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 Dr. Millard |
Cosmetic surgeons such as Dr. Millard, who have a considerable proportion of male patients among their clientele, say the number of men interested in and seeking body-contouring procedures is increasing exponentially. Surgeons interviewed for this article say the remarkable outcomes possible with high-definition body sculpting, combined with the pressures of a society that generally rewards a healthy, youthful appearance and the toll that metabolic changes take on middle-aged men — no matter how fastidious they are about diet and exercise — all prompt males to seek such services.
Dr. Millard, who pioneered high-definition liposculpture in the United States, describes it as an adjunct to one's fitness regimen. "I sculpt the abs, the pecs, the biceps, the triceps, almost every muscle that people work at the gym — I sculpt surgically. When I sculpt those muscles, I leave a little bit of extra fat over the muscle areas to enhance definition," he says. Dr. Millard says almost everyone has that definition, but on most people it's hidden by fat.In his practice, high-definition liposculpture typically attracts patients with a BMI of 25, although 22 or lower isn't uncommon, whereas traditional liposuction tends to attract people with a BMI closer to 30.
"High-definition liposculpture opened up a whole new patient demographic for me," Dr. Millard says. "I've got several patients who are former professional athletes, and even some who are body builders. Some of these patients have worked on their body their whole life but have never been able to shred down.
"To attain muscle definition by dieting and lifting weights, you have to shred down to about 5 percent body fat, which is not possible without severe food restrictions," Dr. Millard says. He says he tells his patients that the combination of high-definition liposculpting along with diet and exercise enables them to have a "six pack" — and a steak.
"They can actually eat reasonably and still maintain that lower fat percentage," Dr. Millard says. "The body parts that we sculpt have a lower fat percentage, but their total body fat percentage is healthier — still in the 12 percent to 15 percent range, which is where most people who work out and take care of themselves are."
