Men and Liposuction Surgery

In a 2011 survey, about 205,000 liposuction procedures were performed in the US, making it the third most commonly performed cosmetic plastic surgery.  Out of this number, 23,000 treatments were given on men, making this one of the most popular surgical enhancements for male patients.

While the goal of liposuction between men and women is the same—and that is to remove the unwanted fats to improve the figure—leading Los Angeles plastic surgeon Dr. TarickSmaili said anatomical differences must be considered to achieve the best result possible.

“By considering their differences, plastic surgeons can choose the right technique that would produce the desired outcome,” Smaili said.

Men have been found to have more fibrous, denser fats than women, making it more challenging to perform liposuction.  For this reason, male fat removal surgery is more expensive than if the procedure is performed on female.

Currently, the chest is the most commonly treated area in male liposuction.  Some men have excess fats in this area even if they have a normal and stable weight, resulting to a woman-like breast.  While this condition is “harmless,” it often leads to embarrassment that it has been reported that some sufferers intentionally gain weight just to make their large breasts less obvious.

The male chest contains very fibrous and dense fats that it has almost been a sacrosanct to inject the area with a tumescent solution prior to fat extraction.  This is a mixture of drugs that are designed to make the fatty tissues swollen, making it easier for them to be removed with cannula or suctioning probe.

After injecting the tumescent solution, the fats will start to swell.  Several tiny incisions are then created where the cannula is carefully inserted and pushed back and forth to remove the unwanted fats.  But in some cases, plastic surgeons use a power-assisted suction probe that releases accurate, small vibrations believed to make the extraction more effective and less “traumatic” to the surrounding tissue.

Aside from chest, a significant number of men seeking liposuction want to remove the excess fats from their abdomen and flanks, areas which are highly prone to fat bulges even if a person has a normal and stable weight. 

Meanwhile, there is a special kind of liposuction called abdominal etching which can create the much-coveted “six pack” appearance.  This is performed by removing some fats to form several grooves in the abdomen.

Patients should remember that liposuction is only applicable to those who have stable weight but have “isolated” pockets of fats.  The procedure is not a replacement for weight loss, diet, and exercise.

Liposuction in the Tummy

The tummy is probably the most common area of the body treated by liposuction, which is a cosmetic surgery that removes the unwanted fats, thereby leading to improved figure.  Meanwhile, patients should always remember that its success is affected by certain factors including history of weight gain and loss, amount and location of abdominal fats, age, and gender.

And for women, previous pregnancies may also affect the final outcome of liposuction surgery.

During pregnancy, the abdominal muscles are being stretched especially in the lower area, thereby bulges are quite common after childbirth.  Fortunately, a vast majority of women can benefit from liposuction alone to improve the appearance of their abdomen without needing tummy tuck which involves longer incision.

The good thing about liposuction is that the risk of visible scarring is almost not a concern since it requires small round incisions that measure 1-2mm in diameter.

The location and amount of abdominal fats also determines the success of liposuction.  Patients should always bear in mind that the procedure only targets the superficial fats underneath the skin, and it cannot remove the deeper fats that only respond to proper weight loss.  This means that significant improvements can only be achieved by people who have more subcutaneous fat but less intestinal fats.   

Meanwhile, history of weight gain and loss can have a significant impact on how liposuction is performed.  Plastic surgeons have found out that previously obese patients have a very fibrous fat that is more difficult to remove than fatty tissue found in people who have always maintained a normal, stable weight.

Another consideration to make is that the upper abdomen may appear slightly wrinkled after liposuction surgery, particularly when dealing with older patients who have a less elastic skin than younger individuals.  Bu interestingly, the lower abdomen is not susceptible to the crepe appearance after fat removal.

A successful liposuction is determined by the degree of a patient’s satisfaction with the results.  With this consideration, good plastic surgeons filter out those people with unrealistic expectations and goals.

Nowadays, liposuction patients can enjoy quicker recovery compared to previous years; in fact most can return to normal activities (excluding strenuous exercises) three days after the procedure.  And in terms of pain, it is quite manageable that typically there is no need to take medications stronger than acetaminophen (Tylenol).

