How can localised fat be removed?
There is no method that makes it disappear from a chosen area. Localised fat is the fat the body stores under the skin in areas determined by genetics and hormones, and it reduces when total fat decreases, with time and a routine you can keep up. What the clinic can offer is a contouring ritual, with professional active ingredients and manual technique, to work on the appearance of the silhouette. Results vary from person to person and depend on each case, so the doctor explains what is realistic before any decision.
Is it possible to lose fat in just one area?
Research in general does not confirm it. In a trial with sedentary adults, six weeks of abdominal exercises did not reduce belly fat, and in another, twelve weeks of training one leg only lowered body fat, mainly in the trunk and arms, and not in the trained leg. There is one small study pointing the other way, which shows the subject is not entirely settled. Local training strengthens the muscle of the area, but it should not be expected to choose where the fat comes from.
Localised fat or visceral fat: what is the difference?
Localised fat is subcutaneous, lies under the skin and is the fat you can pinch with your fingers. Visceral fat is inside the abdomen, around the organs, and scientific organisations describe it as an independent cardiometabolic risk factor. A hard, tense, prominent abdomen may contain a lot of visceral fat. It cannot be told apart in the mirror, which is why waist circumference is considered a simple sign to measure. If you have doubts, the doctor assesses first, and only then do we talk about aesthetics.
Why do the fat on the flanks and belly resist so much?
Because fat distribution depends on genetics, hormones and the type of fat cells in each area, and not only on what you eat or the exercise you do. Scientific reviews describe that men and women tend to accumulate fat in different places. With age, and in women with menopause, the abdomen tends to gain volume. That is why two people of the same weight can have very different waists, and one area can be the last to respond when you lose weight.
Localised fat in menopause: why does the body change?
In a study that followed women for four years, those who went through menopause gained visceral fat and total fat and burned less energy, and all of them, with or without menopause, gained subcutaneous abdominal fat with age. That is why it is common for the waist to gain volume without any change in habits. It helps to strengthen muscle with strength training, keep up daily movement and talk to the doctor about the stage you are in. A contouring ritual may be considered after the assessment, with realistic expectations.
What is the difference between Ritual Sculpt and Ritual Modela?
The Sculpt works on the contour and refines the most stubborn areas of localised fat: it is more targeted, when there is a specific area you want to refine. The Modela is a global protocol that combines reducing, firming and draining active ingredients and adjusts the priorities to each area and each person: it is broader, when you want to redefine the silhouette as a whole. Both are performed with professional mesoestetic® active ingredients and manual technique, in a non-invasive way. The assessment with the doctor determines which makes sense in your case, or whether both at different times.
What treatments exist for localised fat, and how do they differ from the rituals?
There are several approaches, from changes in routine to medical procedures. At Luxmed, the Sculpt and Modela rituals are manual, performed with professional mesoestetic® active ingredients, and do not use devices. The Body Aesthetics page describes medical procedures, such as radiofrequency, carboxytherapy and intradermotherapy, which are decided in consultation and complement the rituals. We will not compare devices that the clinic does not describe in these rituals. The doctor explains the options, what is known about each one and what you can expect, without promising results.
How many sessions are needed to reduce measurements?
There is no single number for everyone. It depends on the ritual, the area, the starting point and what you want to achieve, so the clinic sets the number of sessions and the interval between them at the assessment, with realistic expectations and without promising centimetres. Contour and firmness tend to improve progressively, and are helped by regularity and an active lifestyle. Be wary of anyone who promises an exact number of sessions or centimetres before examining you.
Do the measurements come back after treatment?
They can come back if lifestyle changes. Reviews on weight maintenance describe that, after weight loss, a plateau and then a gradual regain are common, for biological, behavioural and environmental reasons, and that prolonged follow-up helps. Contouring is similar: the ritual works on the appearance of the silhouette, and maintenance depends on routine, movement, sleep and diet. The doctor talks to you about this at the assessment and during follow-up.
Can I count on results? What can I expect?
No one can promise them with certainty. Results vary from person to person and depend on each case. What you can expect from a contouring ritual is a progressive improvement in the appearance of the silhouette and in how the area feels, measured with a tape measure and photographs, and not the disappearance of fat from an area. It does not replace diet, exercise or medical assessment, and it is not a treatment for obesity. The doctor explains what is realistic in your case before any decision.
Do contouring rituals have risks? When should they not be done?
Any treatment can cause skin reactions, which depend on the ritual and on each person, and the team explains them before starting. Tell us if you have allergies or skin that reacts easily, if you are pregnant, may be pregnant or are breastfeeding, if you have wounds or infection in the area, and what medication you take, including weight-loss therapies. Some rituals may have to wait. A distended abdomen, persistent pain, unexplained weight loss or a bulge on effort should be seen first by a doctor.
When should I see a doctor first, before booking a ritual?
Before any ritual, if your abdomen has grown quickly, is distended or hurts, if you have lost weight without explanation, if you have a bulge that appears on effort or after a pregnancy, or if your legs are sore to the touch and bruise easily. Also if you have chronic conditions or take medication that affects weight. The assessment at Luxmed is carried out by Dr Michelle Campagnoli, who distinguishes localised fat from other causes and, where appropriate, refers you on. A high waist circumference is a health matter, not only an aesthetic one.
Can I book a body contour assessment in Algés?
Yes. Clínica Luxmed is in Algés, in the municipality of Oeiras, and welcomes people from Lisbon and the surrounding area. The body assessment is carried out by the doctor, who knows the areas you want to treat, measures, records and proposes only what makes sense for you, always under clinical supervision. You can book by WhatsApp, by phone or through the website form, Monday to Saturday. You do not have to decide anything at that consultation, and the cost of any treatment is explained after the assessment.
How should I prepare for the body assessment?
Bring a list of the products you use on your skin, any allergies you know of, and the treatments and surgeries you have had, as well as your medication, including any weight-loss therapy. It helps to note when the area changed and whether there was a pregnancy, diet or menopause in between. If you have photographs from some months or years ago, bring them, because they show the journey. Wear clothing that allows the area to be observed easily. If you have recent test results, they also help the doctor see your health picture as a whole.
