In 2019, over 265,000 liposuction procedures were performed in America, and roughly 30,000 of those procedures were performed on men. While facial procedures like neck lifts and eyelid rejuvenations are still the most popular cosmetic surgeries for men, male liposuction consistently comes in at a close third and is slowly making its way toward the top.

With its near-instant ability to reshape the abdomen and other “problem areas” to its subtle, almost invisible scars, a liposuction procedure is an excellent procedure for men who just need one extra boost to top off their attractive physique.

If you’ve tried everything from a strict healthy diet to rigorous exercise regimens, and you still can’t seem to get rid of small pockets of stubborn fat, then liposuction for men may be just what you’re looking for. Use the following guide to find out if you might be a good candidate for male liposuction.

First, however, let’s define what the liposuction procedure is and what the procedure aims to do.

What Is Male Liposuction?

Liposuction surgery (also called “lipo”) is a cosmetic procedure that removes unwanted pockets of excess fat by using a cannula (thin hollow tube) to agitate the excess fat beneath the skin and suck it out. The procedure is safe, effective, and long-lasting as long as the patient maintains a healthy weight after their plastic surgery.

Male liposuction can be performed on many different areas of the body, including the:

• Abdomen
• Buttocks
• Flanks (“love handles”)
• Hips
• Thighs
• Calves
• Ankles
• Upper arms
• Chin/neck area

If you are interested in male liposuction, you can expect an outpatient procedure and a recovery period that will last several months. While most patients are able to return to work within several days, it may take one to two weeks before you can return to a regular exercise routine and up to three months to see all of the swelling go down. The majority of patients achieve their final results within three to six months after plastic surgery.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Male Liposuction?

This is the first question most people ask, and it’s a good one.

Most of us, at one time or another, have struggled with excess fat on our bodies. But does that mean that anyone with a few pounds to lose should get liposuction?

Not necessarily.

In fact, it’s important to keep in mind that male liposuction is not a “weight loss solution.” The core purpose of liposuction for men is to get rid of stubborn fat deposits — that is, fat that doesn’t seem to budge despite your most concerted efforts to drop it with diet and exercise. Sometimes, our bodies simply retain fat cells in undesirable areas (usually, the abdomen, hips and thighs, upper arms, etc.). Liposuction for men is a body contouring procedure that targets subcutaneous fat resulting in a more pleasing figure.

A board certified plastic surgeon will tell you if you have this type of fat lurking around, lipo could be a good option for you. Generally speaking, we say that if you are within 10 lbs. of your goal weight, a liposuction procedure can help get rid of those last few pounds of stubborn fat deposits. Liposuction for men is an effective body contouring procedure that is growing in popularity year after year. Otherwise, if you have more to lose, we recommend continuing with your exercise and diet regimen in order to get to that 10-lbs.-to-goal-weight mark. At that point, we can book your consultation appointment and go from there.

Of course, there are additional requirements you’ll need to meet as well. In order to be a candidate for male liposuction, you also must:

• Be in good overall physical health: No ongoing infections, serious medical conditions or treatments
• Have realistic expectations: Be balanced — not a perfectionist — about what you expect from liposuction for men
• Be a non-smoker: Smoking can exacerbate the potential risks of surgery and your recovery; if you do smoke, talk to Dr. Sieber about your options
• Have relatively good muscle tone and elastic, firm skin

Know if You Qualify

Ultimately, the best way to know if you qualify for male liposuction is to book a consultation.

During this appointment, you should be prepared to discuss a range of things, from your medical history to what your surgical goals are. Liposuction for men has been growing in popularity, your surgeon will be able to answer any of the questions you have.  Coming prepared for and knowledgeable about the procedure is always helpful. Dr. Sieber will ask you a range of questions, from what medications you are currently on to whether you take any supplements or vitamins and how often you exercise.

You should be ready to talk about any medical conditions you have or have had in the past, and be sure to mention any previous surgeries you’ve undergone. Don’t leave anything out, and be completely honest so that he can ensure that this procedure will be safe and effective for you.

