Fat Cells and Your Anatomy

Skin is the largest organ of the body. Its functionality is not limited to covering the body. It is our sensing organ and serves as our first immune system in the way of infections and disease. It provides us with vitamin D by synthesizing the sunlight, protects us against the ultraviolet, keeps our body from dehydrating and assures that our body stays at the right temperature.

Epidermis, dermis and hypodermis are the three layers of the skin. Epidermis, which is the top layer, is actually a layer of dead skin cells, and serves as a protective layer. The color cells of skin, which are called melanocytes, are also in this layer. These dead cells constantly fall off and are replaced by the cells bellow them. The nerves providing the sense of touch end in the dermis layer. Oil and sweat glands are in this layer as well. Fat cells, the women's everlasting enemies, reside in the hypodermis. Although fat is stored in other parts of body, like abdominal cavity and around the internal organs, as well, half of the fat in the body is stored in the fat cells in hypodermis. This layer of fat is needed for insulating and serves as energy storage.

Our body has about 25 to 30 million fat cells, also called adipocytes (the fat itself is referred to as adipose tissue). Although we generally hate the fat, our body needs it to survive everyday life. Without this fat, we wouldn't have any energy storage and we would have to eat constantly. We then would have to burn muscles to have enough energy to lift our fingers. Also, we would freeze to death in any weather slightly less than warm. Without this layer of fat, our bones wouldn't have any padding. We wouldn't have even been able to sit or lay down comfortably.

The food we eat gives us energy. This energy is stored by fat cells as chemicals called lipids. It is continuously stored and taken out of the cells to provide energy for everyday activities. We lose or gain fat when this process goes out of balance. The fat builds up if we eat too much and use less energy.

There are three layers of fat in the body. A visceral fat layer is the fat stored around the internal organs and in the abdominal cavity. It is also called the intra-abdominal fat, and is the deepest layer of fat in the body. Many people with apple-shaped bodies that carry a lot of weight, have excess amount of visceral fat. This is what we commonly call beer belly. Visceral fat can be controlled by diet and exercise. Some medications used for treating HIV and AIDS can lead to accumulating visceral fat as well. Hormonal imbalances and fluctuations can be responsible for this problem in some cases.

There are two more layers of fat in the body called deep layer and superficial layer, also known as the subcutaneous layers. These two layers are separated by a membrane called fascia. The fat layers are also separated by other membranes into fat pockets. The superficial layer is less commonly removed in a liposuction, but it can be suctioned out. This layer is full of blood vessels and nerves. The cellulite is located in the fat in this layer as well. Cellulite, that is responsible for the bumpy irregularities on the skin, is actually fat cells that are squeezed into portions by connective tissue around them. Liposuction on this layer is less commonly done because of the risk of damaging the blood vessels and nerves. If any damage occurs, there will be discolorations, permanent irregularities and possible skin necrosis, or death of skin.   The subcutaneous layer is the one commonly removed in liposuction.

In liposuction usually the deep subcutaneous layer is taken out. This layer is much denser than the superficial one.

Gynoid and android are the two patterns in which fat is deposited in the body. The fat in the lower abdomen, thighs, hips and buttocks are referred to as gynoid and give a pear shape to the body. The fat accumulated in the upper abdomen and flanks, which give an apple shape to the body, are called android. Although it is not a rule, most men have android distribution and most women have gynoid distribution.

Insulin, testosterone, estrogen and some other hormones have an effect on the percentage of the fat stored in body and how it is distributed. Unless you become extremely obese, the number of fat cells you have will never change after the puberty is over. They can just shrink or plump up with fat as long as you don't reach more than twice of your ideal weight.

In liposuction these fat cells are taken out and will never be replaced by the body. But eating a lot and not enough exercise will make the remaining cells to get full of fat.