Most patients have described the degree of pain similar to the muscle soreness after working out the entire day.

plastic surgery, liposuction

American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken looked different when he appeared on “Celebrity Apprentice.”  And with constant rumors of plastic surgery which started in January, the star broke his silence and admitted going under the knife to improve his appearance.

In an interview with host Andy Cohen, the 33-year-old singer said he had an operative surgery on his jaw and liposuction to remove the excess fats underneath his chin, giving him a more chiseled appearance these days.

While Aiken’s chin liposuction was a cosmetic procedure, his surgery on the jaw—as he claimed—was performed to address his temporomandibular joint disorder which can lead to chronic pain or in extreme cases impairment of jaw function.

From boyish appearance to a manlier look, Aiken seems to be more confident with the result of plastic surgery; in fact too confident to diss Rhianna and told the television audience that she may not “survive” the first round of American Idol with her pitchy voice.

Aiken is not the first star who admitted going under the knife; just recently, Susan Sarandon said she had facial liposuction to contour her chin and jaw line, thereby giving her a more youthful appearance.  But unlike other celebrities who have gone “overboard,” the 65-year-old actress believe that a more “conservative approach in cosmetic procedures” is the right thing to do.

“If you can’t move your face or if you’re unrecognizable, I don’t see how that’s a productive enhancement,” Sarandon was once quoted saying.

Freezing the Fats an Alternative to Liposuction?

Traditional liposuction is conducted by injecting fats with tumescent solution before a pen-like device is inserted into small incisions to remove the fatty tissues underneath the skin.  While this is an effective body contouring technique, one tradeoff is the long recovery which often lasts a week or so.

However, there is a new fat reduction technique that may serve as an alternative to liposuction.  With CoolSculpting, plastic surgeons can remove the excess fats by freezing them; once the fatty tissues are destroyed, the body can naturally flush them after a couple of months.

This new technology has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration as a fat reduction method.  But patients should always remember that it should only be performed by board certified plastic surgeons and dermatologists.

This non-surgical liposuction technique starts by marking the fatty areas and covering them with a gel pad to protect the skin from extreme temperature.  Doctors will then press a hand-held device which has two cooling panels.

It is important that the CoolSculpting device is pressed against the skin for a certain amount of time to ensure that the fatty cells are damaged by the extremely low temperature.  Then, the once dense fats will turn into a liquid form, allowing the body to flush them out naturally, a process that can take two to four months.

Because it takes time for the body to flush out the liquefied, damaged fats, the final result can be seen after a few months.  Meanwhile, patients should remember that they would likely need more than one treatment to achieve a noticeable improvement.

During the procedure, there will be some pulling sensation and a mild, tolerable coldness.  Overall, the treated area will feel numb as if an ice pack has been applied.

Compared with other fat reduction surgery, CoolSculpting is considered safer.  First and foremost, it does not involve the use of incisions, anesthesia, needles, and pain medications.  But still, the treatment should only be conducted by a licensed medical practitioner to ensure the safety of patients.

The fat reduction technique, while effective as a body contouring treatment, cannot replace the benefits of traditional liposuction in terms of removing large amounts of fats or what doctors call “debulking.” 

Patients should remember that CoolSculpting involves some temporary side effects including numbness, minor bruising, cramping, tingling, and redness in the treated area.  But unlike the traditional liposuction, they can return to normal activities right after their treatment.

Ways for Surgeons to Reduce Complications After Breast Augmentation

As with any plasticsurgery, breast augmentation involves some risk of complications although there are many ways to lower the chance or even prevent certain problems.  These are some of the examples:

Reducing Tissue Hardening

This complication, which is also called capsular contracture, is related to bacterial contamination that occurs at the time of breast augmentation surgery.  For this reason, plastic surgeons will make every effort to prevent this from happening.

One of the surgical techniques that prevents capsular contracture is the Keller Funnel in which the doctors use a cone-shaped nylon (where the implants are placed) and then squeeze this so the implants can be inserted into the breast pocket. 

