Background: Liposuction remains a popular and very effective method of body contouring through subcutaneous fat removal. While there are numerous types of liposuction, the surgeon’s technique and attention to detail is probably more important than any single liposuction technology. In essence the hands and experience of the surgeon always trumps technology.
While men probably make up less than half of all liposuction procedures performed, the areas they do get treated are almost always the same. Men almost exclusively have their stomach, waistline and love handles treated as this is their primary depot sites besides the intra-abdominal space. It is important, however, when evaluating a man for liposuction that their stomach truly has enough fat between the sin and the abdominal muscles to make the liposuction effort worthwhile.
Male abdominal fat is also uniquely different than that of women. It tends to be more fibrous and thus it can be harder to remove compared to women who often have a softer more ’buttery’ type of fat which is easier to aspirate. Besides the stomach the one area that plagues many men is their love handles that stick out from the sides and are really resistant to any form of non-surgical reduction efforts. Aggressively coming around the sides of the stomach into the back is important in liposuction and aggressive effort is needed to remove as much fat as possible in this area. It will create the longest area of soreness after liposuction but anything less than maximal effort will mar the final result.
Case Study: This 52 year-old male presented for liposuction of his stomach and love handles. (back rolls)) He could not lose this fat no matter what level of diet and exercise he underwent. He finally came to realize that these body areas required a surgical solution. He was at what he felt was a good body weight so he was now ready for some surgical contouring.
Under general anesthesia, his full abdominal and flank areas underwent liposuction with an aspirate volume of 3,700cc. This was done through seven different cannula entrance sites. (3 inside the umbilicus, 2 along the waistline and 2 at the sides) Operative time was two hours.
His six month after surgery results a substantial improvement in the shape of his abdomen and especially in his flank and back areas. Most men, particularly older ones, are not going to get a completely flat abdomen due to their intra-abdominal fat contribution which liposuction does not treat.
Male liposuction of the abdomen and love handles can be very effective at achieving improved body contours. While effective, the trauma to a large body surface area will cause some significant swelling and bruising not to mention a need for an adequate recovery time.
Case Highlights:
1) Male liposuction almost always involve the full abdomen and wraps around into the back along the waistline. (love handles)
2) Aggressive liposuction techniques are needed to remove as much as possible of male more fibrous fatty tissue.
3) The goal of a completely flat stomach and indented flanks from liposuction may not be realistic for many men.
Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana