5 Body Contouring Treatments for Men

Posted on: February 5th, 2020 by Kristen Chang

According to organizations like The Aesthetic Society and American Society of Plastic Surgeons, men across ethnic, age and income groups are increasingly turning to modern aesthetic technology for help achieving a more muscular physique.

The following five types of procedures are on the rise:

1. Breast Reduction — Restore a More Masculine Chest 

More men experience enlarged breasts than you might expect. The American Board of Cosmetic Surgery reports that it happens to an estimated 50% of all men in the United States at some point during their lifetime.

Top causes of enlarged breasts are genetics, fat gain, changes in hormone levels, certain medications, and drugs used for athletic performance or recreation. As men age, the risk heightens. Mayo Clinic reports that more than one in four men between 50 and 69 see their breasts swell up.

Breast reduction has become one of the most widespread goals for men pursuing cosmetic surgery in the United States. It can entail one or more procedures, and should start with an expert assessment by a board-certified cosmetic surgeon. Breast reduction usually includes liposuction to remove excess fat under the skin. Then, if you have enlarged glandular breast tissue (gynecomastia), your doctor may excise it using mastectomy surgery. In cases where breast volume has stretched out the skin and nipple area, the surgeon may remove extra skin and reduce and reposition the areola.

You should be able to enjoy the full results of your breast reduction surgery in 1 to 6 months.

2. Liposuction — Vacuum Out the Bulges 

Most men have problem zones where fat seems resistant to exercise and dieting, with belly fat and love handles topping the list. As young as 30 years old, changing hormones and metabolism can begin to make body fat more widespread and stubborn.

Not surprisingly, liposuction is the #1 cosmetic surgery for men in the United States, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. A single procedure is enough to permanently reduce jiggly, bulging fat in large or highly focused areas, revealing more classic, masculine body contours.

Modern liposuction sucks subcutaneous fat cells out of your body, without the downtime or scarring of the past. First, your California Skin Institute provider injects a tumescent solution under your skin both to break down the target fat and to avoid pain and bleeding. Then they suction the liquefied fat out using tiny straws (cannulas) through inconspicuously placed incisions, each only a few millimeters long.

Many doctors recommend assisting liposuction with laser to destroy additional fat and to help tighten skin so it won’t look loose after fat removal. And some physicians offer a technique called “abdominal etching,” where lipo is artfully applied to the abs to create a more muscular, rippled appearance.

Depending on the extent of your lipo, you could be ready to debut your leaner, meaner body in as few as 1 to 3 days.

3. Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty) — Tighten Loose Abs 

If you are considering a tummy tuck, bear in mind that belly fat comes in two types: subcutaneous and visceral. Subcutaneous is the fat you can pinch under your skin and measure with calipers. Visceral fat intermingles with your internal organs behind the abdominal wall. Unfortunately, the only way to get rid of visceral fat is through diet and exercise. And when you do successfully eliminate a large amount of it, your gut may be left extremely stretched out.

A tummy tuck can tighten up that loosened, hanging gut in ways that are simply not possible with sit-ups. Your licensed surgeon first makes a discreet incision above the pubic area. Then they remove excess skin and muscle, repositioning the belly button as needed. If you need to remove only a small amount of extra skin confined to the lower abdominal area, you may be a good candidate for a mini tummy tuck.

Liposuction is almost always performed at the same time as a tummy tuck, and will maximize your results by getting rid of the subcutaneous fat too. Then, it’s up to you to keep those abs flat!

4. Surgery-Free Fat Reduction — Whittle Down Your Middle

Not ready for surgery? Consider any of the exciting new non-invasive technologies that permanently reduce stubborn subcutaneous fat. They do require multiple treatments and are better for achieving less extreme contouring. However, they are the obvious choice for anyone averse to the idea of going “under the knife.”*

• Cryolipolysis is the method CoolSculpting uses to freeze away fat. It holds the fat cells at a temperature low enough to kill them off, without harming surrounding tissue.
• Radiofrequency technology heats up fat to destroy it. The truSculpt® 3D device applies radiofrequency energy in a highly targeted way to melt fat in broad or small areas. Thermi radiofrequency therapy similarly decreases fat, but with the added benefit of collagen stimulation for tighter skin.
• Laser waves are what devices like SmartLipo Triplex use to disrupt fat cells so that they die off and disappear. At the same time, the laser technology stimulates new collagen growth for firmer, smoother skin.

Any of these technologies can get rid of softness just about anywhere on your body. Talk to a board-certified doctor about starting treatments to lose fat permanently — without general anesthesia, surgery or downtime.

5. Body Implants — Add Bulk and Chisel without Reps 

Some men can’t seem to gain muscle mass or definition, no matter how much protein they eat or working out they do. Others aren’t able to lift weights due to a physical limitation. And as the years pass, all men can find it increasingly difficult to build muscle as their testosterone levels dip.

Whether a result of genetics, injury or hormone levels, you can bypass a lack of muscle mass by getting body implants designed for men. Made of silicone that simulates the look and feel of muscle, implants are most popular among men to add volume and shape to the pectoral muscles, buttocks and calves.

Work with a surgeon who has the skill and experience to ensure that incisions aren’t noticeable and your implants look and feel natural.

Take Control of Your Appearance

Is it hard for you to bulk up or slim down? Can’t achieve the muscle definition you want?

Schedule an appointment with a California Skin Institute board-certified plastic surgeon to have an honest conversation about your goals and lay out a body-contouring plan just for you.

Results may vary and are not guaranteed.