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Summary

• Visceral fat and subcutaneous fat are two types of body fat located in different areas
• Visceral fat is located underneath the muscle, surrounding the internal organs within the abdomen, subcutaneous fat sits between the skin and the muscle
• Although body fat is required for thermal regulation, protection and structure, too much fat can pose a risk to health and may lead to a loss in confidence
• While visceral fat needs to be addressed through weight loss, stubborn areas of subcutaneous fat can be reduced with Liposuction
• Cadogan Clinic is a UK-leading specialist Liposuction clinic, with a team of expert Consultant Plastic Surgeons offering a range of fat loss procedures

Visceral Fat vs Subcutaneous Fat

Fat, also known as adipose tissue, accumulates in two layers throughout the body:

• Visceral fat: Located underneath the muscle, surrounding the internal organs within the abdomen
• Subcutaneous fat: Located above the muscle and underneath the skin

Cadogan Clinic is an award-winning surgical centre of excellence, with a team of UK-leading Consultant Body Contouring Surgeons who specialise in all areas of fat reduction treatment. Our founder, Mr. Bryan Mayou introduced Liposuction to the UK over forty years ago, and Cadogan Clinic is at the forefront of surgical fat reduction and fat transfer.

Any type of excess fat can be the cause of a variety of functional and aesthetic concerns. As well as increasing the risk of certain cardiovascular and metabolic health conditions, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes, excess fat can have a significant impact on the shape and contours of the body, which may affect confidence and self-image, and impact the activities an individual feels comfortable taking part in.

Understanding the difference between visceral fat and subcutaneous fat is important as the placement of fat plays a crucial role in determining the best treatment.

What is Visceral Fat?

Visceral fat is located deeply within the abdomen, beneath the muscle, and surrounds the internal organs, including the liver, pancreas and intestines.

Visceral fat is unique because it is described as active fat. This means that it functions similarly to hormonal organs, releasing inflammatory compounds which can increase the risk of developing certain health conditions such as:

• Heart disease
• Alzheimer’s
• Cancer
• Type II Diabetes
• Stroke
• High cholesterol
• High blood pressure

Visceral fat is located only in your torso, which partly explains why healthcare professionals often consider waist to hip ratio when assessing certain health risks. Having a lower waist to hip ratio may indicate that you are at a lower risk of developing certain health conditions; however, it is not possible to determine the exact placement of fat this way.

As it is found below the muscle, visceral fat cannot specifically be felt through the skin. Signs of high levels of visceral fat include the abdomen feeling firm and hardened, but often combined with a distended appearance. As this is often associated with high alcohol consumption, it is colloquially referred to as a ‘beer belly’.

Mostly due to hormonal patterns, men are more likely to accumulate visceral fat. Higher testosterone levels in young men helps to balance fat distribution, but as testosterone naturally declines with age, visceral fat storage is accelerated.

What is Subcutaneous Fat?

Subcutaneous fat is found just below the skin, lying above the muscle. It is found all over the body, but is often found in higher amounts in the abdomen, hips, thighs, buttocks and arms.

Although excess subcutaneous fat is also associated with an increased risk of developing certain cardiovascular and metabolic health conditions, it is significantly less metabolically active and secretes fewer inflammatory compounds than visceral fat, meaning the associated health risks are generally lower.

As subcutaneous fat is located directly below the skin, its shape can be seen, and it can be felt through the skin. Excess subcutaneous fat feels soft and pinchable, but bounces back into shape very quickly. It shouldn’t be confused with loose skin, which feels thinner and doesn’t return to its original shape as quickly when it is manipulated.

Many people feel that stubborn pockets of subcutaneous fat can affect the shape and proportions of their body, even when they are maintaining a healthy weight.

There are two different types of body fat, visceral fat, which sits below the muscle in the abdomen and surrounds the organs, and subcutaneous fat, which sits beneath the skin and above the muscle across the body. Understanding fat placement is important in deciding on the best treatment options.

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Body Fat Calculator

Both visceral fat and subcutaneous fat are essential for several bodily functions:

•    Energy storage
•    Temperature regulation
•    Protection
•    Structural support

At healthy levels, body fat is not a concern for most people; however, both excess visceral and subcutaneous fat can pose a health risk.

Knowing your overall body fat percentage (BFP) is important for assessing your personal health risks, although it isn’t possible to distinguish between visceral and subcutaneous fat through these calculations.

The simplest way to calculate your own body fat percentage is with your BMI (Body Mass Index). This method provides an estimate and may not be suitable for those who have a high muscle mass.

To calculate your Body Mass Index:

1. Measure your height in metres and multiply it by itself to calculate your height squared
2. Divide your weight in kg by your height squared

For example, if you weight 70kg and are 1.7m tall:

• 1.7 x 1.7 = 2.89
• 70 ÷ 2.89 = 24.2

Once you have calculated your BMI, you can use this number to estimate your body fat percentage. The equation is slightly different depending on your gender.

To calculate your Body Fat Percentage (BFP):

• For adult men: 1.20 x BMI + 0.23 x Age – 16.2
• For adult women: 1.20 x BMI + 0.23 x Age – 5.4

Using the body fat calculator chart below, you can determine whether your level of body fat places you at a potentially increased risk of certain health conditions:

 

It is normal for women to naturally have a higher level of fat than men to support reproduction, pregnancy and breastfeeding.

