Many men suffer from excess weight and localized accumulations of fat that they cannot get rid of despite exercise or diet. In men, the areas most commonly affected are the abdomen and the hips (love handles). Such accumulations of fat can be removed with the use of a vacuum device. The objective of male liposuction is to contour the shape of the body in such a way as to give it the best possible form with the least amount of remaining fat. Today, liposuction is gaining significant popularity among men.
The popularity of male liposuction in Virginia is perhaps due to its relative simplicity (in the hands of a qualified surgeon). Large amounts of fat can safely be removed through incisions that are barely visible. The fat that is removed never comes back. However, you must remember that it is impossible to remove all fat cells, and the ones that remain may get enlarged if you do not control your dietary intake.
In recent years, modern methods of male liposuction have virtually eliminated all dangers. The technique of tumescent liposuction has made it possible for the surgeon to remove large amounts of fat without the need for a blood transfusion, which was necessary in many large suctioning procedures in the past. There is much less discomfort and a shorter recovery time with this technique.
Ultrasonic liposuction is a method that uses ultrasounds to first break down the fat. Once the fat is emulsified, it is removed with regular suction cannulas. Ultrasound is generally used in fibrous areas of the body, such as the back and the breasts. It is also helpful in secondary liposuction procedures.
Technological advances are being made in other areas that are now challenging traditional liposuction as the most efficient method of fat reduction. The use of laser technology in liposuction (SmartLipo) is still in its preliminary stages, and its advantage over more conventional techniques is yet to be proven. Mesotherapy and lipodissolve are techniques that use injectable agents to dissolve fat. These methods are gaining popularity through the media; however, in the professional community, there is some skepticism for the use of these solutions in large volume fat reduction. Until the safety and efficacy of these methods is established beyond any doubt, it is safer to use traditional techniques of fat removal.
The Virginia male liposuction procedure can be done under local anesthesia plus sedation or under general anesthesia, depending on the extent of surgery. The vacuum suction is inserted into the fatty layer of skin through a small incision, and fat is removed.
It is important to understand that male liposuction is not a substitute for proper diet and exercise. The best liposuction candidates are those who have localized accumulations of fat. The elastic property and tone of skin are also important in achieving good results. If your skin has poor elasticity, Dr. Marefat may recommend a skin-tightening procedure in conjunction with liposuction. Although skin removal is effective in eliminating the excessive laxity, it does leave permanent scars.
After Virginia male liposuction surgery, you will wear a compression garment in order to minimize the swelling in the suctioned areas. Wearing this garment for 1-2 months ensures proper healing and recovery.
Depending on the extent of the surgery, you may be able to resume normal activities the same day, or you may need a week to recover. Generally, recovery is complete no matter how extensive the procedure is by the end of the 1st week. Rigorous and strenuous activities should be avoided in the first few weeks.
Lipoplasty, also known as suction lipectomy (liposuction), is one the most frequently performed cosmetic surgery procedures in many countries around the world. Although this procedure is very safe, there are still serious risks that may attend it.
It must be remembered that liposuction is performed by many health care practitioners who are not trained in plastic surgery. Dermatologists, internists, gynecologists, oral surgeons, otolaryngologists, and even some dentists have been known to perform liposuction. Liposuction should be performed in a facility that has the equipment and personnel to deal with life-threatening situations.
The American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery created a task force for establishing the risks of liposuction. Among the risk factors that are known for liposuction, the following are listed as most important:
In the past several years, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons has recommended a maximum of 5000cc of fat removal in one day. Since this rule has been established, the number of deaths as a result of liposuction performed by board certified plastic surgeons has dramatically decreased.
Obviously, prevention of problems is the best way to avoid complications. The most important factors that come into the equation of safe liposuction are:
Liposuction is a procedure designed to remove unwanted fat with minimal incisions.
The most suitable patients are those who have reasonable expectations about the results that they will achieve with this type of surgery. It is useful for patients who have localized fat accumulations that are disproportionate to the remainder of the body. On occasion, body contour irregularities can also be helped with liposuction.
For many patients who have excessive skin or who have lost the elasticity of their skin, a traditional skin resection may be necessary. If body contouring irregularities are due to structures other than fat, such as bone or weaknesses in the muscles, these problems cannot be corrected by liposuction. On occasion, it may be necessary to address these problems at a later date with other surgical procedures.
With Virginia male liposuction, fat can be taken away permanently. Each person is born with a specific number of fat cells. These fat cells get larger or smaller depending on the amount of calories consumed or the metabolism of the person. When fat cells are removed from an area of the body, the fat never comes back. You will still have some fat cells remaining in that area, but, the procedure, if done correctly, will have long-lasting effects.
Not usually. Cellulite is located in a more superficial layer and is not usually removed with liposuction. If the patient has cellulite, it is likely that the areas of cellulite will still be present after surgery and, on occasion, may become even more noticeable.
In the first consultation, you will have a chance to discuss your concerns with our patient care coordinators and Dr. Marefat. We will explain what you need to know about the Virginia male liposuction procedure and help to determine what is best for you. You will receive information booklets and pricing on the procedure.
Liposuction is done through a small puncture hole that is usually hidden in a natural fold of the body. The incision itself can be as small as 1/8th of an inch. The area to be suctioned is then infiltrated with a solution containing medicines that reduce bleeding and postoperative pain. This is why large amounts of fat can be removed with little blood loss and no need for hospitalization.
Our objective is to improve body contours. However, we cannot change the nature of the skin. We want to establish more normal proportions between the areas of the body and give the body a better overall harmony. We also want to improve the appearance both in and out of clothing.
