Body Contouring

Excess Skin vs. Fat: How to Differentiate For Body Contouring Treatments

Loose Skin vs. Fat: Choose the Right Treatment

It’s common to confuse loose skin with stubborn fat, but the difference matters when choosing a body contouring treatment that actually works. Whether you’re looking to tone, tighten, or sculpt, knowing what’s under the surface is the first step to getting results you’ll love.

Why The Difference Matters for Results 

Getting the most out of your body contouring treatment starts with identifying the right concern. Fat and loose skin respond to different technologies, and mixing them up can lead to underwhelming results. 

Here’s why it matters:

  • Fat is best treated with body contouring technologies that break down fat cells, like CoolSculpting
  • Loose skin needs treatments that stimulate collagen and tighten tissue, like Thermage or RF Microneedling.

Choosing the wrong treatment means you may not see the results you expect. 

How To Tell the Difference Between Loose Skin and Fat

One of the most common challenges in body contouring is knowing exactly what’s causing the concern, fat or loose skin. Even though they can look similar, they respond very differently to treatment, so getting it right is the first step to seeing results.

Here’s what to look for:

  • Fat typically feels firm, thicker to the touch, and resistant to movement. It often bulges outward and may feel dense under the skin.
  • Loose skin tends to feel thin and soft, with less resistance. It often creases easily, hangs slightly, and may feel deflated, especially after weight loss or pregnancy.

Try The Pinch Test At Home

A simple way to get started is with a quick pinch test. Gently grab an inch of skin and pull outward. If the area feels thick, dense, and hard to lift, it’s likely fat. If the skin lifts easily, feels thin, and creases without much resistance, it’s probably loose skin. This test isn’t perfect, but it’s a helpful first step in figuring out what’s under the surface.

“The ideal candidate for CoolSculpting has pinchable fat, this means pinchable with two fingers, like you can pinch it with your thumb and your index finger.”

— Dr. Will Kirby, Chief Medical Officer, LaserAway & Board-Certified Dermatologist

Loose Skin vs Belly Fat: Why It Happens

Loose skin and excess fat can show up in similar areas, but they usually form for different reasons, and knowing why they appear can help you understand how to treat them.

  • Aging reduces collagen and elasticity, leading to thinner, sagging skin.

  • Pregnancy stretches both skin and fat layers, especially around the stomach.

  • Weight loss, especially rapid or major loss, can leave behind loose skin or reveal stubborn fat in certain areas.

These causes can overlap, which is why it’s common to see both concerns in the same area. The good news? Once you know what’s going on, there are treatments that target each issue effectively.

Best Treatments for Loose Skin

If your skin feels thin, crepey, or lacks firmness, you’re likely dealing with skin laxity, not fat. In that case, treatments that stimulate collagen and tighten tissue will give you the best results. At LaserAway, we offer advanced solutions designed to improve skin texture and elasticity:

  • Thermage: Uses radiofrequency energy to heat deep layers of the skin and stimulate collagen production. Great for mild to moderate laxity.
  • RF Microneedling (Potenza™): Combines microneedling with radiofrequency to boost collagen and tighten from within. Works well on the face and body.

Both treatments work beneath the surface to help skin appear firmer, tighter, and more youthful, with little to no downtime. And you can combine the two to enhance your results. 

Best Treatments for Stubborn Fat

If the area feels thick, firm, and doesn’t move easily, you’re likely dealing with excess fat. At LaserAway, we offer a non-surgical solution that safely and effectively targets those stubborn spots:

  • CoolSculpting: An FDA-cleared treatment that freezes and eliminates fat cells in areas like the abdomen, arms, thighs, and chin. It’s designed for people who live a healthy lifestyle but still have small, pinchable areas of fat that don’t respond to diet or exercise.

CoolSculpting is ideal for those looking to fine-tune their shape, not lose a significant amount of weight. As Dr. Will Kirby explains, “CoolSculpting is for people who just have a little bit of pinchable fat, and really want to embrace a healthy lifestyle. Diet modifications and exercise are paramount for results.”

Who Should Get Body Contouring Treatments? 

Body contouring is ideal for those who are already making healthy lifestyle choices, eating well, exercising regularly, and working toward sustainable results. These treatments are not meant for major weight loss, but rather for refining and sculpting specific areas that don’t respond to diet or workouts.

According to Dr. Will Kirby, “There’s this full spectrum of patients who would really do well… no matter how athletic you are, you can still have a little pocket of fat that you just can’t remove.”

If you’re dealing with excess fat that feels firm and won’t shift, or loose skin from weight loss, pregnancy, or aging, you may be a candidate for non-surgical body contouring treatments.

Still Not Sure? Try a Free Body Contouring Consultation

Our treatment specialists at LaserAway are here to help you figure out exactly what your body needs. Whether it’s loose skin, excess fat, or a mix of both, we’ll build a custom treatment plan using advanced technologies like CoolSculpting, Thermage, or RF Microneedling. No guesswork, just results that fit your goals.

Book your free consultation today and let our experts create a personalized plan to help you look and feel your best.

References

  1. “Assessment of the Efficacy of Cryolipolysis on Abdominal Fat Deposits: A Prospective Study,” Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, May 3, 2023.
  2. “New Technologies in Skin Tightening,” Facial Plastics, October 11, 2021.