Modern society used to frown on the prospect of cosmetic surgery for men, seeing it as a reckless pursuit of vanity that was considered unmasculine. This was an attitude cultivated by society’s being generally much more forgiving of imperfections in the male physique. Men with bulging beer bellies and fatty thighs would not be the target of ridicule or rejection quite as much as women with similar bodily concerns. This double standard is still the norm today. However, as men with sculpted abdominals and chiseled features become more and more prominent in popular media as the ideal male, an increasing amount of men are willing to go under the knife to improve on what was given to them by Mother Nature. Indeed, liposuction remains one of the top five cosmetic surgery procedures favored by men, since a healthy diet and a regular exercise regimen may not be enough to get rid of stubborn, unsightly pockets of fat. The most popular uses for male liposuction today are to reduce or remove enlarged male breasts, shrink or sculpt the middle and lower torso, and trim down excess fat deposits in the lower back area.

Liposuction performed on men does not differ, insofar as technique is concerned, from liposuction performed on women. Incisions are made in a manner that will produce the least visible scarring, and a hollow tube called a cannula is inserted and shaken about to demolish the fat deposits. The shattered and liquidated fat is then siphoned out of the tube by a vacuum. The treated area is then contoured and smoothed out, after which the incision is closed up with sutures and bandaged. The procedure takes between 45 minutes to 4 hours, depending on the size and location of the body region requiring treatment.

Male liposuction is generally more expensive, though. Why would cosmetic surgeons charge more when the process is basically the same? This is because the male physiology contains subtle differences from that of the female that make the procedure more difficult. Firstly, the fat in men is of a more fibrous composition; when studied under a microscope, the fat cell layers in males, the thicker, more plentiful fiber strands are easily observed. Secondly, since men are typically larger than women, the same area to be treated will usually contain more fat, which leads to more work for the surgeon. Lastly, the target areas where men would typically receive liposuction, such as the abdomen and the chest, naturally have more fibrous accumulations of fat.

Gynecomastia, the condition where men develop enlarged or feminine breasts, is sometimes resolved with liposuction. The surgeon determines whether the male breast tissue is primarily composed of fatty deposits, or is of a glandular nature. If it is the former, then liposuction can easily suck out the excess fat and reduce the chest of the patient to a more normal size. Otherwise, liposuction will not be recommended, and the patient may have to undergo hormonal therapy or other medication.

Side effects of the liposuction include swelling, discomfort and bruising, all of which can be managed with conventional medication, and will normally fade within one to four weeks. If the amount of liposuction performed is minimal, then it can be performed as an outpatient technique. More extensive treatment will necessitate that the patient remain in the clinic for a few days. A patient will be able to return to work within one to two weeks after the surgery.

Potential candidates for male liposuction who wish to use it to enhance their appearance should be aware that this is still an invasive surgery, carrying with it the risks of infection, allergic reaction and excessive bleeding, and as such, should be in decent health before undergoing the operation.