Beyond Taboos: Men and Liposuction – A Hollywood Revelation

For many years, liposuction procedures seemed to be dominated by female patients.  Very few men even thought of the procedure, and if they did, it is likely that social pressure kept many of them from experiencing the health benefits and freedom liposuction can bring.  However, a new bevy of male celebrities and athletes are speaking out about their experiences, helping other men to understand that liposuction is not just for females!

Male Celebrities and Liposuction:  From Rapper to Weightlifter

Kanye West has been one of the most outspoken celebrities in admitting he has had liposuction procedures done.  Prior to his marriage to Kim Kardashian, West admitted that he got liposuction after watching the torment his future brother-in-law, Rob Kardashian, suffered at his wedding.  Rob was mocked on social media for his weight; Kanye took the lesson to heart.  Prior to marrying Kim in a social-media blitzed ceremony, West scheduled a liposuction procedure to remove excess fat from his abdomen.  He hoped to avoid the bullying his friend had endured, and showed up to the wedding picture-perfect.  Since then, West has also admitted to several other cosmetic procedures done to enhance his looks in various ways.

Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson was another celebrity who used liposuction to solve a problem, although it was a slightly different one than simply wanting to look slender.  The Rock was suffering from gynecomastia, a condition in which there is excess fat and tissue in the chest, often resulting in a male breast that protrudes and is soft, much like a female’s.  Dubbed “man boobs,” these projections may or may not be harmful to the patient’s health, depending on whether they are at risk for tumor or other problems.  Along with the possibility of negative health consequences, the Rock, who was making his living as a bodybuilder, wanted them removed for cosmetic reasons as well.  Using liposuction, a surgeon removed the excess tissue and tightened the skin and muscle, resulting in a “rock” hard body that is still Johnson’s trademark.

One of the more disturbing stories to come out of Hollywood recently is that of Reid Ewing, a young star on the popular television show Modern Family.  Reid confessed that he had “fat transfers” and other procedures because of developing body dysmorphia, implying that pressures from producers and others to look “perfect” were driving his decisions.  Since then, he has become a spokesman for thoughtful, well-planned cosmetic surgery that enhances self-esteem and makes people feel better about themselves, while still warning against undergoing these procedures for the wrong reasons or with unrealistic expectations.

Clay Aiken recently admitted to having “light liposuction” done under his chin during a procedure to correct TMJ or temporomandibular joint issues.  According to Aiken, he saw nothing to be lost by combining the two procedures since he was already being prepared for surgery and wanted to remove some of the excess fat and skin from his neck area.  He seemed to be very pleased with the results, which led to a more youthful, healthy appearance.  Mr. Aiken’s attitude may be a reflection of the growing acceptance by male celebrities that facial surgery is not just for women anymore, particularly when it can be combined with other procedures.

Liposuction for Men:  A New Era

Whatever celebrities are doing will soon trickle down into the mainstream.  Once facelifts and fillers became common procedures for celebrities, the demand for them skyrocketed among non-celebrities, as well.  It is probable that more males will be asking about liposuction as male celebrities become more open about their experiences with the procedure.

Liposuction is a general term for a type of surgery that uses suction to remove fat from specific, targeted areas around the body.  Depending on the need, liposuction may be done to contour or shape a certain area, which leads to another common term, “body contouring.”  Liposuction is not a method of weight loss; in fact, most people lose more weight through dieting than through liposuction.  Instead, liposuction is a tool used to remove stubborn fat from places where it is difficult to reduce.

Good candidates for liposuction are in overall good health and have basically stable body weight but have a difficult time reducing fat in a targeted area, such as:

• The abdominal area, both upper and lower
• The upper arms
• The chest
• The back
• The thighs
• The hips
• The chin and neck

Liposuction reduces the number of fat cells in a particular area.  Along with reshaping the area, it is believed that this reduction in fat cells may assist in resisting the formation of new fat deposits in the same location.  However, liposuction will not remove stretch marks, cellulite or dimpled appearance in skin.

Managing Liposuction Expectations

It is very important that candidates for liposuction understand its limitations.  Liposuction is in no way a substitute for a good diet, exercise, and a healthy lifestyle.  In fact, good plastic surgeons spend time with their patients ensuring that they understand what can happen if they treat liposuction as a cure for overeating.  In many cases, the effects of the procedure will not last if the patient does not follow post-operative instructions carefully and maintain a healthy body weight.

However, for patients who will commit to taking care of their bodies, liposuction can be transformative.  Finally, being able to rid themselves of stubborn fat pockets that never responded to intense diet and exercise is extremely freeing for many patients, and the popularity of liposuction procedures attests to its success rate.

At The Aesthetic Center, we want to work with you to create a body contouring plan that will deliver results you will love.  Our professionals are ready to design a plan that will bring you the body you want safely and successfully.  Give us a call today to learn more!