Liposuction is a growing trend in male patients. It is not farfetched that men want also to look their best.
Losing weight and getting a toned physique requires a combination of healthy eating habits and intensive exercise. However, some men can be left with stubborn pockets of fat that just won’t disappear. No matter the amount of exercise or dieting.
Liposuction is a solution that helps to get rid of excess fat permanently, provided that you keep healthy habits and don’t have important weight gain. This advanced technique can really offer you the body of your dreams and help you regain self-confidence.
It is especially useful to eliminate fatty deposits of hereditary origin since these genetically transmitted cells are resistant to various weight-loss diets and exercise. However, liposuction can’t be seen as a weight-loss treatment.
Currently, hundreds of thousands of men around the world have undergone this cutting-edge technique. Liposuction has improved remarkably and has become a procedure performed in complete safety. Recovery times are quick and less painful.
If you no longer dare to walk in fitting clothes or swimsuits, liposuction might be a good option for you. So, do you want to get a defined and toned physique? The gym and the healthy lifestyle no longer work? Are you the right candidate for this procedure? What are the results that you can expect?
Keep reading because this article will give you the low down about the male liposuction procedure.
Мedically reviewed by Dr Osama Bahsas Zaky
Written by Joaquín Pineda
Updated on July 21, 2021
Liposuction for Men Vs. Women.
Liposuction is a technique that removes unwanted fat from problematic areas of the body. Nowadays, it is considered one of the most common cosmetic surgery procedures for men in the world.
However, there are some differences between liposuction in men and women. Same procedure but different goals!
Fist, unlike women, men want muscle definition. Male patients don’t want a slim look, they want to enhance and emphasize their musculature. It is all about removing fat while sculpting the body’s shape. In such cases, Vaser liposuction gives better results. When excess fat is aspirated, the underlying muscles can stand out better. This gives the illusion of a fitness body, especially around the abdomen, arms, and chest.
Second, male procedure is usually focused on different areas than in women. The most popular areas for men are chest and abdomen. Other requested areas are love handles and neck.
Finally, the procedure in men is usually more difficult than in women. Male fat is more dense, resistant and harder to extract because it’s encased in fibrous tissue. However, skin is much thicker in men and tends to contour much better.
Nowadays, male liposuction is a cosmetic surgery procedure that allows patients to balance their figure and regain a masculine physique. These are the three main areas that men like to correct for a better silhouette.
Belly liposuction offers remarkable results for many reasons. It leaves fewer stretch marks than women interventions because there is an easier skin retraction on the new contour after the intervention.
This is the area found on the lower back above the buttocks. Liposuction for love handles is a very common problem area for both men and women. Few exercises work in this area. Thereby burning these excess fat deposits is very difficult.
Liposuction can also treat the hips together with the love handles. This intervention complements the liposuction of the abdomen in a 360 degrees’ approach to get a more aesthetic result.
Chest liposuction is very demanded too. In more concrete terms, gynecomastia (male breast enlargement) is one of the most frequent reasons to resort to this type of surgery and get a flat chest.
Gynecomastia correction is covered by insurance in most cases, while liposuction is a cosmetic operation not covered. Combining the two procedures can reduce the cost of the intervention.
Gynecomastia must not be mistaken with adipomastia. The main difference strives in the type of tissue that causes the breasts to look enlarged and feminine. In gynecomastia cases, the male chest area presents with excess glandular male breast tissue. Although, excess fat tissue may be present, too.
Gynecomastia surgery usually involves liposuction of the excess fat plus surgical removal of the excess glandular breast tissue. To complete the extraction, your doctor will make an incision in the margin of the nipple-areolar complex.
The gynecomastia correction procedure usually takes 1 to 2 hours. The plastic surgeon performs the intervention under general anaesthesia.
A good liposuction candidate is at, or near his ideal weight. Remember that liposuction is not a weight loss solution! (We cannot stress this enough). In the end, the weight of the aspirated fat is little compared to total body weight.
In addition, men with absolute contraindications to liposuction will not be able to go through the procedure. It is the case for patients who:
In case of doubt, you must get in touch with your plastic surgeon for more info.
You should be aware that specialists recommend liposuction when the presence of fat is superficial, that is, under the skin. Indeed, as soon as the fat is retro muscular or intraperitoneal, liposuction is no longer possible.
In this case, the best solution is weight loss. The patient should reach his ideal calculated weight. If necessary, the patient can consult a nutritionist.
On top of that, skin elasticity is key to obtain excellent results with liposuction. If you have excess or sagging skin, this is a breaking point, and you must choose a dermolipectomy instead.
Depending on the area being treated, you may need a tummy tuck, butt, neck, or arm lift. This procedure helps to remove sagging skin and excess fat from the problem area. Also, it helps to tighten the underlying muscles.
However, this is an invasive and painful procedure that requires more recovery time. That’s why many patients are afraid to choose it and decide to go instead with liposuction.
The first step is to book a consultation with the plastic surgeon. He will examine the areas that require liposuction and determine the best treatment plan for you.
