Weapons In The Battle Against Male Love Handles: When To Use Liposuction And When To Consider Abdominoplasty

Liposuction (or lipo) for men has become increasingly popular as men seek ways to address love handles and other fat bulges on the waistline that are resistant to diet and exercise. Love handles are rolls of fat that can form on the flanks, abdomen, and lower back, and while liposuction may be a viable fat removal solution for some men, others may require an abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck, to achieve optimal results around the midsection.

Male Candidates for Liposuction

Liposuction to treat love handles involves the removal of subcutaneous pockets of fat from the abdomen, flanks, and waist that remain despite a healthy diet and regular exercise regimen. The best candidates for liposuction typically have sufficient skin elasticity and are within 10 percent of their goal body weight. Being within a specific weight range prior to undergoing liposuction is important, as lipo is not a substitute for weight loss.

There are several different types of liposuction, but in general, the procedure involves the use of a cannula, or hollow tube, that is inserted into a small incision made in the treatment area. As a surgeon moves the cannula rapidly back and forth, fat cells are broken up and suctioned out of the body.

Male Candidates for Abdominoplasty

While liposuction can effectively remove fat from the midsection and reduce the appearance of love handles, it cannot remove loose, excess skin. Significant weight fluctuations often contribute to skin laxity, particularly as the production of collagen - which, along with elastin, helps to keep the skin supple and resilient - is outpaced by weight loss or gain. Collagen production slows over time, so loss of skin elasticity can also occur due to aging. As a result, abdominoplasty may be an appropriate alternative to liposuction when treating love handles, and the midsection in general, for some men who are at a healthy weight but have excess skin due to weight loss and/or aging. Furthermore, men with diastais recti, a condition in which the left and right halves of the abdominal muscle have stretched and separated, can benefit from tummy tuck procedures.

There are several different types of abdominoplasty, but in general, the procedure requires that a surgeon make a large incision below the abdomen between the hips, through which muscles are tightened and sutured to produce a flat, taut stomach. An additional incision may be made around the naval if repositioning of the belly button is necessary. Abdominal skin is then pulled taut, repositioned over the muscles, and sutured, and the excess skin is removed.

A full tummy tuck addresses the both upper and lower abdominal region, while a mini or partial tummy tuck only addresses the lower region. A partial tummy tuck may be a better option for men with minimal excess skin and fat. A panniculectomy, or the removal of excess skin without dissecting and repositioning the underlying muscles, may be suggested for certain patients.

Depending on a tummy tuck patient's specific needs, liposuction could also be performed with a tummy tuck to spot treat certain pockets of fat and help provide the most proportionate results.

Consult with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Men who are considering liposuction and/or an abdominoplasty to address love handles and bulges of fat in other areas of the midsection should first consult with a highly skilled plastic surgeon who is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and has significant experience in performing these procedures on men. Surgeons with these qualifications can accurately assess a patient's unique body type and treatment needs, and suggest the surgical approach that will help produce optimal results.

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