The goal of body masculinization (sometimes referred to as “man-sculpting”) is to take away features from the body that can be viewed as feminine, and replace them with more masculine qualities.

A masculine torso is more square-shaped, while a more stereotypical feminine body is hour-glass shaped. Body masculinization can involve a series of procedures including: liposuction of hips, buttocks, abdomen, flanks, waist, and back; abdominoplasty; and pectoral implants or fat grafting to create a more muscular chest. Body masculinization can oftentimes be done at the same time as top surgery.

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The potentials of BMS

Body Masculinization Surgery (BMS) uses liposuction to transform feminine curves into a more masculine physique. Men tend to carry weight mass in the upper body, while women carry it in the hips, buttocks and thighs. Thus, the ultimate goal of Body Masculinization Surgery is bringing those proportions closer to a squared or V-shape torso: a broader chest and shoulders and a slimmer waist.

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Areas commonly considered for body masculinization:

Liposuction is used to restructure feminine contours and voluptuousness, precisely removing fat from various parts of the body to tone the patient’s physique. While every patient is entirely unique and every consultation deeply personal, transferring the traditionally feminine curvature into a masculine physique may mean operating on these areas, as changes here reflect most prominently and tend to be the key differences between the male and female makeup:

Upper torso; chest and back
Abdomen; tummy tuck
Hips
Flanks
Buttocks
Thighs; inner and outer

Who makes a good candidate for BMS?

The best candidates for body masculinization surgery are persons 18 years old or older who have a weight that is well proportioned to their frame and who are either non-smokers or persons who can quit smoking for at least 4 weeks before the procedure.

It’s important to be healthy and at a stable weight. If a patient has any significant weight fluctuations post op, they can lead to the need for revisions. It is also highly recommended that you’ve been on masculinizing hormones for at least a year (if testosterone is being used as part of your transition process) since it can affect musculature and fat distribution, which will help to minimize surgical interventions.

BMS allows you:

To fine-tune your physique
Increased satisfaction of appearance
Greater self-confidence
Reduction of the hourglass contour and increasing the masculine squared or V-shape torso

About the BMS procedure

Body Masculinization is a commonly performed and safe procedure. Most BMS cases are performed as outpatient procedures and require no hospital stay. A more involved procedure could require a hospital stay of a day or two, though this is quite rare. General anesthesia is typically used to ensure safety and patient comfort.

Masculinization procedures on multiple parts of the body can typically be done all at the same time. However, based on patient wishes and recovery time, we may also space out the procedures to give your body time to heal between operations, such as when top surgery (mastectomy), abdominoplasty, pectoral implants and liposuction are all required. There are multiple ways to time the operations, and our experienced surgeons will work closely with you to establish a timeline that is safe, personalized, and effective for you.

In either case, patients will be carefully walked through any postoperative suggestions and guidelines and be able to get any questions they may have answered so they are confident and comfortable.

Recovery from body masculinization

After surgery, patients will wear a compression garment for up to four weeks at all times except while showering. Patients may also be fitted with drains to allow excess fluid to be dispelled. For the safest and quickest recovery period, patients are encouraged to limit their activity to fairly light activity and to exclude all exercise or heavy lifting. Getting as much rest as possible will speed recovery tremendously.

Following the procedure, patients will experience some bruising and swelling, as well as moderate pain which can be managed by pain medication. The pain should dissipate significantly within 4 to 5 days of surgery, while the bruising and swelling may continue for several weeks depending on the extent of the operation.

Why choose Align Surgical?

Our office stands as an oasis for transgender and gender diverse clients looking for complete care. Our surgeons and support staff evolve around providing the most comprehensive and compassionate care to members of the transgender community. For these reasons, Drs. Thomas Satterwhite, Dev Gurjala, and John Pang are considered the most dedicated gender-affirming surgeons in the Bay Area.