Our society places a high value on looking young and fit. Today, men of all ages and all walks of life are undergoing cosmetic procedures, including plastic surgery. Men want to feel confident in their appearance for social reasons and to help them compete in the job market.
Men desire a trimmer waistline, a rejuvenated face and more balanced facial features. When considering plastic surgery patients should set aside any awkwardness they might feel and speak candidly about their concerns and desires. The surgical team at Reflections regularly treats men and will listen to your concerns and help guide you towards a treatment plan that accommodates your needs.
Although women remain the primary consumers of cosmetic procedures, men are becoming increasingly interested in maintaining a youthful look, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS).
Each year, ASAPS tracks procedure trends. In 2007, more than one million U.S. men had cosmetic procedures. Procedure volume for men increased by 17% in 2007 over the prior year and is expected to do so again for 2008.
Botox was single most popular non-surgical procedure for men, with more than 329,000 treatments last year. When used early enough, Botox can keep a dynamic wrinkle – the kind even children get when they raise their foreheads – from becoming a static, or permanent, wrinkle. Effects last approximately four months, at which time treatment can be repeated.
Laser hair removal followed with over 185,000 procedures. Many men now prefer laser to other hair removal methods like waxing because it’s so fast and effective. According to a recent survey from Cargo Magazine of 500 men in North America, 54% remove hair on their back, 45% trim chest hair and more than 70% remove hair around their eyebrows, ears or neck. Of those, one in five say they prefer laser hair removal.
Over 110,000 men used a dermal filler such as Perlane or Restylane to smooth lines and wrinkles in the face. Compared with women, men have more collagen in their skin to keep it plump. Men also lose collagen more gradually than women, whose collagen declines rapidly after menopause along with estrogen levels.
Because men don’t care for their skin as well as women do, using sun protection and moisturizers only rarely, they tend to suffer more skin damage. As men increasingly seek to delay the aging process for both personal and professional reasons, dermal fillers can temporarily reverse some of that damage.
Among surgical procedures, liposuction was the most commonly performed for men at more than 57,000 procedures, according to ASAPS. Another 31,000 men had nose jobs (rhinoplasty), and over 32,000 had eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty).
Popular Cosmetic Surgery Procedures for Men
Facial surgery: Many factors influence how surgery will be performed in a male including hair growth patterns. Any scarring that may result from surgery may be more difficult for men to hide, since they don’t wear make-up and typical hair styles wont hide the scars as well as in a woman.
A fatty or “jowly” area beneath the chin is a concern for many men. In younger patients, liposuction alone may be sufficient to correct the problem. Older patients may require a full facelift and/or neck lift.
Male cosmetic procedures such as eyelid surgery, nose surgery, and facial-implant surgery are performed essentially the same way for men and women. It’s important to convey to the surgeon if you are seeking a more masculine look- a chin with better projection, more prominent cheekbones, etc.
Laser Liposuction/Body Contouring: The ideal male body shape is considered to be trim and athletic-looking, with broad shoulders and chest, a flat abdomen, and a narrow waist. However, as men age, areas of fat tend to accumulate around the abdomen, the flanks (“love handles”), the breast area (gynecomastia), and along the chin and neck. Men sometimes seek laser liposuction to remove these fatty deposits and tighten the skin in areas that are resistant to diet and exercise. Since male skin tends to remain elastic longer, laser liposuction is very effective in males.
A full “tummy tuck” may be chosen by a men who have hanging abdominal skin, usually the result of massive weight loss and loose abdominal muscles. It is a major surgical procedure that requires a month out of work.
Muscle-enhancing surgery: Recent advances in cosmetic surgery allow us to improve muscle contour with implants and other techniques, such as for chest enhancement.
