What Exactly Are Love Handles?
The term covers the fat pads above the hip bones that spill over a waistband — surgeons call the area the flanks.
Love handles are the rolls of fat that sit above the hip bones and bulge over fitted trousers, wrapping from the sides of the waist toward the lower back. The nickname is playful; the anatomy is stubborn. This flank fat is among the areas that hold on through diet and exercise, which is why it shows up so often in body-contouring consultations.
Why flanks respond well to contouring
The flank fat pad is relatively discrete and sits over firm muscle, so removing it produces a clear change in waistline curvature — especially seen from behind. Surgeons often treat the flanks together with the lower back or abdomen so the new waist flows in a continuous line instead of stopping at a border.
Whether yours is mostly pinchable fat or skin laxity differs by individual, and that distinction changes the recommended procedure. A specialist exam — literally a pinch and posture check — settles the question faster than any mirror self-diagnosis, so start with a consultation.
MediIndex articles are for general information only and are not medical advice, diagnosis, or advertising. Outcomes vary by individual — consult a board-certified specialist for personal decisions.