Body contouring for men

WHO IS A GOOD CANDIDATE?

Unlike women who hold a lot of their fat just under the skin (subcutaneous fat), men hold a greater proportion of their fat intra-abdominally (visceral fat). Visceral fat is not amenable to removal via liposuction; however, it does not mean some men do not have a specific area such as the abdomen or love handles where fat sits and is resistant to exercise or weight loss.

​

THE PROCEDURE

Liposuction is done either under sedation or general anesthesia in an ambulatory surgery center. During surgery, several 3-4mm holes are made in the skin, and through this, fluid containing an anesthetizing agent and epinephrine (to shrink blood vessels and lead to less bleeding) is injected into the tissues. Metal rods of various lengths and thicknesses called cannulas are then used to remove fat and sculpt the targeted areas. The fat is collected into a canister and discarded. Dr. Kayan also uses a special cannula at the end of the case to smooth out all the liposuctioned areas to try and avoid any dents or divots. All incision sites are closed with dissolvable sutures. The procedure takes about 1 hour if limited areas are done, and longer if multiple areas are done or if the patient will need a position change during surgery (e.g. if fat is taken from both the front and the back of the patient's body).

​

RECOVERY

After surgery, the patient will typically need to wear a compression garment 24/7 for 4-6 weeks. Pain is mild to moderate for most patients, and most patients are up and moving even on the day of surgery. Certain movements such as bending at the waist and twisting are to be avoided for 4-6 weeks. Showering can be resumed the day after surgery, and patients can go back to work in as little as a few days after the surgery. Final results are not visible until at least 3 months after surgery because swelling can come and go. There may be some hardened areas of scar tissue that will take several months to resolve. Massage of the hardened areas is encouraged several times per day as early as tolerated as it can help the scar tissue soften faster. It is true that the removed fat cells are gone forever and don't "grow back," however if you gain weight after liposuction, the fat cells that are still in your body can still grow larger.