diet, some studies suggest that hormone replacement therapy, also known as menopausal hormone therapy, is associated with less fat gain and also has potential beneficial effects on muscle mass.
All that said, I took the shortcut. When I found myself in surgery for ovarian cysts and offhandedly suggested disappearing my Michelin tyres at the same time, my OB-GYN and plastic surgeon were happy to oblige. However, the downtime ran into months and, while the fat disappeared, there was scarring.
How Vaser Liposuction can help
It’s a boon to women just tired of buying bigger clothes, fad-dieting and namaste-ing their way through menopause.
Weight loss and fat removal are not the same thing. Medical director of Amaris B. Clinic, Dr Ivan Puah, says, “treatment for weight gain in menopause and targeted belly fat loss are very different. When you lose weight, you will lose both fat and muscles simultaneously. At the same time, the rate at which different parts of your body burns through fat is different as well. For example, one may lose more fat from unexpected areas such as the breasts rather than from ‘stubborn’ areas like the hips when one starts to lose weight.”
This is the experience of most menopausal women trying to lose belly fat: the body loses fat in all the wrong places. Vaser Liposuction is an ultrasonic-assisted liposuction. Dr Puah has undergone body sculpting and Vaser liposuction training in the USA and Argentina and is accredited by the Ministry Of Health Singapore to perform liposuction. He has more than 15 years of clinical experience in the procedure.
Treatment for belly fat loss – and results
Dr Puah designed a body-sculpting method where melted fat is removed and the body simultaneously sculpted. The procedure doesn’t disturb the surrounding area, results in less blood loss, and removes fat cells permanently with minimum scarring. Bonus points for increased collagen production during Vaser Liposuction that helps the skin to retract, preventing sagging or loose skin. The fat can also be used to enhance other body areas, such as the breasts. Various options are available, depending on the candidate’s specific concerns and needs.
The results depend on the amount of fat present and the overall physical well-being of the candidate. Most can resume their daily routine shortly after treatment, provided they adhere strictly to post-treatment instructions. Candidates continue to see improvements after three to six months. Importantly, the newly sculpted body can only be maintained with regular exercise and a healthy diet.
No one said it would be easy, but a future with a flat tummy has arrived!