This method can significantly reduce the risk of contamination because the breast implants are introduced into the breast pocket without having to actually touch them.

Meanwhile, some plastic surgeons recommend breast massage after implant surgery because it is believed to prevent the tissue from becoming hard.  However, this should not be performed with teardrop-shaped implants and textured implants.

Reducing Rippling

For patients choosing saline implants, overfilling them can reduce rippling although doing so may void the devices’ warranty.  Another way is to use smooth implants and avoid the textured version, especially the one with “large graininess” which has been attributed to the higher risk of traction wrinkling.

Because women with little amount of breast tissue are at higher risk of visible and palpable rippling, they are generally advised to have silicone breast implants—which are noted for simulating the feel and movement of breast tissue and fat—rather than saline implants.

And to further reduce the risk of rippling, many doctors place the breast implants under the muscle (instead over it) so there will be more coverage especially in the upper half of the breasts.

Reducing Deflation (Only Applicable for Patients with Saline Implants)

Overfilling saline implants, which usually means adding 25cc to 3occ beyond the manufacturer’s recommended amount, can reduce the risk of deflation.  But still, patients who choose this type of implant should keep in mind that natural deflation can still happen due to evaporation and other factors.

According to a study, saline breast implant has a natural deflation rate of 1 percent per year; for this reason, patients with this implant would more likely need revisions sooner than women with silicone implants.

Another advantage of overfilling saline implants is that it can reduce sloshing (which has been said to affect the implant’s stability).

Reducing Nipple Numbness

Reduced or complete loss of sensation in the nipples is one of the most common concerns of breast augmentation patients who are still considering having babies in the future.  This complication happens due to the injury to the nerves at the time of surgery.

To minimize the risk of nipple numbness, plastic surgeons avoid cutting and cauterizing the area nearest the armpit.  Instead, they may gently stretch the tissue apart so there will be enough “breast pocket” for the implants.

By stretching the tissue apart instead of cutting it, there is less risk of nerve damage.  Take note that stretched nerves are less likely to result in permanent numbness in the nipples.

Reducing Downward Displacement of Implants

Downward displacement of the implants, which leads to sagging breasts, is often caused by large, heavy implants.  This problem is more of a concern with saline implants because they are prone to sloshing unlike the silicone version.

It is really hard to tell if someone will experience downward displacement or not because the level of risk is also determined not only by the implant size but also by the breast tissue (flaccid vs firm) and its amount.

In general, women with firmer breasts with a moderate to significant amount of tissue can accommodate larger implants.  By contrast, patients with flaccid breasts are often advised to choose silicone implants filled with 300cc to 350cc to reduce the risk of downward displacement.

Postponing the Need for Revisions

There is no guaranty that breast implants can last a lifetime; for this reason, most patients will likely need revision surgery at some point in their lives.

Teenage patients in particular will need revisions sooner than those who will undergo breast augmentation in their twenties.  Women should remember that breast implants are subjected to the natural wear and tear from daily life’s activities.

According to surveys, most breast augmentation patients wait until they reach their twenties before having the procedure.

Avoiding Less Favorable Cosmetic Outcome

To achieve the most natural result, there is no universal approach because everything depends on the anatomical features (e.g., amount of tissue, chest width, waistline, etc.).  For instance, women who lack breast tissue and fat are generally advised to use silicone implants rather than saline implants.

Women with little breast tissue are not advised to use saline implants because the result is usually breasts that are too round; higher risk of palpable and visible rippling; and unnatural feel.

Also, choosing implants that are too large in relation to the body can result to the “heavy top” look.  Nowadays, the trend is the natural appearance that many plastic surgeons have noticed that more patients are seeking revisions to downsize their breast implants.

Six-Packs Achievable Via Liposuction?

Liposuction is a cosmetic procedure that uses a pen-like device to suction out the unwanted fats which do not respond to rigorous exercise and diet.  But with the advances in plastic surgery, this treatment is also used to create six-packs abs.

