Body contouring procedures are becoming more popular among the male population. Reconstructive and other types of plastic procedures don’t always have to be reserved for women. There are plenty of men who would willingly undergo a suitable plastic procedure that would help them enhance their appearance and regain confidence.
In fact, according to the ASPS 2018 Surgery Statistics on Cosmetic Surgery Gender Distribution, men typically choose body contouring procedures such as rhinoplasties, blepharoplasties, liposuction, skin tightening, etc.
Body contouring procedures are amazing alternatives for those who wish to lose weight and reshape their bodies, but there are some stubborn fat areas that just won’t come off.
Of course, every man is a unique individual seeking the best option for achieving his body goal. Before making your decision about body contouring plastic surgery, you should learn some basics about the most common body contouring procedures and choose a professional and certified plastic surgeon who will properly assess your overall medical condition and recommend adequate treatment plans.
Learn more about Blepharoplasties here
No matter how much you exercise and eat healthy, there may be some areas of fat in your body that remain. You don’t want your time, dedication, and effort to be in vain, so you decide to take some drastic measures. You’ve already achieved a significant weight loss, but now it comes to the hard part. How do get rid of the excess skin?
The solution lies in surgical body contouring procedures! Body contouring, also known as body sculpting, is a plastic surgery that aims to reshape a certain area of the body and eliminate extra fat and skin. It is important to note that body contouring can’t help you lose weight. However, it will emphasize the results of your previous weight loss.
In this case, men decide to have male body contouring procedures to look and feel thinner after losing weight and neutralize areas where diet or exercise didn’t make any difference. Various male body contouring procedures can make the skin look younger and smoother and improve the saggy or wrinkled skin that comes with aging.
Body contouring procedures are most frequently performed on body parts such as arms, neck, thighs, belly, and chin. Depending on the part of the body where body contouring will take place, there are several surgical procedures suitable for achieving desired goals. Keep reading to learn more about them!
Serious consultations and discussions with your plastic surgeon are the first steps toward accomplishing your desired look. First of all, your surgeon will determine whether you meet all requirements to become a suitable candidate for plastic surgery. Sharing your goals and expectations, as well as medical history, allergies, previous surgeries, medications, and other information will help your surgeon suggest the most appropriate treatment plan and type of surgery.
Male body contouring encompasses various procedures, each of which is convenient for specific areas and objectives. Therefore, the initial step towards determining the most effective procedure for your body and goals is to have a consultation with your surgeon.
Cryolipolysis, also known as the fat-freezing process or CoolSculpting is a nonsurgical fat reduction procedure that uses sub-zero temperatures to target and break down fat cells resistant to dieting and exercise.
Cryolipolysis is performed with a device called the applicator. First, the size and shape of the treated area are assessed and outlied so that the applicator can identify the area. The area is protected with the gel pad and then the applicator will suck and vacuum the fatty bulge. The cold temperature which gradually drops will cause fat cells to freeze. When the body recognizes the death of the cell, it will begin the process of eliminating it from the body.
During the procedure, you may experience tugging, tingling, or cramping sensations until the area becomes numb during the cooling down process. The procedure typically lasts for an hour after which the applicator is removed, and the area is massaged, which can improve final results.
Cryolipolysis is not a one-session procedure. The first changes can be visible up to 3 weeks after the initial procedure. Drastic results and improvements are noticed 2 months later. Some studies have shown an average fat reduction between 15 and 28 percent at around 4 months after the first session.
Some of the advantages of cryolipolysis are that it is a non-surgical and low-risk procedure with no risk of infections. Patients don’t have to receive anesthesia, there is no damage to muscles, blood vessels, and nerve fibers, and fat cells that have been frozen and destroyed are permanently removed from the body.
However, this procedure is not recommended for people with obesity, neurological and orthopedic problems, and the optimal results won’t be visible immediately, but after 4 to 6 months after the initial treatment.
A procedure called Vanquish is a relatively new non-surgical approach designed to decrease the circumference of the abdomen and thighs through the heating of the fat tissue. Vanquish employs radio-frequency energy to eliminate fat cells by heating them up, leading to their shrinkage and elimination. The advantage of this treatment lies in the fact that the skin’s surface tissue is unaffected because the device doesn’t come into contact with the skin, but still reaches deep into the fat layers.
Muscle enhancement treatments use high-intensity electromagnetic energy to build muscles and sculpt the body. These treatments are designed as non-surgical alternatives that can successfully mimic results from the gym and treat your abdomen, buttocks, arms, calves, and thighs.
A single muscle enhancement treatment feels like thousands of powerful muscle contractions forcing muscle tissue to adapt to them, which results in deep remodeling of their inner structure and muscle building.
The new technology used in these muscle enhancement procedures is called HIFEM technology, which stands for “High-Intensity Focused Electra-Magnetic” technology. This technology forces your muscles into “supramaximal contractions” which your body can’t produce on its own. Supramaximal contractions affect your muscles and fat tissue causing a deep remodeling of muscle structure. This reaction is called muscle hypertrophy followed by muscle hyperplasia where new protein strands and muscle fibers and formed.
Hypertrophy and hyperplasia are muscular reactions that can occur during normal exercise but with supramaximal contractions, results can be significantly improved.
As we age, our skin naturally loses the ability to sustain its elasticity and firmness due to the decreased level of elastin and collagen. Over the past few years, there has been a major expansion of non-surgical procedures that can tighten the skin on the face, neck, or elsewhere.
Generally, these non-surgical skin-tightening procedures involve the application of focused energy to heat up the underlying layers of the skin, thereby stimulating the production of collagen and elastin. Over time, this can lead to enrichment in the overall quality and texture of the skin.
Radiofrequency (RF) treatments are non-surgical procedures involving the energy from the device used to heat the skin and trigger collagen, elastin, and new cell production. Radiofrequency targets the epidermis, which is the outer layer of our skin to achieve a firmer and smoother appearance. This treatment is suitable for all genders and skin types and many people choose this procedure since it doesn’t include pain or recovery time. Some assets include improved skin tone, tightness, and firmness and reducing the effects of aging, such as wrinkles, fine lines, and saggy skin.
While radiofrequency treatments are non-surgical, there is a procedure called microneedling, a cosmetic procedure that can be mildly invasive. This procedure is sometimes called skin needling or collagen induction therapy. If you choose to do this procedure, make sure it is performed by a certified professional or experienced dermatologist.
Microneedling procedure uses tiny sterilized needling to prick the skin in order to create microwounds and injuries. Your body will start a natural healing process by sending collagen and elastin to patch up these tiny injuries. Collagen and elastin then do their instinctive job of filling in and smoothing wrinkles.
Depending on how big the treated area is, the procedure typically lasts 10-20 minutes. It usually takes 4-6 treatments until people see a difference.
Undoubtedly, skin-tightening treatments stand out as the most effective for this type of skin improvement. Although there are a few downsides to consider, such as recovery time and potential scars, the outcomes are long-lasting.
Liposuction is a surgical procedure involving the removal of excess fat from specific areas of the body. It is one of the most common cosmetic surgical procedures in the United States, most often performed on thighs, arms, abdomen, chin, neck, bottom and lower back.
Those are the areas of the body where stubborn fat deposits tend to accumulate. Similarly to other body contouring surgical procedures, liposuction is not recommended for people who are severely overweight, because this is not a weight loss solution.
There are several types of liposuction based on the patient’s needs and expectations, such as liposuction, power-assisted liposuction, and ultrasonic-assisted liposuction.
Liposuction is done by making a small incision in the skin and inserting a thin tube called a cannula through it into the fat layer. The cannula is moved back and forth to cause the break up of fat cells which are then suctioned out of the body using a vacuum attached to the cannula.
The recovery period after liposuction can take up to two weeks after the procedure. Patients would be recommended to not smoke or drink alcohol during the recovery, to have a healthy and balanced diet, and to remain hydrated.
Gynecomastia is an enlargement or swelling of men’s breast tissue. It can be genetic or caused by some medicine, disease, or hormone imbalance. In certain cases, it can disappear on its own, but more frequently men choose to undergo a corrective surgical procedure to get rid of it.
Surgically removing the excess tissue in breasts will have benefits such as masculine and firm-looking breasts.
If you choose this procedure to eliminate the extra fat in your breasts and reshape your body after significant weight loss or for any other reason, make sure to contact a certified and experienced professional who will provide you with honest and individual advice.
Male body contouring procedures are just some of the many services Dr. Finkel offers in Chandler.
Your plastic surgeon will determine if you are a good candidate for male body contouring procedures. Before scheduling a consultation with your doctor, here are some general criteria that would make you a suitable candidate:
Whether the procedure was surgical or non-surgical, recovery time varies. Most people continue with their daily activities right after the procedure.
However, recovery from surgical procedures can take weeks to months, depending on how much work is done and on the patient’s overall health condition. Body contouring procedures typically require general anesthesia and at least one night at the hospital.
Patients can also expect to have surgical drains after the surgery to remove excess fluids or blood. Your doctor will make sure to instruct you on how to care for the surgical drains properly.
Dr. Rimma Finkel is here for you if you’re considering male body contouring procedures. Dr. Finkel is a specialist in various body contouring, cosmetic, and reconstructive procedures.
Her professional background includes the American Academy of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, the American Association of Plastic Surgeons, the American Board of Plastic Surgery, and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
She’s a Plastic Surgeon operating in the entire Phoenix metro area. She has offices in Gilbert, Chandler, and Phoenix, and often travels to the Banner in Glendale. After graduating from the University of Tennessee College of Medicine in 2001, she trained in General Surgery at Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center until 2006 and then in Plastic Surgery at the University of Louisville. Upon completion of these programs in 2008, Dr. Finkel started her own private practice.
