Although traditionally people seem to think of liposuction as something specific to women, the fact is that it is also becoming increasingly popular with men as well. There are many ways that men are finding to utilize liposuction to re-sculpt areas of their body that just do not seem to respond to diet and exercise. The types of liposuction that men choose are generally geared to cosmetic complaints that are specific to the male body.
Liposuction for men tends to focus on certain areas of the body, such as the abdominal area, or for reducing “love handles”, since these areas are often difficult to manage through other means. However, some men are also getting liposuction procedures to help define their face, by removing fat from the neck, jowls, and chin areas. Double chin liposuction is such an example. Since the neck and chin areas do not respond well to diet or exercise, many men have opted for this type of liposuction as a way to correct their double chin.
The treatment of gynecomastia, which is the abnormal enlargement of the male breast, is another common use for male liposuction. Gynecomastia liposuction is used to remove the excess accumulation of fat in the male breast area. It is also often used in conjunction with other surgical techniques that are used to treat gynecomastia. One of the advantages of using liposuction for this type of treatment is that scarring is minimal, because of the very small incisions that are necessary and because of the placement of those incisions that are generally in places that are difficult to see.
Of course, before considering liposuction as a solution for gynecomastia, the doctor has to determine if the male breast enlargement is indeed caused by an excess accumulation of fat tissue, or if the problem is caused by glandular tissue. If it is because of fat tissue, then male liposuction can generally be used successfully. If it is due to glandular tissue then liposuction will not be suitable and the patient will need to seek an alternative solution.
When male liposuction is used to remove fatty deposits around the face, it often has dramatic effects as far as making a man look younger. Facial liposuction is generally most successful when a person is within thirty percent of their ideal body weight. When this is the case, liposuction can be used in the chin, neck, and jowl areas to remove persistent pockets of fat. It can reduce the appearance of a double chin, hanging jowls, and sagging in the neck area. However, in persons with skin that is less elastic than normal, some skin sagging may result, which can be reduced later with a face-lift if necessary. This issue is particularly relevant to people who have loss a dramatic amount of weight.
Facial liposuction is a relatively simple and quick procedure, generally causing some swelling and bruising, along with some mild discomfort, which usually goes away after about a week. The doctor may prescribe pain medication but more often than not, an over-the-counter remedy will usually be enough to relieve any discomfort that results from the surgery. Very small incisions are made to allow the use of the micro-cannula, a method of injecting fluid into the area and then suctioning out the fat, and sometimes a few small stitches are necessary. Normal activities can generally be resumed within a week at which time the stitches, if there are any, will be removed. It takes anywhere from three months to six months until the patient will be able to appreciate the full benefits of the liposuction procedure that he has undertaken.
