Liposuction for Men: Worth It?


Liposuction is an easy way for women to get slimmer bodies, but some men are not sure if liposuction will be worth it.

Liposuction can benefit men just as much as it can women. It is an excellent way to get rid of stubborn fat and enhance your appearance. Men also have more elastic skin than women, so their results can look better.

Is It Worth It for Men to Get Liposuction?

Men can greatly benefit from liposuction. Liposuction can help eliminate stubborn pockets of body fat, especially if it is tough for you to lose fat in targeted areas. For instance, you may still have some stubborn belly fat despite already losing weight from diets and exercise. Luckily, liposuction can target specific areas to get rid of excess fat. 

It is a common myth that you can target specific parts of your body fat, so it can be a struggle if you have more body fat in certain areas. As you age, you store more fat in problem areas such as the hips. So, you have to lose weight all over your body, but it’s not always feasible to stay at very low body fat percentages year-round. That is why many people opt for liposuction to help them reach their physique goals.

Some men may be hesitant to get liposuction done because it is more common to hear about women getting it done. 

However, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons reported 27,000 male liposuctions in America in 2016 (American Society of Plastic Surgeons et al., 2016).

Surprisingly, men may have better results from liposuction than women. The fat under men’s skin is more firm, and men’s skin can keep its elasticity longer than women’s skin. 

Your skin usually molds and shrinks itself to fit the new fat volume and contours of the treated areas (though this will depend on your case). Therefore, men may look fitter and firmer compared to women because their skin is more elastic.

Men may also be reluctant to get liposuction because they assume it is strange for men to get work done. However, you can think of liposuction as a method that gives you a boost towards your final body goals. 

Liposuction will not change the shape of your bones. Instead, it will help remove extra fat that is in the way of your desired look. 

Given that you are healthy and have a qualified surgeon, liposuction is a safe and effective method to remove stubborn fat. Men often feel the pressure to be fit, so liposuction can help them feel more confident. 

WCR Ratio

musculature

The waist to chest ratio is one of the most important ratios in physique aesthetics. However, plenty of men build up fat around their hips, contributing to an unhealthy and unaesthetic look. You can’t get a V-taper physique if you store too much fat in your hips.

Getting liposuction in the hips is one of the easiest ways to boost your physique.

For more info on the optimal aesthetic physique for men, check out our article.

How Liposuction Works

To perform most kinds of liposuction, a surgeon will use medication like anesthesia and intravenous sedation to keep you comfortable and reduce trauma and bleeding. The type of medication depends on your surgeon.

The surgeon will make inconspicuous and small incisions around the target area. Next, they will insert thin tubes through the incisions. 

Some doctors use thin tubes to loosen the fat first and then suction it, while others use it to suction the fat directly. Some doctors have access to technology that liquefies the fat for better results. 

You may not see results right away. Most people will experience some fluid retention and swelling after liposuction. Once those side effects fade, you will see the final result. 

It is important to remember that liposuction is not a permanent fat loss solution. Liposuction can get rid of fat in your body permanently. However, the fat can come back if you let it return. 

For instance, let us say that you weighed 150 pounds before the liposuction procedure and lost 10 pounds because of the surgery. The fat cells around your body may get bigger and diminish your results. However, you will have fewer fat cells in that area, so the treated areas would not grow as large. However, massive weight gain may throw your body’s proportions off and ruin your appearance.

For instance, let us say that you got liposuction to get rid of belly fat. You may not gain a lot of fat in your stomach area, but your arms and legs may get larger than usual. 

Additionally, that does not mean that the treated areas will never become large again. If you gain a considerable amount of weight after the procedure, the fat can distribute all over your body (including the treated areas).

Therefore, you need to try to maintain your weight to keep your results. While you can get liposuction done again, it may be more convenient for you to keep your weight off instead. 

Types of Liposuction

Tumescent Liposuction (Fluid Injection)

This technique is the most common kind of liposuction. A surgeon will inject a medicated solution into the targeted areas before they remove the fat.

Liposuction Cannula

Super Wet Technique

This technique is a lot like fluid injection, but a surgeon will use an equal amount of solution to how much fat gets removed. It is often quicker, but you may also need sedation for this technique. 

Laser-Assisted Liposuction (LAL)

This technique liquefies fat cells by using laser energy. A surgeon will either allow the fat to drain or use a vacuum to suction it out. Surgeons often prefer this method for confined areas like the face, jowls, and chin.

Ultrasound-Assisted Liposuction (UAL)

This method liquefies fat cells by using ultrasonic vibrations. Surgeons often use this method for fiber-filled, dense areas like enlarged male breast tissue or the upper back. There are two ways to do this procedure.

The first is external, where a surgeon uses a special emitter above the skin’s surface. The second is internal, where a surgeon uses a small, heated cannula below the skin’s surface.

Does Liposuction Replace Diet and Exercise?

Liposuction is not an alternative method for weight loss. Liposuction can help you lose a few pounds, but the main point of the procedure is to remove stubborn fat in specific areas of the body.

Liposuction helps enhance your overall look by targeting specific areas of your body. For instance, you might be thin but have a bit of belly fat, so liposuction can eliminate the excess belly fat. However, a doctor may not be willing to use liposuction to remove fat all over your body. It is not a healthy way to lose weight. 

Liposuction is ideally just meant for fixing your body contour at your normal, maintainable level of body fat.

How Does Liposuction Affect the Skin?

Liposuction can change the appearance of the treated area’s skin. While it varies from case to case, some people may notice a big difference in their skin. 

For instance, older people’s skin is not very elastic, so the skin around the treated area may sag. People who got liposuction in places with dimples, stretch marks, etc., may notice that those features became more pronounced.

However, you should be fine if you have relatively elastic skin and good muscle tone. Your skin will likely mold into the new contours of your body and look smooth. 

Your surgeon will likely assess your skin before you get liposuction. Your surgeon can tell you what you can expect after liposuction. They may also suggest other procedures that you can get to improve your skin after liposuction.

Who Is a Candidate for Liposuction?

  • Non-Smokers
  • Healthy people who have no medical conditions or life-threatening illnesses that could impair healing
  • Adults with good muscle tone, elastic skin, and are within 30% of their preferred weight

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