While total body fat percentage gives you an overview of your overall composition, it cannot distinguish between subcutaneous and visceral fat. Professional clinical devices (such as bioimpedance analysers used in a clinic) grade visceral fat on an independent numerical scale, where a rating under 10 is typically considered healthy. For a precise measurement of visceral fat, advanced imaging like a CT or MRI scan is required. If you are concerned about your levels, a healthcare professional can assess your individual risk profile accurately.

It is important to understand your personal body fat percentage (BFP) to assess how your health may be affected. Using a body fat calculator is the best way to work out an estimate of your body fat percentage at home.

How to Remove Different Types of Body Fat?

Once you understand whether your concerns are being caused by primarily visceral or subcutaneous fat, it is possible to consider the range of treatment options available.

Some treatments and lifestyle changes will reduce both visceral and subcutaneous fat; however, some types of body fat can only be reduced with certain methods.

Speaking with a Consultant Plastic Surgeon or General Practitioner is the best way to determine what the best treatment for your concerns is, and the best route forward.

How to Get Rid of Visceral Fat?

All techniques and treatments to reduce visceral fat will also typically reduce subcutaneous fat. Although visceral fat treatment can’t distinguish between visceral and subcutaneous fat, it is important to remember that in most cases, your body will naturally protect the minimum fat reserves that your body requires.

In most cases, patients’ primary aim in reducing their visceral fat is to improve their health outcomes, and either treat or reduce their risk of developing, certain health conditions.

Diet and Exercise

Changes to diet and exercise are popular ways to reduce both visceral and subcutaneous fat. By maintaining a calorie deficit, using more calories than you consume, your body makes use of your excess fat as an energy source, resulting in fat reduction.

Diet and exercise should be consistent and may take several months to achieve your desired outcomes. It is also important to maintain healthy protein levels and use strength training to ensure that your muscle mass doesn’t deplete, which can affect your health.

Weight Loss Medication

Weight Loss Medication is an increasingly popular treatment option for patients with weight concerns who have struggled to lose excess fat through diet and exercise.

Many Weight Loss Medications were originally prescribed as a treatment for Type II Diabetes, but their weight loss benefits have now also been embraced and offer transformative results for both health and aesthetics for patients who have previously struggled long-term with managing their weight.

There are several Weight Loss Medication options available for patients considering this route:

• GLP-1 Receptor Agonists: For many people this is the most recognisable weight loss medication. These are injectable or tablet treatments which lower blood sugar levels and reduce the speed at which food moves through the stomach, resulting in a suppressed appetite
• Dual GIP/GLP-1 Agonists: These are advanced prescription treatments administered via subcutaneous injection that work by targeting multiple receptors to suppress appetite and regulate blood sugar. Clinical data demonstrates exceptional efficacy for both metabolic health and weight management.
• Orlistat: Orlistat is an alternative tablet treatment which prevents a proportion of the fat consumed from being absorbed

It is essential that Weight Loss Medication be prescribed by a qualified medical professional who can assess your suitability and monitor your progress and any unwanted side effects.

Factors your doctor will consider to determine whether you are suitable for Weight Loss Medication include:

• Your BMI: Weight Loss Medication is typically most beneficial to patients with a BMI over 35
• Medical history and existing medical conditions: Patients who are affected by, or at high risk of weight-related conditions may benefit from Weight Loss Medication
• Any previous weight loss methods: Weight Loss Medication is rarely the first option an individual should try, and your consultant may suggest other methods first
• Your ethnicity and family background: Certain ethnicities are at a higher risk of weight-related health conditions

Your doctor will discuss all of these factors during your consultation and will explain whether you are suitable for Weight Loss Medication and the results you can expect to achieve.

How to Remove Subcutaneous Fat?

Subcutaneous fat can also be reduced with diet and exercise and Weight Loss Medication. However, for patients who wish to reduce targeted pockets of subcutaneous fat which are affecting their bodily contours and proportions, Liposuction is an effective and popular option.

Liposuction

Liposuction is a surgical fat removal procedure which targets stubborn areas of fat which may have been resistant to diet and exercise.

During a Liposuction procedure, small incisions are made in the treatment area, and a specialist cannula is inserted to break down and remove the fat. The incision is then closed to reveal the final results.

Liposuction can be used across the body, but popular areas include:

• Abdomen
• Waist and hips
• Thighs
• Arms
• Buttocks

There are several types of Liposuction which can be used in different areas, depending on the concerns and desired results of the patient. Laser and Vaser Liposuction are both popular options to use in areas where the skin is slightly stretchier, such as the upper arms and inner thighs, to tighten the skin as part of the fat removal process, preventing loose skin from forming.

Liposuction can also be combined with Fat Transfer to recontour different areas of the body, such as the hips (Hip Dip Surgery), breasts (Natural Breast Augmentation) and buttocks (Brazilian Butt Lift or BBL).

It is important to bear in mind that Liposuction is not a weight loss surgery and is not able to remove large amounts of fat. To be suitable for Liposuction, you should have maintained a healthy weight for at least six months before the procedure.  Liposuction also cannot remove visceral fat because visceral fat sits deep inside the abdominal cavity behind the abdominal wall muscles and around the internal organs. Instrumenting this internal cavity with liposuction cannulas is clinically unsafe, which is why liposuction is strictly reserved for removing subcutaneous fat located safely between the skin and the muscle.

While visceral fat treatment typically involves general weight loss techniques such as diet and exercise or Weight Loss Medication, subcutaneous fat can also be reduced using Liposuction.

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Frequently Asked Questions