Liposuction for Men is on the Rise | Sieber Plastic Surgery

Men are not traditionally viewed as people who “need” cosmetic surgery. For many years, the common refrain was that if men could not slim down and tone up by routine approaches like diet and exercise, then that was that. Despite the myth that it is acceptable for men to “let themselves go” while only women are expected to keep it together, more and more men have spoken out that they, too, would like to look their best.

The issue is more than skin-deep, too. In recent years, “male body-image dissatisfaction has tripled in the last 25 years, from 15% of the population to 45%.” This can lead to unhealthy behaviors such as restrictive diets, anorexia, bulimia and more. Many men, while they don’t turn to harmful behaviors, simply feel a lack of confidence or serenity that disrupts their everyday functioning.

It doesn’t have to be like that. The upside is that as men increasingly recognize this problem, more and more see no reason why they shouldn’t turn to the same methods that women do. Especially, methods such as liposuction for men in San Francisco.

Table of Contents

What Is Male Liposuction?

Male liposuction is the same body contouring procedure that is done on women. “Liposuction, also called lipoplasty, liposculpture suction, lipectomy, or lipo, is a type of cosmetic surgery that breaks up and ‘sucks’ excess fat from the body. It is often used on the abdomen, thighs, buttocks, neck, chin, upper and backs of the arms, calves, and back.”

How does it work? “The fat is removed through a hollow instrument, known as a cannula. This is inserted under the skin. A powerful, high-pressure vacuum is applied to the cannula.” The fat flows through this vacuum, is collected and disposed of. Because fat cells do not reproduce in the body, the result is that you not only have less fat, but you have fewer storage sites for future fat collection.

What Do the Trends Say?

The trends might surprise you. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, there were almost 16 million cosmetic procedures performed in 2018. About 14 million of those are minimally invasive (e.g. Botox injections or microdermabrasion), while about 1.6 million of them are invasive surgical procedures – the heading under which male liposuction falls.

Of those totals, men received 214,000 surgical procedures and roughly 1.1 million minimally invasive ones. That’s a total of about 1.3 million procedures overall. That means that more than 8 percent of procedures are now performed on men. The statistics for invasive procedures (like liposuction) are even higher: nearly 13 percent. As for male liposuction itself, about 11.5 percent were men. Total men received nearly 30,000 liposuction procedures in 2013.

The takeaway: This is no longer an exception. Men now routinely turn to body countouring procedures like these to regain the bodies of their youth. In fact, these procedures even have cute names now: just like a Mommy Makeover, we now have the Daddy Do-Over!

What Is Involved in a Liposuction for Men Procedure?

Your board certified plastic surgeon will tell you that typically the plastic surgery is carried out under anesthesia. In pure male liposuction surgery, doctors make an incision, insert the cannula and remove the fat before suturing the spot back together. In some cases, they may need to make multiple incisions. Men can choose to get liposuction on bellies, love handles, breasts or thighs.

Many men, however, choose to combine multiple procedures. For instance, a full abdominoplasty or “tummy tuck” is often combined with male liposuction. This is when the physicians not only remove fat cells but also, by way of a tummy tuck, remove flaps of skin and muscle, pulling the remaining tissues together and suturing them in place. This creates a tighter appearance overall, makes muscles more apparent and returns the physique to a slim, streamlined form.

Because men have greater skin elasticity than women, it is often easier for them to maintain the integrity of muscles and other tissue even after they have gained lots of weight. So for you, it may not be necessary or desirable to combine with abdominoplasty. That’s something to ask your physician about.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Liposuction?

Again, while historically women are viewed as the main – if not the only – targets of the cosmetic surgery market, liposuction for men is now a target as well. That means that anyone who is male and wants to see improvements in stubborn parts of their body is now a good candidate, provided they meet several other health measures as well. These include:

People who have reached the limits of their progress through a healthy diet and exercise, and are frustrated by stubborn fat deposits
People who are in good physical condition
Men who don’t smoke, or who can at least commit to quitting for a month before and after the procedure to allow the body to heal properly

Questions and answers

Is liposuction worth it for men?

Because men’s skin maintains elasticity for a longer period compared to women, the underlying fat is firmer, rendering male liposuction an exceptionally efficient technique for body contouring.

What does liposuction do for men?

Liposuction offers men an effective solution to eliminate persistent pockets of subcutaneous fat that impede their desired youthful and toned appearance. This procedure involves the insertion of a small tube into the body to suction out fat, resulting in a slimmer and sculpted physique.

How painful is liposuction for men?

During your liposuction procedure, you will be under general anesthesia, ensuring you won’t experience any pain. Any discomfort during the recovery phase can be effectively managed with either prescribed or over-the-counter medications.

How much weight can a man lose with liposuction?

If you have already reached your target weight, liposuction typically results in a fat loss ranging from one to three pounds. However, if you haven’t reached your goal weight yet, it might be safe to expect a loss of around 10 to 11 pounds through liposuction, depending on your body mass.

What is Vaser Liposuction for men?

Vaser Liposuction for men offers exceptional contouring possibilities. This advanced technique is a kind of ultrasound assisted liposuction that enables thorough fat removal, revealing underlying muscles.

How much does liposuction for men cost?

Male liposuction cost is comparable to other liposuction cost. The starting cost for a single area is consistent, while full-body liposuction and contouring can vary significantly

Book Your Consultation

If that sounds like you, there’s a good chance you’re a candidate for male liposuction. Before you commit to the procedure, however, it’s smart to set up a consultation with an expert such as San Francisco Plastic Surgeon Dr. Sieber. We’ll walk you through the procedure, offer a San Francisco liposuction consultation of your options and help you understand which is best for you. All you have to do is get in touch today!

References

The Modern Male And Body Image: It’s Okay To Talk About It. (ND). Retrieved from https://breakingmuscle.com/fitness/the-modern-male-and-body-image-its-okay-to-talk-about-it
What Are the Benefits and Risks of Liposuction? (2018). Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/180450.php
2018 Cosmetic Surgery Gender Distribution. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.plasticsurgery.org/documents/News/Statistics/2018/cosmetic-procedures-men-2018.pdf

*Disclaimer: Results may vary from person to person. Editorial content, before and after images, and patient testimonials do not constitute a guarantee of specific results.