Lipedema is a chronic fat disorder that can affect women regardless of BMI. Here's why lipedema can remain hidden for years, especially in skinny women.
June 10, 2026
Table of Contents
Nobody’s perfect. It’s normal to feel insecure about your body, or at least parts of it. Even the most confident of men experience the occasional “fat day”, or look in the mirror and think: “Who’s that uncle?”
Men's insecurities is more common than we think.
If that’s happening to you more and more frequently, maybe it’s time to see a professional who can help you achieve your #bodygoals.
Whether you’re already eating clean and working hard at the gym, yet not seeing results, or don’t see yourself giving up your long-term relationship with char kway teow and nasi lemak burgers, there are other ways to sculpt your physique. We speak to Amaris B. Clinic’s founder and liposuction doctor, Dr Ivan Puah, to find out more about men's insecurities.
With 13 years in the business, Dr Ivan Puah has seen his fair share of men in pursuit of their ideal bodies. Here, he shares three of Singapore men's most common complaints about their appearance and how they can be resolved.
Read blogposts on men’s appearance:
- Looks matter, especially for career men
- We Spend About 40 Years Of Our Life Working – Here’s The Bad And Ugly Of It
- How do I know if I have Gynecomastia or Fat in my Chest (Pseudogynecomastia)?
- The Modern Singaporean Man And 5 Ways He's Looking Better Than Ever
- New Year, New Manly Confidence
Men's insecurities #1: “I have moobs!”
The medical term for “man boobs” or “moobs” is gynecomastia. It’s a more common problem in Singapore than you’d expect and one of the contributing factors to men's insecurities.
The bad news: Being overweight may not be the cause. Ramping up exercise and dieting will not resolve the problem.
The swollen glands and excess fat deposits may be due to puberty, ageing, the side effects of certain medications or hormonal imbalance. You may even experience tenderness or pain in the area.
The good news? Gynecomastia surgery can end your pain and embarrassment. Dr Ivan Puah elaborates: “The surgery effectively removes overly enlarged glandular tissues and/or excess fat tissues so that you can regain a more masculine physique.”
Men's insecurities 2: “I hate my dad bod!”
Leonardo DiCaprio might be bringing the “dad bod” into vogue lately, but that’s not everyone’s idea of sexy.
If you miss the washboard abs you had in the first year of your national service, Vaser Liposuction could bring them back.
It is a liposuction technique that uses ultrasonic energy to break down fat deposits by delivering it internally and directly to the fat deposits via a probe, liquefying the unwanted fat into a “buttery” consistency. This allows the liposuction doctor to suction the fat out easily while leaving the important connective tissues relatively undisturbed.
Fat is permanently removed. It is highly recommended that you do your part to maintain the results. This means adopting a healthy lifestyle that includes adequate physical activity.
Men's insecurities 3: “I look chao lao [older than I really am]!”
Everybody ages, but most want to do so gracefully – think David Beckham, not Nicholas Cage. Just the simple act of expressing ourselves can result in a face full of lines.
Work stress sees our foreheads creased in frowns, while laughing and smiling may manifest in laugh lines. So if the man in the mirror is starting to look more crumpled than a freshly tumbled-dry shirt, a little touch-up at the doctor’s might be in order.
Dr Ivan Puah explains two ways to smooth out our mien: Anti-wrinkle Injection (BoNTA) injections to smooth out wrinkles and dermal fillers to plump up the skin and “iron out” wrinkles and creases.
He shares a tip: “While you’re at it, dermal fillers can also be applied to enhance definition for features such as the bridge of the nose, chin and cheeks.”
