Unfortunately, society has placed a stereotype on women who undergo plastic surgery as being vain and self-absorbed. The truth is: men want to look just as good as women! There is no shame in wanting to look your best and even different if that’s what you prefer. Recent statistics reported that cosmetic procedures for men increased 106% from 1997 to 2012. The most common reason for men seeking surgery was a desire to be more competitive in the workplace.
The most common non-surgical procedure requested by men is Botox, or as you may have heard it referred to, “Brotox.” Botox is a popular choice for correcting and preventing facial wrinkles such as the furrow, worry lines, and crow’s feet. Although many men are opting for “quick fixes” like injectables or fillers to fill folds, such as the nasolabial folds, we are seeing a dramatic increase in men who prefer surgery to correct their aging issues.
The most commonly requested aging face surgery by men is a Blepharoplasty or eyelid lift. The eyes capture one’s primary gaze during an initial impression. This surgery can take ten years off of an appearance by correcting sagging upper eyelids and puffy bags located under the eyes to restore a youthful contour to the area, giving a more rested and alert look. Men tend to gravitate towards this surgery because of its quick recovery time and dramatic results. I do not generally recommend a brow lift for men. Heavy brows are considered an attractive feature in men and lifting the brow can result in a feminine appearance.
Rhinoplasty is also a popular procedure for men, especially in their younger years. Many men choose to alter the size and/or shape of their nose as a dramatic way to improve their facial harmony. The nose is the central feature to the face and is meant to blend in rather than stand out. Sometimes men opt to correct the shape of their nose after it is damaged in sporting injuries or accidents.
Because men are more concerned with the waddle in their neck, than lifting the sagging jowls and cheeks, they have an option outside of a traditional facelift, a direct neck lift. During this surgery, sagging skin and fat are removed and the muscles tightened along the front of the neck to restore a youthful contour. Although this procedure places a scar directly in the middle of the neck, when performed by a skilled facial plastic surgeon, this procedure provides a good option for a durable neck rejuvenation in a male.
As the numbers of male cosmetic surgery continue to rise, with the help of media-driven images and career induced competition, one thing is evident… Aging face cosmetic surgery isn’t just a girl thing anymore!
