Cosmetic surgeries were long the domain of women. Men thought it wasn’t manly to have “some work done.” Those days are over. Today, Dr. Lavey has many male patients coming in for procedures ranging from filler injections to liposuction. Liposuction is becoming especially popular as men feel the need to compete with younger counterparts in the workplace.
What is liposuction?
Originally introduced into the U.S. in the 1980s after its debut in France, liposuction involves suctioning out unwanted fat in targeted areas. In liposuction, a tiny incision is made in the target area where a cannula (a small tube with vacuum power) is inserted. The cannula is moved around to break loose fat cells, suctioning them out. The incision is then closed and over the next few weeks the skin and tissue adapt down onto the now more contoured profile.
Dr. Lavey uses two methods for his liposuction procedures with men:
- Tumescent liposuction— In this method, Dr. Lavey first injects the target area with a saline solution that also has lidocaine and epinephrine in it. The lipocaine is a local anesthetic; the epinephrine is adrenaline. The tumescent solution helps loosen the fat and the adrenaline constricts the blood vessels to minimize bleeding.
- Ultrasound-assisted liposuction— In this method, ultrasound energy is first directed into the target area through the incision. This energy liquefies and otherwise loosens the fat deposits, making for easier removal with the cannula.
Men’s fat
Men’s fat in the legs and trunk exists in two layers: deep and superficial.
The deep layer is loosely organized. Everyone has a pattern of fat deposition that is individual and determined by the amount of fat. The deep layer is the target of liposuction.
The superficial layer is denser and the fat is contained within pockets by fibrous bands. This is the cause of cellulite, which is relatively rare in men, but common in women. The superficial fat layer is difficult to target with liposuction, although ultrasound-assisted liposuction is much more effective.
Where do men opt to have liposuction?
Liposuction has become very popular with men because it allows them to remove stubborn pockets of fat that are resistant to diet and exercise. It allows them to sculpt areas of their bodies. Although most areas of the body can have liposuction, the three most popular areas for men are the neck/chin, abdomen, and loin (love handles).
Not for weight loss
It’s important to note that liposuction is NOT a weight loss procedure. In fact, it’s dangerous to remove too much fat at one time from the body. Liposuction is really a body-sculpting procedure, allowing a man to remove stubborn pockets of fat in the stomach area or under the chin, for instance.
Are you interested in having liposuction with Dr. Lavey? Call us at 925-820-3633 to set up a consultation.
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