Men tend to accumulate belly fat more than women. Increased dietary fat intake and little physical activity are usually how one starts packing on those extra pounds and, obviously, belly fat. This excessive accumulation of belly fat is often referred to as abdominal obesity. And liposuction for men is considered a good option to reduce fat accumulation in that area.
Contributors of Belly Fat
So, what are the major contributors to belly fat in men?
Well, genetics and age can be some of the major contributing factors. There are three major factors that largely determine the weight of an individual. These include:
- The number of calories one consumes in a day
- The number of calories they burn every day through exercise
- Age of the individual
Eating too much and working out too little is a sure-shot recipe for accumulating belly fat. Besides, as one grows older, they start losing muscle – particularly when they are not so physically active. Due to the lost muscle mass, the body consumes calories at a slower pace, and that makes healthy weight maintenance far more challenging.
Human genes can also be a contributing factor for people to get obese and overweight. It can also play a part in where the fat is stored. However, if the calories consumed are balanced with physical activity, it can help avoid weight gain regardless of one’s genetics and age.
As mentioned earlier, liposuction for men can be an effective option for removing excess belly fat. It is commonly used today for body contouring and is a relatively safe procedure if it is carried out by a licensed plastic surgeon. Besides liposuction, there are other common ways of reducing belly fat in men and here they are discussed in detail.
Understanding The Types Of Belly Fat
Before we get into the details of how to lose belly fat, let’s first understand the different types of belly fat that exist in the human body. Basically, there are two types of fat i.e. visceral fat and subcutaneous fat. Here’s a brief description of each.
1. Visceral Fat
Visceral fat is present deep inside the body and it surrounds many of the internal organs such as the heart, liver, intestines, and lungs. It’s a big health threat as it pumps cytokines into the bloodstream and they cause inflammation posing direct health risks such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, high blood pressure, colorectal cancer, liver problems, high cholesterol levels, and more. One needs to make diet and lifestyle changes for getting rid of visceral fat.
2. Subcutaneous Fat
Subcutaneous belly fat is present right underneath the skin. It is actually the fat that can be pinched between the fingers. Subcutaneous fat may be unsightly, and one must burn it to lose extra pounds and get in better shape, but it is not particularly dangerous as is visceral fat.
Pinch tests can be performed for identifying if one has subcutaneous fat or not. This test is meant to measure the skinfolds’ thickness at particular sites. Three main sites for performing this test include the chest, the abdomen, and the thigh.
Liposuction for men is a good option to reduce subcutaneous fat. The procedure is meant to give better body contours to individuals who have unsightly deposits of subcutaneous fat.
5 Ways To Reduce Belly Fat In Men
There can be various options available for men to reduce belly fat from dietary and lifestyle changes to liposuction for men. Let’s have a look at them one by one.
1. Keeping Food Intake In Check
Making dietary changes to one’s routine can be an effective way of losing belly fat. One must make healthy diet choices and focus more on plant-based foods like vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Lean protein sources like low-fat dairy products and fish would also make a good choice.
It is also important to limit the consumption of saturated fat present in high-fat dairy products – like butter and cheese – and meat. Instead, monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats should be used in moderate amounts. These can be found in nuts, fish, and some vegetable oils.
Besides, one must reduce their portion sizes to lose belly fat. Even with healthy food choices, calories do add up. So, it’s always advisable to consume food in small portions.
2. Controlling The Intake Of Unhealthy Drinks
It is always a good idea to replace those sugary beverages with water or something that comes with an artificial sweetener.
Alcohol intake should be limited as well. The calories in alcohol tend to develop a beer belly. Regardless of the type of alcohol one consumes, it can lead to accumulation of belly fat in men. So, it is advised that men 65 years of age and younger should not have more than two drinks a day while older men should try to keep it to a single drink a day.
3. Exercise Should Be A Part Of Everyday Routine
Exercise plays a key part in reducing belly fat. More exercise means more belly fat is burned. At least 30 minutes of working out every day is recommended. Remember, however, that not every workout will help reduce belly fat.
An intense cardio workout is recommended to burn belly fat as it helps consume energy. Here, the ultimate goal is to get the metabolism going. In order to increase metabolism, one must perform intensive workouts, consume a healthy diet in appropriate portions, build muscles, manage stress, and get good quality sleep.
For a start, one should go easy and try brisk walks, and once the fitness levels increase, more intensive options can be added to the workout routines including running, swimming, rowing, biking, and so on.
