As more and more men become plastic surgery patients, there’s a procedure gaining ground that’s caught our eye. Seeking sculpted abdominals, interest in six-pack surgery is quickly gaining traction. But is this just a passing trend or a new plastic surgery standard?
Featured Experts:
- Raman C. Mahabir, MD is a board-certified plastic surgeon based in Tuscon, AZ
- Norman Rowe, MD is a board-certified plastic surgeon based in New York
- Robert Singer, MD is a board-certified plastic surgeon based in San Diego, CA
What Is Six-Pack Surgery?
Among the procedures and treatments men are interested in, more and more are asking about six-pack surgery. This procedure, also called liposculpturing, is quickly gaining ground as male patients look for new routes to high-definition abs. Liposculpture involves both the removal and shaping of fat, and can be used to shape curves, or in this case, create the appearance of sculpted muscles.
“This kind of liposculpturing involves performing liposuction to create the appearance of a ‘six-pack abdomen,'” explains New York plastic surgeon Norman Rowe, MD. “It involves three to four incisions, each 1/4 inch in length. Complications include swelling and bruising(which generally resolve) and asymmetry, but this is rare when performed by a skilled surgeon.”
“This is different than traditional liposuction of the abdomen, which does reveal your natural abdominal muscles,” says Tuscon, AZ plastic surgeon Raman C. Mahabir, MD. “Whether you have a six-pack, a four-pack or an eight-pack is dependent on genetics. So this technique sculpts some of that abdominal fat to create that look.”
Is Six-Pack Surgery a Good Idea?
If you’re planning on remaining the same weight and are looking to achieve high-definition abs, then six-pack surgery can help you get there.
“I think liposculpturing and liposuction in general appeal to any man who wants to get the body and the look of their dreams,” says Dr. Rowe. “A great candidate is someone who works out and is at their goal weight, but just cannot create that six pack at the gym alone.”
That said, there are some potential drawbacks to this technique. “The biggest issue with this technique is what happens afterwards,” Dr. Mahabir says. “Your surgeon doesn’t have any control over how your body gains or loses weight after the procedure and that will impact the way this fat sculpturing looks. It looks great as long as you stay that exact same weight. For this reason, I don’t recommend it.”
How to Get Your Best Abs
But even if six-pack surgery isn’t for you, that doesn’t mean a surgical pathway to a six-pack is entirely out of reach.
“We offer what’s called a natural six-pack,” says Dr. Mahabir. “And that involves a liposuction procedure that removes all the fat and reveals your natural musculature. This way, there is no risk of misshaping or asymmetry if you gain or lose weight.”
This option is also useful for those who just can’t lose that last bit of fat on their own. It hinges on revealing your natural abs rather than trying to sculpt new ones out of fat.
“With liposculpting of the abs, there is also the risk that you will lose weight,” Dr. Mahabir adds. “And then you would have those sculptured abs out of fat laying on top of your natural abs. Traditional liposuction reveals your natural, authentic you.”
More Men Are Considering Plastic Surgery
According to Dr. Mahabir, interest in six-pack surgery makes sense, as more men than ever are pursuing plastic surgery in general.
“We are absolutely seeing and scheduling more men for facial rejuvenation,” Dr. Mahabir says. “There has been a strong push in the media and social media to showcase men with more vitality. Think Jeremy Renner or Jon Hamm; these men look strong and confident. While personality carries this a long way, a certain strength in the jawline and lack of obvious signs of aging very much support this.”
Dr. Rowe agrees and notes that the post-pandemic boost in male patients hasn’t gone down. “The national average for men seeking plastic surgery procedures is about 7.5 percent of a plastic surgeon’s practice. I’m a little bit more than that at about 20 percent,” explains Dr. Rowe. “I noticed a definite upturn in men’s seeking procedures during and after the pandemic and that has not slowed down, nor do I anticipate it slowing down.”
This stands out, given the economic slowdown we’ve experienced in the last few years. “I think the bottom line is that we’re seeing, despite the economy and everything else going on, an ongoing and increased interest in patients trying to look as good as they can,” says San Diego, CA plastic surgeon Robert Singer, MD. “As the job market becomes more demanding and competitive, males want to look better. If they look fresher and more vibrant, they’re received differently. Since many of them are still using Zoom and social media, they see their faces and notice areas they would like to improve.”
