Skip to main content
Stubborn fat that won’t budge.
Sometimes it is weight to lose. Sometimes it is a pocket of fat that resists even the most disciplined diet and exercise. These are two different problems, and they call for two different solutions. We will help you find the right one.
Stubborn fat and extra weight look similar, but they are not the same thing, and treating one as if it were the other leads to disappointment. The honest first step is figuring out which you are dealing with, because that determines the right path forward.
If you have weight to lose, we start there. Once you are at or near your goal, we can target the stubborn pockets that diet and exercise cannot reach.
That is the order that makes sense. A treatment like CoolSculpting is not a weight loss solution. It is designed to reduce specific, pinchable pockets of fat that hold on no matter how consistent you are. If overall weight is the concern, a medically supervised weight loss program is the better place to begin, and we will be honest with you about which path fits.
Weight versus stubborn fat
Knowing which one you are dealing with points to the right kind of care.
Overall weight
If you are carrying weight you would like to lose across your body, that is a whole-body goal. It responds to changes in metabolism, appetite, and habits, which is where a medically supervised weight loss program comes in.
This is about your health and your overall size, not one specific area, and it is the right place to start if you have a meaningful amount to lose.
Stubborn pockets
These are the areas that stay put no matter how clean you eat or how hard you train. The lower belly, flanks, or under the chin are common examples.
They are often genetic, and because they resist diet and exercise, a targeted fat-reduction treatment is what actually moves them, once your weight is stable.
How we treat stubborn fat at Renew
Two treatments, in the order that makes sense for you. If weight loss is the goal, we begin there. For the stubborn pockets that remain, we contour.
Zepbound
A medically supervised weight loss program using Zepbound, a prescription medication that helps regulate appetite and support meaningful, sustainable weight loss. If you have weight to lose, this is where we start, because losing overall weight first gives you the best foundation before addressing any stubborn areas.
Learn about weight loss with Zepbound →CoolSculpting
CoolSculpting uses controlled cooling to reduce distinct pockets of fat that hold on despite diet and exercise. It is not a weight loss treatment. It is a body contouring treatment, ideal once you are at or near your goal weight and want to address specific areas that will not respond to anything else.
Learn about CoolSculpting →Medically supervised weight loss is guided by a provider, who reviews your health history and determines whether a prescription program is appropriate for you. CoolSculpting is a cosmetic body contouring treatment and is not a treatment for obesity or any medical condition. At your consultation we will look honestly at your goals and recommend the path that actually fits, whether that is weight loss, contouring, or a combination.
Common myths about stubborn fat
CoolSculpting is a weight loss treatment.
It is not. CoolSculpting reduces specific pockets of fat, it does not lower the number on the scale in a meaningful way. If overall weight is your goal, a weight loss program is the right starting point.
If I just tried harder, the stubborn fat would go.
Some fat is genetically resistant and will not respond to diet or exercise, no matter how disciplined you are. That is not a willpower problem. It is exactly what targeted treatments are designed for.
Weight loss medication is the easy way out.
Medically supervised weight loss is a legitimate, evidence-based tool that works alongside healthy habits. It is care, not a shortcut, and it is guided by a provider every step of the way.
One treatment fixes everything.
Weight and stubborn fat are different problems. The best results often come from addressing them in the right order, weight first if needed, then contouring what remains.
Stubborn fat, answered
Not sure where to start?
Book a complimentary consultation and we will help you figure out whether weight loss, body contouring, or a combination is right for you. Honest guidance, matched to your goals.