At the same appointment, he will give you a short physical evaluation, assessing your overall health and physique. Most of the time, photographs will be taken so that you can see the effects of the procedure in a liposuction before and after side-by-side photos.

Lastly, Dr. David Sieber will explain your options and make a recommendation on the best course of action for you. He’ll also discuss the risks and rare, but potential complications of liposuction for men.

Questions and Answers

You started this journey by entering “what’s the best San Francisco liposuction near me?” into Google. But now you’ve got more questions to ask.

In fact, asking the right questions is the best thing you can do as a potential candidate for male liposuction. You should ask questions at your consultation appointment, before your surgery, after your surgery, and during your recovery.

Here are some to keep in mind as you prepare for your consultation appointment with Dr. Sieber. We recommend bringing a notepad with you, and writing these questions inside, following each one with some space where you can take notes when the doctor’s talking.

Where’s the best place for me to get liposuction?

Liposuction frequently targets the waist and flanks, commonly referred to as “love handles.” Many individuals find it exceptionally challenging to eliminate these areas and achieve their desired contours solely through diet and exercise.

Where will my surgery be performed?

Liposuction is a versatile procedure that can be performed on nearly any body part. The neck, arms, abdomen, love handles, and thighs are the most frequently requested areas. These regions often accumulate weight easily and harbor stubborn fat resistant to exercise.

What should I expect from recovery?

Following liposuction, the treated area will be wrapped to minimize swelling, bruising, and discomfort. This wrap could be a compression garment or elastic bandages. Typically, you might need to wear it for 3 to 4 weeks. In cases where fat was removed from your calves or ankles, wearing support hose for approximately 6 weeks might be necessary.

For how long will I need to take off from work or school?

Most individuals can resume work after a two-week recovery period. However, if your job is physically demanding, it might be wise to take extra time off for a more complete recovery. It’s important to note that you’ll still need to wear your compression garments during this extended recovery period.

Will I have pain or discomfort after surgery?

After effects of the local anesthetic subside following surgery, you might experience moderate pain and soreness. Approximately 3 to 5 days after the surgical procedure, your garments will be taken off, and a physician will examine your incision. Following this, we encourage patients to gently massage the area as the swelling gradually reduces in the coming months.

What type of scarring should I expect?

Should you develop scarring after liposuction surgery, it will typically manifest as a tiny mark resembling a freckle. In the majority of instances, a scar of this size will gradually diminish over the next six months until it becomes barely perceptible. Occasionally, there might be hyperpigmentation at the site of the incision.

Are there things I can do to reduce the appearance of scars?

Once the incisions have completely healed, consider applying silicone gel sheets. Even after the skin has healed, liposuction scars might remain noticeable. Silicone gel sheets offer a highly effective solution to enhance the appearance of these scars. They work by optimizing skin hydration, significantly improving the overall outcome.

When will I start to see my results?

You can expect to see your final results results between 4 – 12 weeks after surgery.

Does liposuction for men cost the same as liposuction for women?

There is no comparative difference between male liposuction cost and the cost of lipo for women.

How is liposuction different than a tummy tuck?

Liposuction for men is a cosmetic surgery that targets fat deposits while a tummy tuck is a surgery that focuses on excess skin around the abdomen.

 Book Your Appointment Today

Dr. Sieber is one of the only double board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeons in the San Francisco Bay Area. In addition to his many degrees, honors, and accolades, he is an extremely skilled board certified plastic surgeon with vast experience and a wonderful bedside manner.

By performing thousands of procedures for his many patients, Dr. Sieber has helped countless individuals improve their appearance and feel better about themselves.

Are you ready to find out if you’re a good candidate for male liposuction in San Francisco? Contact us today to book your consultation appointment.

