It has been well established of the known deep emotional scars carried by gyno patients. The struggle with self-consciousness can generate anxiety and stress.
April 11, 2024
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Many women are conscious of the "bulge" that spills out when wearing sports bras, tank tops, sleeveless tops and swimwear. To hide the bulge, they will try to tape it only to end up with nasty rashes, while some will habitually adjust the bra or top. But do you know that the bulge you may be experiencing could be axillary fat, axillary accessory breasts, OR BOTH?
American sweetheart Jennifer Lawrence remarked that her armpit fat looked like an "armpit vagina" back in a red carpet event in 2014. While supermodel Chrissy Teigen shared that she had liposuction done to remove armpit fat as it dictated the clothes she would wear and affected her overall confidence. Indeed, armpit fat is notorious and hard to remove, as it does not respond to diet, exercise and non-invasive fat reduction methods.
What Are The Common Causes of Axillary Fat?
It may surprise many that people of all genders, sizes and body shapes can develop armpit fat, including men, although women are more likely to be affected by it. It is also not a problem that is limited to the obese population. People with a healthy body weight may have this issue, too, including supermodels and celebrities.
Genetics
According to a study, numerous DNA factors have been linked to how we distribute and store fat. This study also indicated that women are more likely to inherit the genetic traits where they would deposit body fat in the same places that their biological ancestors did. So if your mom or sister has armpit fat, you have a higher chance of developing it too.
Weight & Hormone Changes
When you put on weight, the extra fat could become more noticeable in certain body areas such as the arms, chest, thighs, and abdomen. Excess weight may also lead to fat deposition in your underarm area, so staying fit and in shape is one of the ways to minimise the chance of developing armpit fat.
Lastly, hormonal changes also play a role in the development of armpit fat.
A little less common but equally bothers some women is axillary accessory breast, clinically defined as the presence of extra breast tissue in addition to normal breast tissue.
According to Dr Ivan Puah, who has over 15 years of liposuction experience and surgical excision of axillary accessory breast tissue, "Both the armpit fat and axillary accessory breast tissues are the commonest cause of disturbed axillary aesthetics. Those with either or both issues are often limited by clothing choices. They are also extremely bothered and self-conscious of their appearance.
In addition to the cosmetic concerns, those with axillary accessory breasts also experience discomfort, pain in the lump, inability to maintain proper arm posture and for some, pain along the medial arm."
The accessory breast was classified by Kajava et al. in 1915 based on the composition of aberrant tissues. Accessory breasts are less common than armpit fat, affecting 2 to 6 % of women. Axillary accessory breast is a type of accessory breast located in the axilla and interestingly accounts for 20% of all accessory breasts occurrence.
Axillary Accessory Breasts Kajava Classification – 1915
- Grade I - Consists of a complete breast with a nipple, areola, and glandular tissue.
- Grade II - Consists of glandular tissue and nipple without the areola.
- Grade III - Consists of glandular tissue and areola without the nipple.
- Grade IV - Consists of only glandular tissue.
- Grade V - Consists of only nipple and areola, without glandular tissue.
- Grade VI - Consists of only the nipple.
- Grade VII - Consists of only the areola.
- Grade VIII - Consists of only hair.
"I have treated many ladies with this problem. It is a medical condition that poses a real problem for many women as it affects their quality of life and how they function daily," says Dr Ivan Puah, Chairman of Lipo Peer Review Committee Singapore.
If you are unsure whether you have armpit fat or axillary accessory breast tissue, consider scheduling an appointment with Dr Ivan Puah for a proper evaluation.
Psychological Impact of Having Accessory Breast
Psychologically, accessory breasts issues may cause anxiety, low self-confidence and self-esteem. These stems from the physical side-effects such as having to deal with the pain and restricted movements, which can cause daily chores like putting on certain bras and clothing an uncomfortable ordeal.
Physically also, appearance-wise, the bulge as a result of the excess fat may cause the affected person to avoid engaging in social activities and withdraw into themselves. These potential psychological and emotional harm can be addressed with accessory breasts removal surgery.
If I Focus My Workout On My Arms and Chest, Will My Axillary Accessory Breasts Go Away?
The most common myth about workouts is that spot toning or targeted exercise is possible. Axillary fat removal is impossible to achieve by only exercising one part of your body and burn fat in that area. Although you can tone specific muscles, you cannot get rid of axillary fat or accessory breasts through exercise as it does not respond to this method.
Axillary Fat Removal | How Can I Get Rid of Armpit Fat and Axillary Accessory Breasts?
The fat in your armpits will persist if nothing is done. You may lose weight and fat generally if you exercise and follow a healthy diet, but there is no way to know if your armpit fat will disappear by doing them.
To date, liposuction and surgical excisions are clinically proven to permanently remove armpit fat and axillary accessory breasts.
Axillary fat removal with Modern Liposuction with MDC-Sculpt® lipo technique by Dr Ivan Puah
According to Dr Ivan Puah, "Patients who come to consult for armpit fat are sometimes surprised to learn that their issues are combinations of both fat and accessory breast. This group of patients will require liposuction to remove the fat and surgical excision of the tissue.
Armpit fat is tough and does not respond to non-surgical methods or exercise. You may be doing a lot of workouts to target the problematic areas. These will benefit the chest muscles but not solve the armpit fat or axillary accessory breast tissue issue. Surgical treatment is still the proven and permanent solution to this."
Modern Liposuction with MDC-Sculpt® lipo technique developed by Dr Ivan Puah can permanently remove the stubborn fat, contour the area neatly, and have the skin naturally retracted. With Dr Ivan Puah's proprietary body sculpting technique, armpit fat can be removed with minimal scarring and tightened skin, resulting in a natural-looking, smooth contour.
Axillary accessory breast tissue excision surgery will be performed on those with accessory breast issues.
According to Dr Ivan Puah, "Patients who come to consult for armpit fat are sometimes surprised to learn that their issues are combinations of both fat and accessory breast. This group of patients will require liposuction to remove the fat and surgical excision of the tissue.
Axillary accessory breast tissue excision surgery will be performed on those with accessory breast issues.
Some of the benefits you may enjoy post-surgery may include:
- Permanent removal of undesirable bumps and contours in your armpit area
- Improved arm movements
Confidence And Comfort In Wearing Clothing That Exposes The Armpit Area
Besides armpit fat removal, Ultrasonic-assisted Liposuction, Corrective liposuction (lipo revision), fat grafting to breast and gynecomastia surgery (man boob removal) are the most requested treatments at Amaris B. Clinic.
"Every patient is unique, with his or her unique anatomy, and hence we cannot cookie-cut the procedure. During the consultation, a detailed assessment and discussion will be carried out to identify the patient's true concern and to understand their objective. After that, I will customise a suitable approach for the patient that will optimise the results for him or her," says Dr Ivan Puah.
Amaris B. Clinic: A Body Sculpting Clinic In Singapore
Amaris B. Clinic offers unique body contouring treatments that are catered to your body type and desired result. Depending on the patient's clinical state, the intricacy of the surgery, and the bodily parts that need to be treated, the cost of each treatment will vary.
Don't let armpit fat or accessory breasts affect your life and body confidence! Make an appointment for consultation with Dr Ivan Puah now!
