Love handles are the areas of body fat that sit around the sides of the waist and hips. They are extremely common, including in people who are otherwise active and within a healthy weight range.
If you’re planning a holiday and would like your waistline to look more defined, there are several approaches worth considering. The important thing is to understand the difference between losing overall body weight and contouring a particular area.
What are love handles?
“Love handles” is a non-medical term for localised fat around the flanks. How much fat a person stores in this area is influenced by factors including genetics, age, overall body composition and lifestyle.
One important point is that exercise cannot reliably tell your body to remove fat from one particular area. Losing body fat generally happens across the body rather than only where you are exercising. Learn More: Does Fat Freezing at Home Work? DIY Devices vs Professional Cryolipolysis
A combination of sensible nutrition, regular physical activity and resistance training can support overall weight management and body composition. The NHS recommends regular activity and sustainable lifestyle changes as part of healthy weight management. [1]
Can you get rid of love handles naturally?
For some people, reducing overall body fat may make the waist and flank area smaller.
However, there is considerable individual variation. Two people can follow similar diets and exercise routines while storing and losing fat differently.
Resistance training can also help improve muscle definition and body shape, although building stronger abdominal or oblique muscles does not specifically “burn” the fat directly over them.
If your goal is weight loss rather than simply changing the appearance of a small area, it is better to approach that as a health and lifestyle goal rather than relying on a cosmetic body-contouring treatment.
When could body contouring be worth considering?
Non-surgical body contouring may be considered by people who are already relatively close to their desired weight but have a localised area that they would like to improve.
These treatments are not a replacement for weight-loss treatment, and they should not be presented as a way of treating obesity.
The evidence for non-invasive body contouring varies between technologies. Some studies have demonstrated changes in local fat thickness or circumference, but outcomes depend on the treatment used, the individual and the treatment protocol. [2]
That is why a proper consultation is more useful than simply choosing the treatment with the most impressive-sounding claim.
Which Treatments Can Help With Love Handles?
Different technologies work in different ways, so they should not all be grouped together.
Cryolipolysis
Fat freezing, or cryolipolysis, uses carefully controlled cold temperatures to target fat cells in a particular part of the body.
Research suggests that the treatment may lower fat thickness and change measurements in the treated area. However, it is a body-contouring treatment, not a method of losing weight overall, and results can differ from person to person. [2]
If you are considering cryolipolysis, ask which area can realistically be treated and what degree of change would be reasonable in your particular case.
HIFU and other energy-based treatments
Some high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) systems have been studied for non-surgical body contouring. Research has reported changes in treated areas, although treatment settings, devices and study methods vary. [3][4]
Radiofrequency is another technology used in aesthetic treatments. Depending on the specific device and protocol, RF may be used for body contouring and/or improving the appearance of skin laxity. The evidence should therefore be considered on a treatment-by-treatment basis rather than assuming every RF system produces the same effect. [5]
Muscle-toning treatments
Electromagnetic muscle-stimulation technologies are designed to produce repeated muscle contractions. Research has reported changes in muscle thickness and, in some studies, fat measurements, but the evidence is not strong enough to suggest identical results for everyone. [6]
This type of treatment is therefore better viewed as a potential body-contouring or muscle-definition option, rather than a substitute for exercise or a general weight-loss method.
Fat-dissolving injections
“Fat-dissolving injections” is a general term used for a range of different products and treatment methods. What is suitable, what evidence is available, and what risks may be involved will depend on the product used and the area being treated.
For that reason, customers should be told exactly which product is being proposed, why it is suitable and what its known risks are before proceeding.
What Happens During a Lipo Sculpt Consultation?
A consultation should start with understanding what you would like to change and whether the concern is suitable for non-surgical body contouring.
The practitioner may discuss your medical history, previous treatments, the area you would like treated and the type of result you are hoping to achieve. They should also explain the proposed treatment, possible risks, expected recovery and what results may realistically be achievable.
There is no universal timeline for body-contouring results. Some treatments produce gradual changes, while others may involve a course of sessions. Temporary swelling or other treatment effects can also affect how an area looks shortly after treatment.
