Cosmetic surgery is gaining popularity among men, according to cosmetic surgeons

Forget the “dad bod”: More and more men are seeking “six-pack abs” with the help of a surgical procedure called high-definition liposuction, according to plastic surgeons.

This type of “ab etching” technique is gaining popularity among men who can't get rid of stubborn belly fat with exercise alone, according to members of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).

The method aims to remove stubborn fat, much like traditional liposuction, but it also creates defined lines on the stomach muscles to create the illusion of “chiseled” abs.

CDC Issues Health Advisory Warning of 'Adverse Effects' of Fake Botox Injections

What is high definition liposuction?

Dr. Josef Hadeed, MD, a board-certified plastic surgeon at Hadeed Plastic Surgery in Beverly Hills, California, and Miami, Florida, described the procedure in an interview with Fox News Digital.

“It's more like creating that six-pack and creating the 'V-lines,' and giving someone that more athletic, toned physique that traditional liposuction can't really achieve,” he said.

More and more men are seeking “six-pack abs” with the help of a surgical procedure called high-definition liposuction, according to plastic surgeons. (iStock)

Traditional liposuction focuses on removing fat, volume and mass, but does not address the specifics of the “underlying anatomy,” according to the surgeon.

High-definition liposuction is more detailed, Hadeed said.

“We're removing a little bit more fat from that vertical line above the belly button, as well as those horizontal lines above the belly button,” he said.

CDC Investigating Fake Botox Injections: 'Serious and Sometimes Deadly'

“We also remove a little bit more fat in those areas to create the illusion or appearance of someone having six-pack abs.”

In some cases, fat is redistributed to other areas to help create a fuller, more muscular abdominal appearance, the surgeon added.

A growing trend

According to ASPS members, there is an increase in the number of men resorting to this liposuction procedure.

“I’m definitely seeing an increase in requests for high-definition liposuction in men,” Dr. Joubin Gabbay, ASPS member and medical director of Gabbay Plastic Surgery in Beverly Hills, Calif., told Fox News Digital.

“It's more like creating that six-pack and creating those 'V-lines,' and giving someone that more athletic, toned physique that traditional liposuction can't really achieve,” one plastic surgeon said. (iStock)

“They come with specific requests for a defined, chiseled contour.”

Dr. Finny George, MD, a board-certified plastic surgeon and partner at New York Plastic Surgical Group, a division of Long Island Plastic Surgical Group, has also seen more male patients looking to improve their muscle definition.

“It is becoming more socially acceptable for men to have cosmetic surgery.”

“There is definitely a growing desire among men [for] “There are other ways to get an athletic physique for two main reasons,” George told Fox News Digital.

“First, it is becoming more socially acceptable for men to have cosmetic surgery – and second, many of them have already tried and failed with conventional diet and exercise,” she added.

CALIFORNIA PLASTIC SURGERY 'ADDICTED' DISSOLVES FILLER TO 'ENJOY HER BEAUTY' AFTER SPENDING $50K ON PROCEDURES

High definition liposuction isn't the only procedure gaining popularity among men.

According to the ASPS 2022 report, the total number of cosmetic procedures in men has increased by 207% since 2019.

One reason could be that men are seeking a more youthful appearance to “maintain career vitality,” the report said.

This type of “ab etching” technique is gaining popularity among men who can't get rid of stubborn belly fat with exercise alone, according to members of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. (iStock)

Social media influencers and male celebrities have also created an open dialogue about male cosmetic surgery, making it more acceptable for men to seek such enhancement treatments, the ASPS also noted.

“It’s actually been a very common disease in Brazil and South America for quite some time now, and it’s slowly migrating to the United States,” Hadeed told Fox News Digital.

What you need to know before having surgery

If someone is considering having high definition liposuction, they should consider their reasons for doing so, Hadeed said.

“They should do it for themselves, not because their spouse or partner is pushing them to,” he advised.

PLASTIC SURGERY DEATHS INCREASED AMONG U.S. PATIENTS WHO TRAVELED TO DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, CDC REPORT SHOWS

When a person is looking for those “perfect abs,” Hadeed said, the surgeon will typically look at the person's lifestyle behaviors, such as diet and exercise.

For example, if a person is sedentary and eats junk food every day, “maybe it's not for you,” the doctor said.

It's important to research the qualifications of the plastic surgeon who will perform the procedure and make sure he or she is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, one expert advised. (iStock)

Patients should have realistic expectations about what can be accomplished rather than trying to look like a certain fitness model or social media influencer, Hadeed cautioned.

In some situations, he said, “we have to lower the expectations a little bit and say, 'I can't make you look like this other person who's completely ripped and shredded, but I can help you look like a more refined version of yourself.'”

“Undertaking elective surgery is a very important decision, and people should not take it lightly.”

If the person were to gain or lose a significant amount of weight after surgery, it could affect the results, leading to the need for a revision or touch-up, Hadeed said — which is why he screens his patients to identify their lifestyle habits and ensure they can maintain the results.

STUDY SUGGESTS STORED SUGAR IN THE BODY MAY BE A CURE FOR HAIR LOSS IN MEN

Gabbay also stressed the importance of following a good diet to maintain the benefits of surgery.

“I think the treatment is certainly effective in helping many people achieve the six-pack look, but it does require work and maintenance to maintain it,” he told Fox News Digital.

Experts have stressed the importance of following a good diet to maintain the benefits of surgery. (iStock)

“It is important to maintain a healthy, active lifestyle and avoid significant weight fluctuations after surgery,” he continued.

“Unintentional weight gain after a high definition procedure can exaggerate the appearance of abs, making them look a little less natural.”

Potential risks

Hadeed, who is also chair of the ASPS patient safety committee, said it is important for patients to understand the risks associated with the procedure.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

“Undertaking elective surgery is a very important decision, and people should not take it lightly,” he said.

CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

Hadeed agreed that while the operation is generally safe, it does carry risks.

“This can include skin necrosis, which is a partial death of the skin,” he warns. “It can also include fat necrosis, which is a partial death of the remaining fatty tissue.”

“It is important to maintain a healthy, active lifestyle and avoid significant weight fluctuations after surgery,” one doctor advised. (iStock)

Other potential complications may include blood clots and intestinal perforation.

It's also important to research the qualifications of the plastic surgeon who will perform the procedure and make sure he or she is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Hadeed said.

For more health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health

The doctor warned: “There are many doctors who are not plastic surgeons who perform these procedures.”