Move over “Mommy Makeover!” More men are turning to surgical solutions to stay looking as young as they feel, especially after becoming new fathers. The term “Dad Bod” hit the mainstream a few years back and describes the body state of a man who has experienced weight gain, loss of muscular definition and a “softening” of his overall build due to the demands of fatherhood. While some men accept these body changes as a new chapter in their lives, an increasing number of men are opting for surgical body contouring procedures, like liposuction, to reclaim a more youthful and masculine appearance.
“It seriously looked like my stomach expanded right along with my wife’s during her pregnancy,” laughs Chris, a 43-year-old father of two and liposuction patient of Edina Plastic Surgery. “Becoming a dad changed my sleep schedule, my eating habits, my time management – EVERYTHING,” he says. “This continued for years, and when I finally reclaimed some time to devote to the gym, it’s like the weight wouldn’t budge no matter how much I dieted or exercised. I didn’t feel or look like myself anymore, so I decided to join my wife on her tummy tuck consultation at Edina Plastic Surgery, and we BOTH decided to make improvements in our appearances to feel better about ourselves!”
Chris is not alone. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, doctors performed more than 1.3 million cosmetic procedures on men in 2017. Non-surgical options like BOTOX® Cosmetic have become more mainstream for men, and now surgical procedures, like abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) and liposuction are gaining acceptance. Like women, men want and deserve to look as young as they feel.
“We have seen an increasing number of male liposuction and tummy tuck patients in our practice over the last five years,” says Dr. Nathan Leigh, a board-certified plastic surgeon at Edina Plastic Surgery and a recognized Minneapolis St. Paul Magazine “Top Doctor.” “This upward trend has also been noticed for rhinoplasty (nose job), brow lifts and blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery),” he continues. “Men are beginning to feel more comfortable and validated in seeking surgical solutions. It’s simply becoming more accepted across the board and within our society.”
Just like women, men go through hormonal changes as they age. Declining levels of testosterone can make pockets of fat extremely difficult to lose, especially around the flanks (love handles) and abdomen. As a result, liposuction is a popular procedure for men seeking permanent fat reduction to restore a more defined and leaner midsection.
Liposuction is a surgical fat removal technique in which your surgeon uses a long, thin tube called a cannula to skillfully break apart and remove excess pockets of fat with vacuum assisted suction. It can be performed as a stand-alone procedure but is often performed in conjunction with abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) to enhance the contours and definition of your midsection. Liposuction does have certain limitations based on your current health and the resiliency of your skin in the treatment area along with the volume of fat that is needed to be removed for improvement.
“The best candidates for liposuction are patients who are close to their ideal weight,” explains Dr. Leigh. “This form of fat removal is NOT a weight loss method, but more of a volume removal and recontouring procedure,” he continues. “At our practice, we are very transparent about what results you can expect with liposuction and whether or not we recommend an additional procedure performed in conjunction with your liposuction to achieve more desirable results.”
An average liposuction procedure takes up to three hours. Patient must wear a compression garment for up to six weeks after surgery. Most return to regular activity four to six weeks after surgery, although swelling may be present for up to nine months. As with all surgical procedures, it is essential to follow your post care instructions carefully to offset any possible complications and ensure the best outcome from your surgery.
“I feel so much more confident after my procedures with Edina Plastic Surgery,” says Chris. “I opted for a tummy tuck procedure with my liposuction because I had so much loose skin hanging over my pants,” he shares. “It was crazy to see how my midsection transformed in the weeks following my surgery,” he smiles, “I actually have abs and a waist again! I guess I just want to get the word out there to other men that it’s ok to be invested in the way you look because it really does have a big impact on how you feel and how confident of a guy you show the world, your partner and your kids!”
Are you a new Dad who has experienced weight gain and stubborn pockets of fat after baby? Are you a man who would like to redefine your midsection and restore a leaner and more masculine shape? Schedule a consultation with one of our plastic surgeons to discuss surgical body contouring!
