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, statistics show that “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.
What Is Male Liposuction?
Liposuction is the same for men and women. Medical News Today explains that “Liposuction, also called lipoplasty, liposculpture suction, lipectomy, or lipo, is a type of cosmetic surgery that breaks up and ‘sucks’ 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 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 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 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 Procedure?
Typically the surgery is carried out under anesthesia. In pure 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 “San Francisco tummy tuck” is often combined with liposuction. This is when the physicians not only remove fat but also 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, a wide variety of offers now target men 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 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
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!
*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.
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