It depends on how much liposuction you need. Local anesthesia, IV sedation, or general anesthesia can all be used for this surgery. In all cases, the local injections of the tumescent solution are used whether or not you are asleep. With the tumescent technique, requirements for IV sedation or general anesthesia are decreased, so there is less risk of side effects as a result of these anesthetics. Some patients are very uncomfortable about being awake during the procedure, and, in such situations, it is best to opt for general anesthesia.
After male liposuction surgery, you will have a moderate amount of drainage from the liposuction incisions. You will need to rest for the first 2-3 days, but most people are up and about shortly after surgery. We generally recommend our patients take off 5-7 days from work. Heavy lifting and exercising should be avoided in the first 2 weeks. Your body will tell you when you are ready to get back into your regular exercise routine. You will need to wear support garments for approximately 4-6 weeks after surgery. This helps in the attachment of the skin back to the underlying tissues after liposuction and reduces the chance of fluid collection under the skin. During this interval, you may remove the garment to shower and rest your skin for short periods of time. There will be some numbness associated with Virginia male liposuction surgery. This numbness usually persists for about 4-6 weeks. Minor lumps and irregularities are common after liposuction. These irregularities are related to accumulations of fluid in certain areas of the subcutaneous fatty layer of the skin as a result of either infiltration of the fluid or as a result of the trauma associated with liposuction. Irregularities even out after the first 2-3 weeks of surgery. Minor asymmetry between the 2 sides of the body can be seen after liposuction. This is related to accumulations of fluid or trauma related to the operation. These asymmetries usually resolve within 2-3 weeks after the surgery.
Not usually. This is still the most common aesthetic complication of liposuction. It seems to occur more in people with poor skin quality and patients who have cellulite. One way to avoid waviness and irregularities is for the doctor to use very small gauge cannulas and to take his time removing the fat. However, even when everything is done right, there is still a chance that you may develop some irregularity. If this occurs, we can usually fix this problem in a touch-up procedure. This touch-up procedure is done approximately 3 months after the initial surgery.
Reading about complications can be quite scary. Many people cannot comfortably sit through a consultation session without having some real doubts about surgery. But it is different when you have these complications explained to you by Dr. Marefat. He can put them in perspective for you and tell you the likelihood of such complications occurring. Most complications are very rare. Some are less rare and need to be explained in more detail so that you know how we would tackle these problems if they occurred. The purpose of explaining risks and complications is for you to know what steps we would take to treat you and put you back on the road to recovery. Remember that every surgeon has his or her own way of treating problems. You must go over these potential risks with your surgeon to gain better insight and understanding.
Touch-ups are done after 3 months. These procedures are much simpler than the first procedure and are not as painful. Dr. Marefat can usually do them in the office with a small amount of local anesthetic solution.
There are very few sutures in liposuction procedures in general. These usually come out in the first week. You may have absorbable sutures that do not need to come out.
We like to see our patients frequently after surgery. You are seen by the doctor or nurse within 2-3 days of Virginia male liposuction surgery. Then, the normal postoperative routine is 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months. Of course, if there is a need, you may be seen more often. After a year, we encourage our patients to come in for routine follow-up visits every 3-5 years.
You are a good candidate for Virginia male liposuction if you have localized areas of fat collection, good skin tone, good general health, and realistic expectations. This does not mean that you cannot have liposuction if you do not meet these criteria. However, the best results are seen in individuals who have 1-2 areas of localized fat on their body that they cannot seem to get rid of with dieting and exercising. Generally, the younger you are, the better a candidate you are for surgery. A person’s physiological age is more important than his chronological age. That is to say, you may be 60 years old, but your skin and general health may be better than that of most 50 year olds.
You can pay for Virginia male liposuction by certified check, credit card, or cash. Payment for cosmetic surgery is expected prior to any procedure. If you are scheduled for surgery several weeks in advance, you may pay by personal check.
Yes. However, these scars are very small (about 1/8th of an inch) and are usually hidden in areas of the body where you would not normally see them (e.g., belly button or pubic hair area). Each area of liposuction will generally have 1-2 small scars. After several months, these scars fade and are hardly visible.
The pain involved in liposuction is very tolerable. We have heard our patients describe it as muscle aches and pains or just soreness. Many patients do not finish the pain medications prescribed to them for pain relief. Having said that, remember that pain is very subjective, and it is not easy to predict what degree of pain you will have.
If you are having just a small area treated that can be done in the office, then you will be awake. However, if you are having a large area treated or having multiple areas suctioned, this will most likely be done in an outpatient facility using general anesthesia.
Male liposuction surgery can either be performed in the office or the outpatient facility, depending on the size and number of areas suctioned. For example, if you have a small localized area of fat in your hip, it is quite feasible to do this in the office under local anesthesia. On the other hand, if you want to have your entire mid-body treated, then you are much more likely to have this done in the outpatient facility. We rarely see the need to perform male liposuction in the hospital setting anymore. Only in rare situations in which the patient may have risk factors does Dr. Marefat suggest surgery in a hospital environment.
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Yes. In all cosmetic and reconstructive cases, medical photos are taken. Photographs are mandatory. This is the only way for us to compare your status before the procedure to your results. Photographs in plastic surgery serve much the same role that x-rays serve for orthopedic surgery.
Dr. Marefat and the staff at Metropolitan Plastic Surgery would be happy to help you set up a private consultation to discuss liposuction for men. Schedule an appointment online or call one of our locations at 703-516-7600 (Arlington area) or at 703-560-9583 (Woodbridge).
Dr. Marefat offers a number of financial assistance programs and payment programs to cover the cost of liposuction for men. Please visit the patient financing section of our website for more details or ask the staff at Metropolitan Plastic Surgery about these options so that you can get started with male liposuction in Virginia today.