4. Losing Weight With Saxenda
If the belly fat is accumulated due to genetic reasons, Saxenda can be a good choice to help with one’s weight loss problems.
What Is Saxenda?
Saxenda is an FDA-approved medication that’s injected into the body to help adults with their excessive weight. Individuals with weight-related medical issues and obesity can lose weight using this medication and can then keep the bulge from becoming bigger. For best results, one must increase their physical activity and have a reduced calorie intake when using Saxenda.
How does It work?
Saxenda works by addressing one of the natural responses of the human body to weight loss. The human body naturally releases an appetite hormone called glucagon-like-peptide or GLP-1 which helps in regulating hunger. Saxenda imitates GLP-1 and regulates the appetite, resulting in fewer calories consumed and, eventually, weight loss.
Who Should Use Saxenda?
- Adults with excess weight
- Adults who have weight-related medical issues like high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, or blood pressure
- Obese adults who want to shed some pounds
Who Shouldn’t Use Saxenda?
- People with an individual or family history of Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma
- Individuals with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2 disease
- Anyone who is allergic to liraglutide and any other ingredients used in Saxenda
- Individuals using Victoza, insulin, or any GLP-1 receptor agonist
5. Liposuction For Men
Liposuction for men can be an effective option for reducing belly fat. Let’s find out what is it, how it works, and who can undergo the procedure.
What Is Liposuction?
Liposuction refers to a cosmetic procedure used in plastic surgery for removing body fat that one finds hard to lose through exercise and diet changes. Apart from removing unwanted belly fat, liposuction for men can also help to shape the contours of the belly area.
How Liposuction Removes Fat?
Different liposuction techniques are used to effectively remove belly fat in men. Remember here that liposuction procedures have been designed specifically for removing subcutaneous fats only and not visceral fats. Following liposuction techniques may be effective in removing belly fat in men.
1. Power-Assisted Liposuction (PAL)
Power-assisted liposuction works with a cannula that relies on its vibrating top for breaking down those dense fat deposits. It requires less force to be applied on the part of the surgeon and can easily and quickly remove fat. The recovery times for PAL are significantly quicker compared to other options.
2. Laser-Assisted Liposuction
Laser-assisted liposuction relies on the technology and power of medical laser beams for liquefying fat and then it is sucked out of the body.
Who Should Undergo Liposuction?
- Individuals who fall within the 30% of ideal weight for them
- Individuals with firm, elastic skin
- Individuals with overall good health and no issues like the weaker immune system, diabetes, restricted blood flow, etc
How Long Does It Take To Recover After Liposuction?
Recovery starts immediately after the patient comes out of the effect of anesthesia and may not even have to extend their hospital stay depending on the surgery type. Bruising, soreness, and swelling should be expected for the first few days, and pain medication can help with any discomfort. The patient will be advised to wear a compression garment for the initial week of two after the surgery.
One can expect to return to work in a few days after the surgery and can start to resume their basic routine activities 1 week after the procedure. Exercises and heavy lifting should be avoided for the first 4 to 6 weeks, or until your plastic surgeon has given the green light. The recovery period may be different depending on the specific condition of the patient.
Are The Results Permanent?
Liposuction for men permanently removes the fat cells. However, new cells continue to form and one might gain weight again if one does not keep up with a healthy lifestyle. Weight rebound can also reflect in different parts of the body.
To avoid putting weight back on after the surgery, the patients must develop a diet routine that includes plenty of lean proteins, vegetables, fruits, low-fat dairy, and whole grains. Regular exercise is also important to keep belly fat off permanently.
Should you consider liposuction?
It requires patience, effort, and commitment to lose belly fat. To lose excessive belly fat permanently, one must plan for steady results. Consult the doctor to get any help in starting a new routine and then staying on track.
About Dream Aesthetics and Plastic Surgery
Bespoke surgical for cosmetic or medical reasons is what Dream covers to bring out the beauty in every individual. Going beyond the aesthetics and working on physical anomalies are what we value the most in leading our patients to cherish self-improvement and confident lifestyles.
Derived from Associate Professor Vincent Yeow’s long-standing experience performing plastic surgery in Singapore, our treatment plans deliver physical remodelling in our patients’ favour. One of the notable remodellings is droopy eyelid correction. The ptosis surgery used for treatment eventually fixes drooping eyelids, improves vision and enhances appearance.
Most importantly, as a trustworthy plastic surgery and aesthetic clinic, we treasure positive and natural outcomes for each individual. We will ensure to deliver the beauty refinement of your dream without compromising your safety and privacy.
