.webp)
How’s your skin health? Are you seeing more dark patches and freckles or sagging around the eyes and cheeks?
November 17, 2024
Table of Contents
A healthy body image and self-confidence go hand-in-hand. However, not everyone is happy with what they see in the mirror. A 2018 study in the medical journal JAMA Dermatology of 511 patients on their motivations behind plastic surgery found three main reasons: to increase their sense of psychological well-being (69.3 per cent), to boost self-confidence (56.6 per cent) and to improve one’s health (53 per cent).
At the same time, our body image issues aren’t helped by the constant flood of images on social media of celebrities, models and influencers with their slim, toned and trim physiques. These add fuel to the body image fire, making us feel less than satisfied with our figures.
And hasn’t it been particularly difficult in 2020, what with the circuit breaker and working from home? Among friends, we laugh about how the only exercise we’ve done in the last few months is to walk to the fridge for a snack and back to the couch or desk. Being stuck indoors for most of the year and not exercising as much just makes us feel so unhealthy, and that’s also played a part in the resulting dip in self-confidence.
Men have body images issues too
Yes, they do. They feel just as much pressure as women to look good, and it doesn’t help when their partners squeal in excitement every time someone like Hyun Bin, Lee Minho or Gong Yoo appears on the TV.
The only difference is that men tend to bottle it up, rarely voicing their concerns. Besides extreme diet and exercise plans, some even turn to anabolic steroids, a synthetic form of the male hormone testosterone that’s commonly used to build muscle. However, prolonged use can lead to medical and health issues, from acne, a receding hairline, and the development of man boobs to an adverse effect on mental well-being.
Cut the fat with Vaser Liposuction
If you find yourself looking in the mirror and picking at certain areas that could use improvements, like a jelly belly, lower belly pooch, bat-wings and wobbly thighs that you can’t seem to lose despite diligent exercise, then Vaser Liposuction can help.
Carried out in an operating theatre, Vaser Liposuction delivers ultrasonic energy internally and directly to the fat deposits via a probe, liquefying the unwanted fat into a “buttery” consistency. This allows Dr Ivan Puah to suction the fat out quickly while leaving the critical connective tissues relatively undisturbed.
Vaser Liposuction targets fat in localised areas like the arms, stomach, thighs, chest, and even chin. It is suitable for both women and men.
Depending on the extent of Vaser Liposuction, you can generally return to work in 2 to 3 days. In the first 48 hours post-surgery, you can usually manage the discomfort, soreness and pain (if any) with paracetamol. Bruising, if any, dissipates in one to two weeks. Swelling will subside and improve with time. Our doctor will advise you when to resume strenuous or water-based activities during the follow-up review.
Dr Ivan Puah, medical director of Amaris B. Clinic, says gynecomastia is the number one issue concerning male body image, and its effects extend beyond physical discomfort. Many men also suffer from psychological issues, such as depression, anxiety and low self-esteem, he adds.
“The prevalence of asymptomatic gynecomastia is 50 to 60 per cent in adolescents and up to 70 per cent in men aged 50 to 69,” says Dr Puah. “In addition, men between 35 and 50 years old could have suffered from gynecomastia since young and finally decided to seek treatment, or they might have recently developed symptoms due to ageing or weight gain.”
Gynecomastia surgery: Help for man boobs
Many men think exercising regularly and eating right can help eliminate their moobs. However, Dr Puah says the most effective procedure to address this issue is gynecomastia surgery.
Gynecomastia surgery aims to reconstruct the male chest contour, obtain a histological clarification of the suspicious breast lesions, and relieve the physical symptoms (pain) due to the distention from the hypertrophied breasts.
Each gynecomastia case is unique. The surgical approach developed by Dr Ivan Puah considers the degree of the gynecomastia, glandular tissue-to-fat ratio and parenchyma distribution of the patient. He will propose an individualised approach for the patient after carefully assessing the patient's clinical condition and understanding the patient's concerns.
Dr Ivan Puah's ultimate aim is to remove fibrous and painful glandular tissues and/or fat tissues to restore a natural-looking masculine body shape with the smallest possible incision for his patients.
Choosing the right doctor for Vaser Liposuction and gynecomastia surgery
The success and results of these two procedures rely heavily on your doctor’s training, skills and experience. Dr Puah shares that he has seen many botched procedures, some done abroad. He says the less-than-desired results are likely the result of miscommunication between patient and doctor, a lack of medical follow-up, and improper preparations, which can lead to uneven lumps, depressions and even post-liposuction tissue scarring.
This is why looking for a qualified doctor who is well-trained and experienced in performing Vaser Liposuction or gynecomastia surgery is imperative.
This is where Dr Puah’s experience in body-sculpting treatments over the last 15 years comes in. He can suss out a patient’s needs and tailor a programme to help you achieve your desired body.