References

https://www.plasticsurgery.org/documents/News/Statistics/2019/plastic-surgery-statistics-full-report-2019.pdf

Like women, men also have breast tissue. While men don’t develop breasts in the same way as women do, they’re still born with breast tissue, but it’s a small amount. However, men don’t usually want larger breasts, like women.

Gynecomastia surgery  isn’t always a severe issue, but if you’re dealing with this condition, it can be difficult to cope with it. You’re likely embarrassed or may be experiencing pain in your breasts.

Men with gynecomastia are often self-conscious about how they look and seek treatment options to help reduce the size of their man boobs. Fortunately, there are effective plastic surgery treatments for men with gynecomastia that produce great results.

What is Gynecomastia Surgery?

Gynecomastia is a condition that causes mens’ and boys’ breast tissue to swell. Gynecomastia comes from the Greek words “gynec”, which means feminine, and “mastos”, which means breast. Gynecomastia can occur when two of your body’s hormones become unbalanced or thrown off.

Boys’ bodies mostly produce testosterone. During puberty, this hormone guides their sexual growth. However, they also make the same hormone that guides girls’ sexual growth — estrogen. The balance of testosterone and estrogen change during puberty as a boy or when there’s less testosterone being produced in an older man’s body. In certain cases when this occurs, there’s a greater amount of estrogen, which leads to enlarged male breast tissue.

Two common signs of gynecomastia are:

1. Breast tenderness
2. Enlarged breast tissue

Usually, when you develop gynecomastia, you might notice a fatty tissue lump under your nipple which can be sore or tender. You may worry it’s breast cancer. However, when you have gynecomastia, that doesn’t necessarily mean you have cancer, though you’ll still want your doctor to do some testing to be sure.

Only a small number develop male breast cancer, though. In fact, the American Cancer Society reports that in their lifetime, men have about 1 in 833 risk of developing breast cancer.

You may experience uneven breast swelling where one breast is bigger than the other. The condition could go away without treatment, but if not, your doctor will sit down with you to discuss treatment options.

Prevalence of Gynecomastia

Adult men struggle with gynecomastia the most. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), between 50% to 60% of gynecomastia cases are in adolescent males. And, around 65% of men ages 27 through 92 have developed some degree of gynecomastia.

Gynecomastia doesn’t have to take away your confidence. A qualified and skilled plastic and reconstructive surgeon can help you get back a more natural and masculine looking chest. The advanced techniques today mean:

• Shorter surgeries
• Quicker recovery
• Nearly invisible scars

Below you’ll learn more about male breast reduction surgery.

Plastic Surgery for Men With Gynecomastia

A male breast reduction, or also called reduction mammaplasty, is the most effective gynecomastia surgery treatment option. With this cosmetic procedure, the surgeon eliminates excess breast tissue and fat tissue, helping to restore a firmer, flatter and more masculine chest contour.

If you have a more serious case of gynecomastia, the excess breast tissue weight could cause breast sagging and areola (dark skin that surrounds your nipples) stretching. In these cases, the surgeon can surgically improve the size and position of your areola and reduce the excess skin.

What are the Types of Gynecomastia Surgery

Two effective types of Gynecomastia procedures are:

1. Liposuction — for Minor to Moderate Gynecomastia Cases. If your gynecomastia is mostly due to excess fatty tissue, your surgeon might use liposuction techniques where they insert a cannula (hollow, thin tube), through a few small incisions they make. In a controlled motion, they move the cannula back and forth to loosen the excess fat and then use a vacuum suction to remove it from your body. There are a number of liposuction techniques your surgeon will pick from, depending on your individual case.
2. Surgical Excision — for More Moderate to Severe Cases. Excision techniques are the go-to procedure when you need excess skin or glandular breast tissue removed to correct gynecomastia. It’s also necessary if your surgeon needs to reduce the areola or reposition your nipple to a more natural male contour. The patterns of the incision will depend on your surgical preference and specific condition.

In some cases, the surgeon may use both excision and liposuction to treat gynecomastia.