Despite countless of hours in the gym, some people will not achieve the much coveted six-packs because of genetic predisposition.  Also the excess fats in the abdominal area tend to be stubborn that no matter how some individuals perform rigorous exercises, the bulges seem not to go away.

Abdominal etching is a special type of liposuction in which the plastic surgeons use a cannula (pen-like device) that is smaller than the one used during the traditional technique.  With this instrument, doctors strategically remove the excess fats to create grooves which in turn results to the appearance of six-packs.

Usually, doctors create several small incisions (about 1-2mm in length) which can heal quickly without causing visible scars in most cases.

Abdominal etching through liposuction surgery is typically conducted under general anesthesia, though some plastic surgeons prefer using “twilight” anesthesia which can sedate the patients but they will still remain awake.  And as a relatively simply procedure, most patients can return just a few hours following their operation.

Of course, the small incision and removal of excess fats can still lead to pain and discomfort which is the most pronounced during the first to second day following liposuction.  To control this symptom, doctors recommend over-the-counter or prescribed pain medications.

To further minimize the pain, plastic surgeons recommend compression garments wrapped around the abdomen.  By wearing them, the skin will also retract and heal closer to the body and the patients can shorten their recovery.

Ideally, compression garments are worn three to six weeks at all time even during sleep (except when bathing), depending on the surgeon’s instruction.

Because of the swelling, the grooves that create the six-packs abs will not be apparent within the first few weeks.  In most cases, it takes about six months before the patients see the muscular appearance.

But as with any cosmetic surgery, abdominal etching through liposuction has its own limitations and disadvantages.  First and foremost, it cannot create a muscular appearance for patients who are 25 pounds heavier than their ideal weight; another consideration to make is that significant weight fluctuations can totally reverse the result.

Since maintaining normal weight is the most important thing after abdominal etching, plastic surgeons consider a patient’s willingness to stick to a healthier way of life—e.g., regular exercise and moderate diet.

What Areas Can Be Treated with Liposuction Surgery?

Liposuction surgery is a body-sculpting procedure in which the excess fats are removed through a hollowed steel tube called cannula.  Meanwhile, this is often used on women who want to treat these body areas:

·         outer and inner thighs

·         buttocks

·         hips

·         waist

·         knees

·         back

·         abdomen

·         breasts

Almost any area with the excess fats can be treated with liposuction although patients should consider that it can only remove the fatty tissues close to the skin.  By contrast, the procedure cannot get rid of the deeper visceral fats (they surround organs in the midsection of the body) that cause weight-related diseases.

In some cases, a procedure will include more than one site, for instance, the back and abdomen all on the same day.  However, most plastic surgeons today limit themselves from collecting 3-4 liters of fats in one session because doing so can increase bleeding and lead to high surgical trauma.

For men, liposuction is often used to treat the body areas stated below:

·         flanks

·         abdomen

·         male breast

The procedure can be very helpful in treating pseudo-gynecomastia, a condition in which the male breasts resemble a female’s because of the excess fats.  In some cases, it is also used to remove fat tumors or lipomas, although it is more commonly applied in cosmetic body countering.

But with the advances in plastic surgery, it has now become possible to perform liposuction to remove the excess fats in the face and neck.  But this should be done carefully because over-liposuction can lead to sagging skin and gaunt appearance—problems that is hard to correct.

Because the face and neck require more precision, these areas have to be treated with cannulas smaller than the ones used when treating the body.  Typically, these hollow pen-like devices have an outside diameter of 2mm or even less, allowing plastic surgeons to enjoy greater control.

Aside from the face and neck, it is also ideal to treat body areas with fibrous fats (such as the male breast) with micro-cannula which can easily pierce through the fatty tissues.  And with this device, there would be less effort in moving it back and forth, much to the convenience of doctors.

Regardless of the treated area, the removed fats will not appear again—unless the patients will gain a significant amount of weight (10 lbs. or more).  For this reason, regular exercise and healthy diet are an important part of maintenance following liposuction surgery.