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
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The aesthetics industry for men is rapidly evolving, particularly among those in competitive careers where appearance can influence success.
More men are seeking treatments like dermal fillers, liposuction, and gynecomastia surgery, driven by a growing awareness of self-care and the importance of physical looks in the workplace.
Research shows that physical appearance affects perceptions of leadership qualities, with a positive self-image being vital for effective leadership.
Popular cosmetic procedures for men include injectable dermal fillers for a youthful look, modern liposuction and 4D lipo for body contouring, and gynecomastia surgery to improve self-esteem.
Overall, maintaining a fit and youthful appearance is key to staying competitive in professional environments.
Times have changed. Men climbing today’s career ladder know how their looks, aside from their talent and capabilities, affect their success [1].
More men in high-stakes careers such as finance, hospitality, and IT are turning to aesthetics and cosmetic treatments to keep pace with the rat race [2].
The aesthetics and cosmetics enhancement landscape has changed tremendously over the last decade,” says Dr Ivan Puah.
“More men are now open to nips and tucks, likely due to an increased awareness of self-care. They’re also beginning to understand the need to maintain their physical appearances to stay on top in the corporate world.”
He adds, “I’m seeing more men across a wide age group for treatments such as dermal fillers, wrinkle-smoothing, Ultherapy, Prime, RF microneedling skin rejuvenation, gynecomastia surgery and liposuction for men.”
You can take humans out of the Stone Age, but not our hardwiring.
Humans are biologically imprinted to gravitate towards women with child-breeding hips and men with good physiques [3].
The logic is that a well-built woman can have many healthy children, and a strong man can protect and lead in a battle [4].
This also bears out in the workplace.
How people assess leadership capability
People tend to use a person’s physical appearance to determine loyalty, trustworthiness, intelligence, reliability and competence [5].
Studies suggest that the face is associated with leadership capability [6].
A scientific journal reported that a dominant-looking face can be enough to convince others to follow, especially during a crisis [7].
There is also substantial evidence to support the impression that physical attractiveness is predictive of social skills and other traits that could influence one’s success as a leader or candidate for leadership [8].
Staying in shape and looking confident and fresh is now part of the ‘whole package’ that makes up decision-makers and leaders [9].
Being good at what they do is not enough – they also have to look the part.
Positive self-image translates into the morale and confidence requisite in a leader [10].
You cannot outperform your own self-image.
A leader’s negative self-image can lead to low self-esteem and ineffective leadership [11].
We asked Dr Puah about the popular treatments these leaders and decision-makers go for to stay in tip-top shape.
For a youthful appearance: Injectable dermal fillers for men
Overwork and stress can cause premature ageing in men aged 35 and above [12].
They may start to notice collagen loss and the appearance of facial lines overnight.
Cosmetic injectables such as dermal fillers can restore volume, smooth wrinkles, fill indented acne scars, enhance the nose, and create a defined jawline, all without downtime.
When administering a dermal filler injection, the correct dosage must be used with the appropriate technique.
This provides a rejuvenated, younger and natural look simultaneously.
“An overly-smooth appearance is artificial, and men prefer the sophisticated gravitas of a few facial lines,” explains Dr Puah, who is also an appointed trainer-t0-d0ctors in cosmetic injectables.
Dermal fillers can also be combined with non-invasive treatments such as Ultherapy Prime to create a synergistic effect for comprehensive facial rejuvenation and skin lifting without surgery.
For removing stubborn fat and achieving the six-pack: Modern liposuction & 4D Lipo for men
Unlike women who may be adventurous about losing weight and trying different fads, men tend to be traditionalists.
They prefer sticking to a strict diet and hitting the gym.
Often, the numbers on the scale drop, but the stubborn fat on the abdomen and waist remains.
Modern Liposuction with MDC-Sculpt®️ Lipo Technique is a customised, multi-dimensional fat-removal and body-contouring procedure developed by Dr Puah to help men reduce the spare tyre that working out and eating well cannot sufficiently address.
Men prefer a straightforward, effective procedure with quick recovery and natural results.
This surgical approach can remove fat in bulk while providing targeted body sculpting and stimulating skin retraction.
This isn’t achievable with traditional liposuction.
“A 360-degree fat removal and contouring can be accomplished through tiny incisions, and the patient can resume daily activities after a weekend off, making this an efficient intervention for career-focused men whose time is of the essence,” says Dr Puah, Chairman of the Lipo Peer Review Committee Singapore.
For a 6-pack athletic, contoured appearance, 4D Lipo (also known as abdominal sketching) works across all three subcutaneous fat layers, including the superficial layer closest to the skin, to selectively remove and sculpt the muscle definition underneath.
For banishing the man boobs: Gynecomastia surgery
Gynecomastia is a common breast lesion accounting for more than 65% of male breast disorders [13].
It’s defined as the abnormal proliferation of breast tissue in males and is a medical condition that significantly affects their self-confidence.
Adult gynecomastia is associated with increasing age, which is affected by:
- progressive testicular hypofunction
- increased body fat
- a higher oestrogen-androgen ratio
An increasing number of males above the age of 40 seek gynecomastia surgery today.
“Not only does the condition cause them physical discomfort, but it also affects them psychologically, especially their confidence level. The prevalence of gynecomastia peaks between the ages of 50 and 69, and at least one in four men in this age group is affected,” explains Dr Puah.
Unfortunately, gynecomastia does not respond to topical creams or non-invasive treatments such as fat-freezing, exercise, or diet.
The only clinically proven treatment to date is gynecomastia surgery.
“Gynecomastia surgery is theoretically simple. But it’s actually an extremely challenging procedure as the doctor needs to apply the appropriate surgical technique, taking into account the degree of breast ‘droopiness’, gland size, presence of fat, and skin laxity to achieve aesthetically pleasing results for the patient,” says Dr Puah.
Dr Puah’s experience led him to develop his proprietary surgical technique - 360°GTD. This treats a wide variety of gynecomastia cases.
It effectively removes glandular tissue through incisions no longer than 4mm.
This minimises invasiveness and improves the patient's cosmetic outcome.
The next step
If you’re keen to see what Dr Puah could do for you, whether it’s a refreshing nip-and-tuck or removing fat you don’t want, book an initial consultation.
An aesthetic or cosmetic procedure could give your confidence a huge boost – and maybe your career too!
