Statistically speaking, women account for the majority of plastic surgery procedures done each year, but the number of men turning to plastic surgery for facial rejuvenation is on the rise. Competitive job markets and an emphasis on health and fitness are driving more men to seek out cosmetic procedures for an aesthetic edge. Aging men who are fitter than they’ve ever been want their face to show how great they feel.
Male Facial Anatomy
Strong jaws, angular faces, larger noses and facial hair distinguish men from their female counterparts. While women often desire fuller lips and cheeks, men tend to prefer minor adjustments that erase the signs of aging, not enhance their features. Plastic surgeons use the same tools for their male patients: Botox®, fillers, skincare and surgical procedures, but the goals are very different.
“Most men come to me for a refreshed look, they don’t want to change their age, they just want to look a little more refreshed,” shares Boston board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Sean Doherty. “They feel they are being edged out of work and jobs by younger men, and they just want to feel more competitive in a work environment. They can’t tolerate a lot of downtime, so non-invasive, very subtle procedures are fantastic for them. And that’s really what they’re looking for.”
Facial Rejuvenation Options For Men
- Non-Invasive Procedures (Skincare, non-invasive skin tightening and fat removal devices)
- Minimally-Invasive Procedures (Botox and fillers, Kybella for neck fat removal, minimally-invasive skin tightening, fat removal and skin resurfacing devices)
- Surgical Procedures (Facelifts, eyelid surgery)
If you are a man who isn’t comfortable with the idea of going “under the knife” to change your appearance, you are not alone. You may be interested to find out that there are options available outside of the operating room to help you refresh your look.
Step one is identifying your goals. Spend some time looking in the mirror and glancing through old photos. Identify the changes that are keeping you from looking rested or refreshed. Are there deep lines in your face? A heavy brow or eyelids? Has your skin changed?
Step two is to share your facial rejuvenation goals with a board certified plastic surgeon. Together you can put in place a plan to put your best face forward.
Non-Invasive Facial Rejuvenation for Men
Overall, men’s skin tends to age better than women’s skin. Doherty attributes this to the hair follicles and a better blood supply to the face. As a result, men respond really well to skin rejuvenating procedures such as laser resurfacing and exfoliation treatments. Doherty also sees improvement in his patient’s facial appearance when they incorporate minimal changes such as an improved daily skincare routine.
Minimally-Invasive Facial Rejuvenation for Men: Facial Fillers
Facial fillers such as Juvederm, Restylane, and Voluma are a top choice for men who want to address the deep lines forming in the space between their nose and the corners of their mouths, known as the nasolabial folds.
“Filler is injected in a very different way in a male patient than in a female patient. Female patients want nice high sharp cheekbones. Men just need to fill in the volume loss and smooth out their nasolabial folds,” says Doherty. “Filler is fantastic for that, because there is very little downtime, it’s not uncomfortable, and if it’s something that they choose not to do again, it goes away.”
The fillers that Doherty uses are not permanent, lasting anywhere from six months to a year or more. As a result, his male patients appreciate the subtle results and the fact that they don’t have to take time away from work to recover.
Minimally-Invasive Facial Rejuvenation for Men: Botox®
Another major concern when it comes to facial aging in men is a heavy brow. “In the past, we’ve done surgical browlifts for patients, both men and women,” Doherty shares. “However, that’s a fairly significant surgery with a significant scar and a lot of downtime.”
Today, his patients opt instead for a less invasive browlift done with Botox injections, which he refers to as a chemical browlift. Botox, a muscle relaxer, is injected into the muscle around the eye that pulls the brow down. When that muscle becomes relaxed, the forehead muscles remain active, lifting the brow.
Help! My Eyelids are Heavy and It’s Making Me Look Tired
Heavy eyelids require surgery to remove excess skin. The good news for career-minded men is that eyelid surgery requires much less downtime than most surgical procedures. Also known as upper blepharoplasty, upper eyelid surgery can be done in an office setting, or in an operating room, depending on the surgeon’s preference. An added benefit to eyelid surgery is that it requires very little sedation. For recovery, most of Dr. Doherty’s patients end up taking only five to seven days off of work. The combination of a refreshed, rested look and a short recovery time make eyelid surgery one of the most popular plastic surgery procedures for men.
There is something for everyone, and the time has never been better for men to seek out cosmetic treatment.
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