Are You a Good Candidate for Gynecomastia Surgery?

You’re a good candidate for gynecomastia surgery if you’re a boy or man and:

• Your gynecomastia isn’t treatable through alternative medical treatments
• You’re a non-drug user and nonsmoker
• You’re healthy and don’t have a life-threatening medical condition or illness that could impair healing
• The development of your breasts has stabilized
• You have specific goals for improving your physical gynecomastia symptoms and have a positive outlook
• You have realistic expectations
• You’re of fairly normal weight and are physically healthy
• You’re troubled with the feeling of having too enlarged breast

Surgery may be beneficial for adolescents, but they might require secondary procedures in the future if their breast development continues.

What is the Gynecomastia Procedure Like?

Chances are if you’re scheduled for gynecomastia plastic surgery, you’ll have some questions and may not know what to expect.

What Should I Expect During Gynecomastia Surgery Recovery?

During your recovery period from gynecomastia surgery, the surgeon will apply bandages or dressings to your incisions and may use a support garment or elastic bandage to reduce swelling and support the new contour of your chest while it heals from surgery. They’ll provide you with specific instructions on:

• How to care for the drains and surgical site
• What medicines to take orally or apply topically to help reduce possible infection and promote healing
• What potential concerns to keep an eye out in your general health or at your surgical site
• When you should follow up with the surgeon

The surgeon may temporarily place a thin, small tube underneath your skin to drain any extra fluid or blood that might collect.

What Results Can I Expect From Gynecomastia Surgery?

You should notice immediate results from your gynecomastia surgery. Over time, incision lines will fade and post-surgical swelling will go away. You should become more satisfied with the results as you recover from the procedure.

Your final gynecomastia surgery results might take three to six months to achieve. While you will have permanent incision lines, they’ll continue fading over time.

Any surgical procedure for correcting gynecomastia will require incisions. And, although your natural contours will conceal most incision lines, you may still see some since they’re a necessary result of gynecomastia surgery. You’ll likely experience enhanced confidence and self-image from your improved upper body results, whether you wear a t-shirt, shirt and tie or a bare chest at the beach.

While there’s no guarantee, you should expect good results from your procedure. You might require more than one procedure to treat gynecomastia to:

• Treat any complications you might experience.
• Perform additional repositioning or tightening of your excess breast tissue.

Presently, male breast reduction procedure or gynecomastia surgery is the only consistently effective gynecomastia treatment option that’s long-lasting, with potentially permanent results.

Questions and Answers

What is the surgery to removes excess breast tissue in males?

Gynecomastia surgery, also known as male breast reduction (reduction mammaplasty), addresses enlarged male breasts. In severe cases, it may involve a breast lift for a more comprehensive correction.

Is male breast reduction surgery worth it?

Male breast reduction surgery can potentially enhance your self-image and boost your confidence. While the outcomes are often enduring, it’s essential to be aware that factors like weight gain, hormonal fluctuations, or the usage of specific medications, such as anabolic steroids, can lead to a re-enlargement of the breasts in some instances.

How painful is male breast reduction surgery?

Male breast reduction procedures are conducted using either general or local anesthesia, chosen based on specific considerations relevant to the procedure. You’ll be completely numb during the surgery, so you won’t experience any sensations. It’s common to experience some soreness, discomfort, tenderness, and swelling in the days that follow the surgery.

Does insurance cover male breast reduction surgery?

Insurance typically covers male breast reduction surgery when it’s considered “medically necessary.” This typically implies that for adult males, either there’s suspicion of malignancy, or all of the following conditions are met: The patient has been suffering from gynecomastia symptoms for at least one year.

Book Your Male Breast Reduction Surgery Today

Consult with Dr. David Sieber, our double-board certified plastic surgeon to learn about the different types of cosmetic procedures he performs, including male breast reduction for gynecomastia. Call 415-915-9000 or schedule a consultation here.

References

https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer-in-men/about/key-statistics.html