A consultation should give you enough information to make an informed decision rather than creating an expectation of a guaranteed result.
Is Treatment Suitable for Everyone?
Suitability depends on the treatment, medical history, treatment area and individual circumstances.
A consultation should cover relevant medical conditions, medication, previous procedures, pregnancy or breastfeeding where relevant, skin condition and any factors that could make a particular treatment unsuitable.
A reputable provider should be willing to recommend not treating an area if the procedure is inappropriate.
Questions to Ask Before Treatment
Before you decide to go ahead with any treatment, it’s worth having a proper conversation with the practitioner. You could ask:
- Why have you recommended this particular treatment for me?
- What is the treatment actually intended to do?
- Is there good evidence that it works for the area I want treated?
- How many appointments are usually involved?
- How long does it normally take before any changes may become noticeable?
- What side effects or risks should I be aware of?
- Will I need to take any time off afterwards?
- What are my options if I’m not happy with the outcome?
- What qualifications and training does the person carrying out the treatment have?
Having these answers before you book can make it easier to weigh up your options and decide whether a treatment is right for you, rather than making a decision based on promotional claims alone.
When should you speak to your GP?
Not every change around the waist is simply a cosmetic fat deposit. If you have a new lump, unexplained swelling, persistent pain, a rapidly changing area or another unusual symptom, seek medical advice rather than assuming it can be treated cosmetically.
Cosmetic treatment should be considered only after the underlying concern has been appropriately identified.
Can Lipo Sculpt guarantee a result before my holiday?
No responsible provider should guarantee a cosmetic outcome. The aim should be to establish whether a treatment is suitable and set realistic expectations before you proceed.
If you’re considering treatment for the waist or flanks, a consultation can help determine whether non-surgical body contouring is appropriate for your particular concern.
Important: Cosmetic treatments have limitations and potential risks. Treatment should be discussed with an appropriately trained practitioner following an individual assessment.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Can exercise specifically remove love handles?
Exercise is beneficial for overall fat loss and muscle strength, but you cannot choose exactly where your body loses fat. This means exercises alone cannot specifically remove love handles.
Q: Are non-surgical treatments a form of weight loss?
No. Body-contouring treatments are intended to alter the appearance or contour of a specific area. They should not be presented as a replacement for medically appropriate weight-management support.
Q: How long before a holiday should I have treatment?
There is no single answer because recovery and visible results vary between treatments. Your practitioner should explain the expected timeline for the specific procedure rather than giving one timeline for every technology.
Q: Will I need more than one treatment?
Possibly. The number of sessions depends on the treatment, treatment area and individual response. A consultation should explain the likely treatment plan without guaranteeing a particular outcome.
Q: Are body-contouring treatments suitable for everyone?
No. Suitability needs to be assessed individually. Medical history, medication, pregnancy, skin condition and other factors may affect whether a treatment is appropriate.
Q: What is the best treatment for love handles?
There is no single “best” treatment for everyone. The appropriate option depends on whether the main concern is localised fat, skin laxity, muscle definition or a combination of factors.
References & Further Reading
[1] NHS — Tips to Help You Lose Weight:
NHS information on eating well, staying active and making practical changes to support weight management.
[2] Cryolipolysis: Systematic Review & Meta-analysis — PubMed (2025/2026):
Recent research looking at cryolipolysis and its role in reducing small, localised areas of body fat.
[3] Haykal D et al. — HIFU in Skin Tightening & Body Contouring, Aesthetic Surgery Journal (2025):
Research covering the use of HIFU for skin tightening and body contouring.
[4] Fadel L et al. — HIFU in Aesthetic Body Contouring, Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (2020):
An earlier review of HIFU and its use in non-surgical body-contouring treatments.
[5] Radiofrequency & Adipose Tissue — Systematic Review (2018):
Studies looking at how radiofrequency treatments affect adipose tissue and how different treatment methods compare.
[6] Kohan J et al. — HIFEM & Non-invasive Body Contouring, Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (2024):
Research on HIFEM technology and its use in non-invasive body-contouring procedures.
For more information, please call us on 03300101799.