By Dr. Heidi Harrington
Beaufort Memorial Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics
If you think liposuction for men isn’t common, think again. Liposuction is the most commonly performed cosmetic surgery in America, and nearly 21,000 American men underwent liposuction procedures in 2023 alone, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. This number continues to rise as more men turn to liposuction to improve their physiques.
Male patients are realizing that a healthy diet and exercise aren’t always enough to get rid of stubborn fat deposits. That’s when they turn to plastic surgeons to help with body contouring.
Liposuction’s purpose is to remove excess fat cells that are resistant to diet and exercise. Depending on your goals, liposuction helps sculpt specific areas of the body. Areas commonly targeted by men include:
- Chest — For gynecomastia (enlarged male breast tissue), liposuction can provide minimally invasive reduction.
- Hips — Liposuction is an effective way to address “love handles.”
- Torso — Removing stubborn fat around the midsection can uncover the six-pack abdominal muscles you work so hard to build.
Liposuction offers a long-term solution for reducing fat that sticks around despite healthy lifestyle habits. The procedure only has a few steps, and your surgeon will determine the appropriate technique for the fat removal process.
- Anesthesia — You’ll receive anesthesia to ensure comfort during surgery.
- Incision — Your plastic surgeon makes small discreet incisions.
- Fat removal — The surgeon inserts a thin, hollow tube through the incision and into the area of focus to dissolve and remove the unwanted body fat.
Recovery depends on the amount and location of fat removed. Most of the time, you will go home the same day. Men who undergo liposuction should expect some swelling and bruising at the site of the procedure. This is normal and should go away within a short amount of time.
You’ll receive medication to manage discomfort and will return for a follow-up within a couple weeks to check healing and remove sutures. Though the National Institutes of Health state that recovery time from all swelling can take a few months, you can return to office work within a few days. To speed your recovery and manage symptoms, follow your surgeon’s orders.
Recovery tips include:
- Avoid strenuous exercise for a few weeks
- Keep the surgical site clean and covered
- Wear compression garments, if prescribed, to reduce swelling and improve healing
Most men quickly return to normal life after liposuction, often with renewed confidence. To maintain results, it’s important to:
- Limit foods and drinks high in unnecessary calories
- Follow your surgeon’s post-op instructions
- Stay consistent with exercise
Liposuction is not a magic pill for patients to lose weight; it’s a tool that helps you make the most of your other efforts by removing some of the stubborn fat stores that conceal the muscle tone below.
By following these steps, you will increase the likelihood of enjoying the benefits of liposuction for years to come.
Heidi Harrington, M.D., is a board-certified and fellowship-trained plastic surgeon with two decades of cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery experience. She sees patients at Beaufort Memorial Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics in Okatie.