Liposuction surgery results and benefits are different for every patient. Specific results cannot be guaranteed. The amount of fat liposuctioned will vary depending on the individual. It will depend on your gender, age, fat distribution, and the quality of your skin.
You may be advised to lose weight before your surgery to give you the best result in a particular area. Also, you will need clearance from your general practitioner to ensure that you are healthy and there are no contraindications before the surgery.
The surgery is performed under a general anaesthetic. If the treatment is on the lower body, an epidural may be used, so you would be conscious but numbed from the waist down. In case you choose Vaser Liposuction, the doctor will use a local anaesthetic with sedation.
The procedure can take between 1-3 hours. In the end, the anaesthesia will depend on the extent of your procedure and the number of areas to be contoured.
However, more often than not, this procedure is treated as a day case, and you may not require an overnight stay in hospital.
First, the treatment area(s) is filled with a mixture anaesthetic solution that contains saline solution, epinephrine, and lidocaine. This helps to numb the area and shrink the blood vessels, minimizing bleeding and post-surgery bruising. Also, it makes it easier to break up the fatty tissue.
Then, the surgeon makes very small incisions on the skin between 3-4mm in size, and uses a very thin hollow metal tube (cannula) attached to a powerful vacuum device to suck out the fat quickly and efficiently.
Vaser Liposuction uses sound waves to help break down or “melt” the fat prior to removal. This is very different from traditional liposuction, where the surgeon manually dislodges fat using back and forth movements.
Finally, the small incisions are closed with stitches or dissolvable sutures, so scarring is minimal.
You should expect some swelling, bruising, and pain after your procedure. However, they should subside after 1-2 weeks. This is perfectly normal, and your doctor will prescribe anti-inflammatory medication to cope with the pain and diminish the discomfort.
You may require some assistance in the first 24 to 48 hours following surgery as mobility will be limited. A small amount of fluid may leak from the incision sites during the first few days after liposuction. Do not panic!
You will have to wear a compression garment for up to 6 weeks post-operatively. This helps to support the tissues and allows the skin to retract better. Also, you will be asked not to remove it until your first post-operative visit.
General hygiene is of the utmost importance. For the first days, you will have to get used to strip washes rather than baths and showers. The operated area must remain dry, clean, and well covered.
You should take at least a week off work to fully recover. Up to the third week post-surgery, the treated areas will be sensitive and tender. After the removal of the stitches, the patient will be authorized to resume work.
During the first month, you can slowly return to activities such as light lifting and sex. After six weeks, you should be fully recovered and ready to undertake more strenuous activities, including exercise.
As Vaser liposuction is less invasive than traditional liposuction, the recovery time is shorter.
You have to wear the compression garment for three weeks rather than six weeks, which is the standard time for traditional liposuction. Also, you should wait only 14 days before you return to the gym or undertake strenuous activity.
Some patients will see results immediately. Most see a significant improvement 6-8 weeks post-procedure. However, the final liposuction results are visible between 3 to 6 months.
The healing process takes time, so it is essential to wait for the swelling to decrease before evaluating your results.
Patients may notice a temporary irregularity on the surface of their skin and moderate swelling. Also, any abnormal firmness in the treated areas will gradually soften and be normal after about 3 to 6 weeks.
There are some minor temporary side effects. After some time, these problems will disappear. For example, any numbness that you might feel should go away in six to eight weeks.
Manual lymph drainage (MLD) massages are excellent to optimize the results. MLD improves skin retraction and reduces muscles soreness, thereby improving your immediate post-surgery mobility. They also have an important therapeutic, anti-inflammatory effect.
In conclusion, liposuction for men is a truly accessible, virtually painless, low-risk and safe procedure.
The intervention allows the body to regain harmony in its shape. The procedure helps male patients to gain self-confidence. Furthermore, it reduces the low self-esteem of people who no longer dare to walk in slim pants or swimsuits.
Liposuction surgery cost depends on the amount of fat removed. The price also depends on the areas of fat removal. Every procedure is personal to you and to your needs, and so is the cost.
Since we know that cost is important, we welcome you to visit Antiaging Group Barcelona facilities for a free, no-obligation visit. You’ll have time to consult with the plastic surgeon, ask questions, and talk about any concerns.
The reimbursement of insurance is possible for most cases of liposuction for men. However, if the patient undergoes an adipomastia, there is no reimbursement.
Furthermore, liposuction of the abdomen is never reimbursed if it is an aesthetic procedure. I can be reimbursed only if it comes from a disorder of fat distribution such as medicated lipodystrophy.
We’re so glad you asked! With over 20 years of experience, Doctor Jesús Benito is one of the best board-certified plastic surgeons in Europe. He’s a global authority in plastic, reconstructive, and cosmetic surgery and he’s pioneered many new techniques and surgical processes.
Doctor Jesús Benito is a member of many international plastic surgery organizations and has won numerous awards. His world-class medical center in Spain is sought out for its excellence and state-of-the-art procedures. A highly trained team supports Doctor Benito and provides superb care for every patient.
Specialist in face and body cosmetic surgery for men.
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