Liposuction for Men
Whenever people used to talk about cosmetic surgery, it was always assumed that the procedure was done just for women. This is no longer the case. Nowadays, men are knocking on plastic surgeons’ doors even more frequently than women are, and there are several interesting reasons as to why.
Increased Awareness
Men are now realizing that they too can benefit from the age-erasing, body-sculpting effects of cosmetic surgery. A good number of articles, in addition to recent publicity through TV talk shows and news agencies, have given men a tool for understanding the benefits and risks involved in these operations.
And with understanding, comes choice. Traditionally, women were the ones who had more choices to make about the state of their health and beauty. Now, men are jumping on the bandwagon and claiming that right of choice as well.
Why Should I?
One reason for this shift is the intense competition in the business world. There is often a perception, correct or not, that an older person is less up-to-date and less efficient when it comes to getting the job done. In an effort to remain younger-looking, many men have turned to cosmetic surgery. Plus, most people would like to look a little better naked or on the beach.
LIPOSUCTION 101
The introduction of liposuction has transformed body sculpting for men. Because only small incisions are used, these are often easily concealed or difficult to see. Although almost any area of the body can be suctioned, the three most popular areas for men are the neck, chest, and trunk- (abdomen/flanks/lower back), targeting the hard to lose love handle area.
The neck is suctioned through a small incision under the chin and/or behind the ear. The pad of fat beneath the chin can be removed and because some adhesions form, there may be the added benefit of tightening of the skin.
In the trunk or abdomen, the small incisions are placed in concealable locations around the area to allow for a crisscross pattern of suctioning.
Many surgeons feel it may be the treatment of choice for gynecomastia (large breasts in men).
BIG BONED
A person is considered obese if he weighs 100 pounds more than the desirable weight or twice the desirable body weight. Fat deposits are one way for your body to store energy. Hormones, such as insulin and steroids, control the metabolism of fat. In the legs and trunk, the fat beneath the skin has two layers: deep and superficial.
The deep layer is loosely organized. Each person has a pattern of fat deposition that is quite individual and determined by the amount of fat in this deep layer. This is the layer that is removed during traditional liposuction.
The superficial layer is denser and the fat is contained within pockets by fibrous bands. This is the cause of cellulite. This layer is difficult to change with traditional liposuction.
Wheres My Fat At?
The distribution of fat depends on a person’s age, sex and race. Obesity can be an important factor in eating disorders, especially in men. Women tend to have more fat than men do and it is found mainly in the hips, buttocks and upper thighs. Men tend to have more fat in the abdomen and the back of the neck.
The size and number of fat cells increase during the first five or six years of life. Although there may be an increase in the amount of fat during our teenage years, the number of cells usually remains constant.
As we grow older the fat tends to leave the legs and relocate more centrally. This causes the infamous “spare tire”. The fat also goes internally and lies inside the abdomen. The fat in the legs disappears from beneath the skin and is deposited within the muscle.
In severe obesity, the number of fat cells or adipocytes can increase in adults. This is why it is more difficult for very obese people to lose weight. The type of obesity associated with an increase in the number of cells is called hyperplastic obesity. Dieting and exercise are less effective in this situation.
Abdominoplasty may be the only answer for these people. Traditional liposuction is not necessarily appropriate for obesity.
No Pain, No gain
Cosmetic surgery in men uses many of the same procedures as in women. However, because of the composition of a man’s body, many technical differences exist. For example, the skin in men is thicker and contains hair in the facial area. This means the blood supply is greater. The result is a greater risk of bleeding but successful and faster healing times.