Male Body Contouring in Fort Worth

Men are increasingly focusing on their health and appearance, often striving for an ideal body shape: trim and athletic, with a broad chest and shoulders, a V-shaped torso, and flat abdomen. However, aging, hormone and metabolism changes, and hectic work/home environments contribute to fat accumulation along the abdomen, flanks (love handles), breasts (gynecomastia), and chin and neck. When weight loss, diet, and exercise have failed to resolve these fat deposits, male body contouring in Fort Worth may be an option. Male plastic surgery is a viable option for many in the DFW Metroplex.

Benefits of Body Contouring

There are anatomic difference between men and women that require different approaches during surgical correction: men tend to accumulate fat inside their abdomen (beer belly) and around the flanks (love handles), while women tend to accumulate fat around their lower abdomen and thighs. Because of hormonal differences and lack of pregnancies, male skin retains skin elasticity longer and tends to be firmer and more vascular compared to female skin. Male patients who have had massive weight loss surgery, however, tend to have extensive stretch marks and skin laxity similar to female patients.

A variety of body contouring procedures are available for men, with the following benefits:

Removing fat deposits from the flanks (love handles), waist, abdomen, chest, and neck
Flattening a bulging abdomen
Removing excess skin after weight loss

Surgical Options

Because men are different from women, a “one size fits all” approach to body contouring must not be taken, as a feminized result may occur. Dr. Steele fully understands the anatomic differences between the sexes and will customize your surgery to deliver a masculine silhouette after surgery. Options include the following:

Male Liposuction

Because male skin quality is significantly better than female skin, primarily due to avoidance of pregnancy related changes, most men will benefit from liposuction for removal of fatty deposits. Overweight patients, or those with significant intra-abdominal fat are not good candidates and require weight loss before surgery. Liposuction is an excellent technique for removal of love handles and sculpting the torso and abdomen. Gynecomastia is also treated effectively with liposuction.

Male Tummy Tuck

For those men who have lost significant weight and have stretch marks and loose skin in the abdomen, a male tummy tuck may be an option. Liposuction is usually combined with the tummy tuck to remove the fat in the love handles. The end result is tight, flat, athletic abdomen and torso. In more extreme cases of weight loss, a belt lipectomy may be necessary to address circumferential skin laxity.

During/After Surgery

The length of a male body contouring surgery in Fort Worth will vary depending on the procedures performed. Male tummy tucks or belt lipectomies (360 degree tummy tuck) are performed under general anesthesia as an outpatient, although longer procedures may require an overnight star or an overnight nurse to provide postoperative care. For patients undergoing liposuction or BodyTite alone, this can be comfortably performed under local anesthesia in Dr. Steele’s private procedure roomou may or may night have drain tubes. Compression garments are common with liposuction and body contouring procedures. They are usually worn for 4-6 weeks after surgery.

Time off work may vary from a few days to 2 weeks. Normal household activities and light walking are usually resumed within the first week. Cardio exercises can be resumed at 3-4 weeks, while extensive weight training can be resumed around 6-8 weeks after surgery. You should expect bruising and swelling. The bruising resolves by 2 weeks, while the swelling can take up to 3-6 months for complete resolution.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have body contouring if I am overweight?

Body contouring procedures are not designed for weight loss. They are designed to improve contour and remove excess skin and some fat. Dr. Steele advises patients to be as close to their ideal body weight as possible, with a body mass index (BMI) between 25-30. Patients who lose significant weight after their tummy tuck can be left with recurrent loose skin due poor skin tone. Also, patients who are obese (BMI > 30) do not get as good a result compared to patients of normal weight and are at higher risk for complications including delayed healing, fluid pockets (seroma), and deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

What’s the difference between a tummy tuck and liposuction?

Liposuction removes fat below the skin to improve contour. It does not improve excess skin or stretch marks. An abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) procedure does several things:

Removes some fat from the midsection
Removes excess, loose/stretched-out skin
Tightens the abdominal muscles, which helps flatten the abdomen when viewed from the side and helps narrow the waist when viewed from the front.
Redistributes the skin from the upper abdomen to the lower abdomen. This tightens the skin and helps thin the fat layer of the abdomen as well.

A tummy tuck will reverse the changes of aging and weight loss, while liposuction is useful for removing fat from isolated areas. In order to get a good result with liposuction, the patient should be close to an ideal weight and have good skin tone. If liposuction is performed in an area without good skin tone (lots of stretch marks), the patient will very likely be left with loose skin that does not contract or shrink down.

Is liposuction permanent?

Yes, the fat cells that are removed during liposuction do not come back. If a patient gains weight, however, the remaining fat cells or fat cells in other locations will expand and become larger. Patients who maintain a healthy diet and exercise regimen after body contouring surgery will maintain their results for years.

Is liposuction safe?

There are many stories in the media of adverse outcomes after liposuction. Generally these are the result of inexperienced, poorly trained non-plastic surgeons. Today’s liposuction techniques are very safe when performed by a well trained, board certified plastic surgeon like Dr. Steele.

What about scars?

Scars after liposuction are very small and heal very well. Generally they are hidden in discrete skin folds and become less noticeable with time. Tummy tuck scars are longer, but usually heal well and are well concealed in clothing. Dr. Steele will instruct you on optimal scar care.

When will I see my final results?

You will notice some improvement immediately after surgery; however, typical bruising and swelling will camouflage your final contour for several months. It is important to wear the compression garment as instructed by Dr. Steele to facilitate resolution of your swelling. You will gradually notice improvement as the swelling goes away, but it will take 3-6 months to see the final result.