BODY CONTOURING FOR MEN

Among cosmetic surgery procedures, body contouring is not just for women anymore. In fact, more and more men are becoming aware of and experiencing the benefits that a multitude of new and established procedures can provide for them. Some of these procedures are identical, whether performed on men or women.  Many, however, are modified to suit anatomical and practical features specific to the male patient.  Dr. Max Polo, specialist in body contouring for the Foundation for Hair Restoration and Plastic Surgery, has particular expertise in this type of cosmetic surgery for men, and can help the individual patient decide on which procedure(s) are best suited to their particular situation and goals.  Individuals who have had large amounts of weight loss following lifestyle adjustments and/or bariatric surgery may well benefit from any of a variety of body lift procedures.

These surgical procedures are designed to restore a more youthful, sleek and trim appearance by removing excess skin, elevating anatomic structures to more desirable positions, and often also augmenting areas that are deficient in volume.

The more popular of these procedures include liposuction, gynecomastia (breast/chest) reduction, abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), and a particular procedure that Dr. Polo specializes in- belt-plasty (tummy tuck and buttocks lift). Procedures that are less common, but equally beneficial for the appropriate candidate, include thigh lifts, brachioplasty (arm lift), implant augmentation of the chest, buttocks, calves, or arms, and autologous fat augmentation of the buttocks.

Following its introduction then general acceptance by the scientific and media community in the mid 1980s, liposuction rapidly became and has remained among the most commonly performed cosmetic surgery procedures worldwide.  In the U.S. in 2008 it ranked #3 overall and #2 among men.  Liposuction is best suited for individuals who, despite having a reasonable level of weight control and fitness, have persistent excess fat deposits that do not respond to diet and exercise. Ideal candidates for liposuction are adults of any age in good health, with firm and elastic skin and within 30% of their ideal weight.  In such patients, liposuction slims and reshapes specific areas of the body by surgically removing localized or regional excess fat deposits, thereby improving the body’s contours and proportion, and enhancing self-image. In men, common areas treated with liposuction include the chin and neck, chest, abdomen, and flanks or hips.  However, in less than ideal candidates, good to excellent results can also be achieved when superior techniques are utilized.

Modern advances in liposuction beyond the standard or traditional technique include the tumescent or super-wet technique, and liposculpture.  These advances have allowed liposuction to be more dramatically effective, while remaining equally or more safe, and resulting in less post-op discomfort. The tumescent technique involves infusion into the treatment areas of saline solution with adrenaline and local anesthetic, prior to removal of excess fat.  Liposculpture involves the use of ultrasound (UAL) or laser (SmartLipo®, CoolLipo®) energy generating devices, for the application of heat energy to fat at the treatment areas prior to suction aspiration. This results in melting or liquefaction of fat prior to mechanical extraction, and perhaps in enhanced stimulation of subsequent skin contraction.  The combination of these two factors can allow more effective and precise sculpting of fat and better skin conformity, for a more improved overall body contour.

Dr. Polo routinely utilizes these latest techniques with his liposuction procedures. Liposuction is usually performed on an outpatient basis, under local anesthesia with sedation, or with general anesthesia for larger cases involving treatment of multiple areas, in both the outpatient surgery center as well as our fully accredited office surgical facilities. These procedures can safely be performed in combination with other procedures by associated FHRPS board certified surgeons, including autologous fat grafting, neck lifts, and hair restoration, which may involve minimal additional surgery time and recovery time.