Most commonly requested plastic surgery for men in my practice
In my practice the majority of my consultations and surgeries are on women. But over the past few years I have seen an increased demand of men requesting surgeries as well. Some of this may be related to baby boomers who have taken good care of themselves and desire to look as good as they feel. Other men don’t want their wives to look better than they do after they have been undergoing facial rejuvenation procedures so they request surgery as well.
1. Blepharoplasty: Eyelid rejuvenation
Just as women often show signs of aging around the eyes so do men. The phrase “the eyes are the window to the soul” may well be a true but I would also add the statement the “eyelids are the window treatments through which you see the soul.” Loose hanging furrowed skin, lateral brows that hang over the upper eyelids, and bulging fat pads below the eyelids with accentuated tear troughs put forth the image of fatigue and loss of vitality often resulting in friends and colleges asking if you are tired and are you getting enough sleep. Fortunately surgery to restore the upper eyelids to a crisp appearance with correction of any eyelid droop can be a game changer. The lower lids can be rejuvenated by removing excess fat with reposition this tissue over the cheek to eliminate the tear trough combined with skin and muscle tightening provide a fresh and vibrant appearance. This can be an important not only in social situations but also how a person is viewed in the workplace.
2. Neck lifts
Do you look in the mirror and say to yourself I hate this turkey neck? Is buying dress shirts getting more difficult to find that are comfortable with ties? Despite not gaining weight do you look heavier in the face? If the answer to all these questions is yes a consultation for a neck lift may well be a beneficial idea that is not just for vanity. Ideally a man should have a strong jaw line and a crisp chin neck junction. Having hanging skin with or without fat excess that obscures the jaw line certainly can put forth the image of premature aging of the individual beyond his chronologic age. A neck lift can be a valuable tool to restore your appearance and convey youth and energy without changing your overall appearance or giving an odd appearance. The surgery is very predictable in the hands of a board certified plastic surgeon and is an outpatient procedure with very little pain. Most people can be comfortable in social situation in two weeks.
3. Rhinoplasty (Nose surgery to reshape the appearance)
Proportionality is everything. If you are unhappy with the shape of the nose or how it blends with the rest of the face then request a plastic surgeon to perform a facial analysis of you. If the nose seems big maybe the lower face is out of place such as a small lower jaw or chin. Often times I will perform a chin augmentation with a rhinoplasty to provide a harmonious facial appearance. Nose surgery requires finesse and a keen understanding of the anatomy of the many subunits of the nose. The key is to provide shape without feminizing the male nose. This is also a rather easy surgery to recover from and the patient can return to work within a week usually.
4. Chin augmentation with or without an implant.
As mentioned above the facial subunits should all be proportionate to each other. If the lower jaw projection is limited by lack of growth it can portray a weaker jaw with less of a masculine appearance. By using the correct judgement a plastic surgeon can provide an enhanced projection with the combination of either an implant or repositioning of the bone in combination with liposuction of the jaw line to create a sculpted jaw which projects strength.
5. Liposuction of the abdomen and flanks
If you look in the mirror and the phrase “dad bod “screams out… liposuction maybe something to entertain. An important fact to remember is liposuction with its many variations is a contouring tool not a weight loss technique. I strongly encourage anyone who is considering body contouring should first consider diet and exercise first. If after some toning in the gym and normalized weight you are still unhappy with the shape of your body then liposuction may be a reasonable adjunct to improve the appearance. The abdominal area can be shaped as well as the flanks reduced to provide a sleeker frame. It’s a safe surgery that is easily recovered from and normally patients can return to work in a day or two. Final results take between six weeks and two months to observe the full effect of the reshaping.
6. Gynecomastia repair (Man boobs correction)
If you have excess fat and skin of the breast which can also affect the size and shape of the nipple-areolar complex this can project a very feminizing effect of the male chest. In my experience I have been very happy with the results of the combination of VASER liposuction (ultrasound assisted liposuction) with direct excision of any sub-areolar glandular elements with or without areolar reduction to achieve a masculine chest. This can be a very disturbing condition for a man of any age particularly in the teenage years. We see a bimodal distribution of people seeking treatment; those of the teenage years and men in their late forties and fifties who are seeking help to restore the loss of tone of the chest area.
Plastic surgery has continued to evolve in its perception ever since its creation after World War I. Aesthetic surgery was once viewed as taboo or something to hide because it was perceived to be too self-indulgent, now has become more common place and in the minds of many its presence is look upon as main stream. I think this evolution of societie’s views is related to the strong work of The American Society of Plastic Surgery, and the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery to ensure that board certified plastic surgeon are well trained and perform safe and predictable surgeries that patients seek and desire with excellent outcomes. Also our population is living longer with better quality of life and people are remaining active and engaged and wish to look as good as they feel and are no longer shy about requesting procedure to keep them looking their best.