Male Liposuction and Costs
Who is the ideal candidate for male liposuction?
One of the most popular surgeries being performed in the United States each year is liposuction. Since its mainstream entrance into the market starting in the early 1980’s liposuction has been a procedure that has been consistently popular with the general public. For many reasons liposuction is the procedure of choice turned to by thousands of patients each year to address those hard to address fat areas. Surprisingly, more and more male patients are now going under the knife to achieve that elusive sculpted body.
The term “ideal candidate” can be a bit misleading. Liposuction is being undergone by thousands of men nationwide for a variety of reasons. Excess weight gain and fat deposits in difficult to lose locations are commonplace reasons for why the majority of men choose liposuction. However, you may be surprised to learn that many men undergo liposuction to address a preexisting medical condition, such as gynocomastia. This is excess development of breast tissue, which in some instances can be significant. Accordingly, there are many valid reasons why men turn to liposuction as an aid to weight loss.
Male Liposuction in America, Statistics Revealed
The two most popular demographics to undergo liposuction surgery are the 19-34 year old and the 35-50 year old age brackets. These two groups account for 28% and 51% of the market respectively. In 2010 liposuction was the third most popular minimally invasive surgical procedure for men behind only rhinoplasty (nose job) and eyelid surgery. Approximately 24,000 male liposuction procedures were performed 2010 which equates to a 7% increase over the prior year.
The breakdown of liposuction procedures in America may surprise you. While the procedure is commonplace nationwide, there are geographic locations that have been leading the charge in the number of procedures performed. The western half of the United States accounted for 34% of the overall liposuction procedures performed followed closely by the South East at 22% and the North East at 17%. Not surprisingly, Los Angeles, Miami and New York are well represented in these three venues.
While liposuction has maintained it popularity nationwide, it is not universally adopted by all racial demographics. When it comes to the ethnic breakdown of surgical procedures in 2010 70% of the overall total procedures were performed on Caucasian patients, 11% on Hispanic patients, 8% on African American, 6% on Asian-American, 4% performed on other racial backgrounds. However, interestingly, among African Americans who opt for cosmetic surgery the most commonly requested surgical procedure was liposuction.
What Techniques are used in Male Liposuction?
While there are many techniques used in liposuction today there are some that work a little better when applied to male patients. It depends on the physical locations in which the procedure will be performed; however, most male liposuction procedures will typically focus on the love handles, stomach, chest and back. These areas can tend to be more fibrous, meaning that the fat that is to be removed can be more difficult to breakdown.
Ultrasonic Liposuction is one of the techniques that is a proven effective when being applied to male patients. The ultrasonic technology can be used in two methods, either internally or externally. Regardless of applications the technology is used in the same methodology, the ultrasonic waves literally have the ability to breakdown and emulsify fat deposits which makes their removal during the liposuction procedure that much easier. While this is effective in breaking down hard to reach fat the procedure itself can be a longer procedure for both the doctor and the patient.
Tumescent Liposuction is another popular version of liposuction being performed on men. This extrapolation of liposuction involves filling the treatment area with a mixture of saline and lidocaine. The saline is a salt water solution used to engorge the treatment area, where as the lidocaine acts as an anesthetic to help keep patients comfortable. This combined mixture along with the adipose tissue (fat tissue) is then removed. This procedure works better for men when performed on the abdomen or areas where larger amounts of tissue need to be removed.
While there are other aspects of liposuction that will have the same end line efficacy as ultrasonic and tumescent liposuction the final decision on what method is best for your individual surgery should be discussed with you primary care physician. A large determinant on which method of liposuction will work best for you will depend on what area of the body you need to have your procedure performed on.
Why Get Liposuction?
There are many reasons why men choose to get liposuction performed. It is no secret that obesity can be a major 
factor affecting the overall health of men. Obesity is a contributing factor to heart disease, cholesterol and high blood pressure. While liposuction is not a “cure all” for obesity it can help give patients the head start needed or provide that last surge to get rid of those pesky final pounds, while promoting a healthy body mass index.
In addition to cosmetic fixes, liposuction can be a god sent to those that suffer from preexisting medical conditions. Gynocomastia is the medical name for the excess tissue growth in the male breast. While treatable, this condition is often a sensitive subject for men who suffer from the disease. Liposuction can be an effective treatment for individuals suffering this disease.
Liposuction can also be an effective treatment for men who still have hidden or difficult pockets of fat to remove that have had no luck through traditional methods of diet and exercise. These areas of tucked away fat can often be the last to go away and will resist the onslaught of exercise and other means of fat loss. Many times patients will turn to liposuction as an end resort to resolve their cosmetic shortcomings.
Cost of Male Liposuction
The cost associated with male liposuction can vary significantly depending on where on your body you have the procedure performed and how many locations are done in a single session. The below chart is a sampling of average costs across the nation; however, depending on where (geographically) you have the procedure performed costs can vary:
Area of the Body Low End Cost High End Cost
Upper and Lower Abdomen 3,000 7,500
Lower Abdomen 2,000 2,000
Arms 1,500 5,000
Male Breast Liposuction 3,000 5,000
Buttocks 1,500 4,500
Neck, Jowls, Chin, Cheeks 2,000 4,500
Flanks 2,000 5,000
Thighs and Knees (Outer) 2,000 5,000
Thighs and Knees (Inner) 2,000 5,000
Waist and Hips 1,600 5,000
Thighs (Outer) 1,600 5,000
Is Liposuction Right for You?
While liposuction may be the right procedure for you, there are many things to understand about undergoing surgery. Liposuction will work great, but will not equate to anything if you don’t change your lifestyle habits. Amending the way you eat and take care of your body can ensure that your liposuction procedure does not go to waste.
Any time you consider having a surgical procedure performed you should always sit down with your primary care physician to understand the risks associated with your individual procedure. Understanding the pros and cons of liposuction can help you make an educated decision.