With our year-round humid weather, it’s no secret that most of us live in our athleisure wear (cue our trusted sports bras) or prefer to go with sleeveless blouses and crop tops - it just makes sense to wear as little fabric as you can to survive in the perpetual summer heat!

But, there’s a problem that most of us face with our everyday fashion choices. These clothes tend to highlight armpit fat, which you probably know by other names like bra bulge or the infamous "armpit vagina" that had a brief moment in the spotlight after actress Jennifer Lawrence coined the term back in 2014.

But what exactly is an "armpit vagina"? How is it formed? Is it possible to get rid of it permanently or can we only ever hide it with clever fashion tricks? Keep reading about armpit fat.

What causes armpit fat?

Truth be told, armpit fat can affect most of us regardless of age, gender, weight, and size. The most common cause of armpit fat is clothing, whereby tops or bras that are one size too tight can cause the skin between your breasts and armpits to overflow.

Aside from clothing choice, armpit fat can also be caused by genetics, weight, hormones, and posture. Body fat distribution is largely determined by your genes, and one study found that dozens of genetic factors may determine where you store your fat in your body.

When it comes to posture, how you sit – or stand – may not cause armpit fat, but poor posture can make it more apparent, especially if you have a forward-rolling shoulder posture.

In some rare cases, axillary breast (the development of excess breast tissue) and swollen lymph nodes could also bring about the appearance of excess armpit lump on the area.

Ways to hide armpit fat

Unsurprisingly, armpit fat can be a big concern for those partial to sleeveless clothes – including brides-to-be, as most strapless wedding dresses tend to put armpit fat in the spotlight.

These people, often resort to temporary fashion tricks to hide this underarm bulge. Some find bras with side slimmers to hide armpit fat, while others choose clothes with sleeves or thick straps covering the underarm area.

Those more dedicated to eradicating the look of armpit vagina may even turn to the taping trick – taping down armpit fat to hide it from the public eye.

Can you exercise armpit fat away?

Sorry to burst your bubble, but if you’re actively searching online for exercises that specifically target armpit fat to solve the problem, you should exit the mobile browser.

Spot reduction is a colossal misconception, so lifting a dumbbell overhead excessively will only serve to tone biceps, triceps, and pectoral muscles instead of helping you lose armpit fat. Here’s a more effective way to reduce armpit fat.

To remove excess stubborn localised body fat such as armpit fat, it’s time to look to Vaser Liposuction, performed by Dr Ivan Puah, medical director of Amaris B. Clinic and Chairman of Lipo Peer Review Committee Singapore. Areas that can be effectively treated include flabby arms, round abdomen, love handles (waist), thighs and calves.

Performed under local anaesthesia, small incisions will be made on the treatment site, and the targeted fat layers will be infiltrated and numbed with a special mixture of fluid.

Subsequently, Dr Ivan Puah will employ ultrasonic sound wave energy to gently break down the fat cells into liquefied form. He will subsequently siphon the melted fat with a specialised cannula while tightening and sculpting the treated area.

“Every individual is unique, and no body shape is the same. The fat distribution also varies across individuals, and it affects all women. " Small as it may seem, Armpit is one of the most challenging areas to treat," says Dr Ivan Puah.

"Therefore, the surgical approach will be customised accordingly to the patient’s clinical condition, such as the amount of fat present, laxity of the skin, and whether or not there is any involvement of glandular tissues that may require additional excision,” explains Dr Ivan Puah, who has received advanced body sculpting hands-on training in the United States of America and who has performed many cases of Armpit Fat Lipo.

So, what this means is that Dr Ivan Puah’s Vaser Liposuction is tailored according to your troubled zone, needs, and optimal goal to achieve the best possible results.

“Try as you might, armpit fat is one of the most notorious areas that will respond to any treatment other than liposuction. "Creams, exercises, and diet do not positively affect the area,” Dr Ivan Puah continues.

What is the patient’s satisfaction rate following this procedure? “Patients are generally very satisfied with the armpit fat gone permanently, and they are more confident wearing non-sleeves, tube tops without the bulge sticking out,” says the MOH-accredited liposuction doctor.

Let Amaris B. Clinic help sculpt your arms to slender perfection

While it’s no secret that the development of science and technology has made body sculpting procedures more efficient, the experience and degree of the meticulous face and body sculpting performed by Dr Ivan Puah set Amaris B. Clinic from other liposuction providers.

And with more than a decade of facial and body sculpting experience under his belt, getting the optimal results you desire is possible with Dr Ivan Puah. He will only recommend customised treatments after assessing your clinical conditions, needs, and expectations.

What further distinguishes Amaris B. Clinic from its peers is that it’s more than just another aesthetic clinic. Amaris B. Clinic has expanded its comprehensive treatments and services to include integrative medicine such as weight loss, fitness assessment, pain management, and sports injury rehabilitation.

So if you want to safely improve your physical appearance and not be troubled by unwanted armpit fat any longer, leave it to the team of medical professionals at Amaris B. Clinic to help you.