5 Plastic Surgeries Men Want

If you were asked to imagine the waiting area in a plastic surgeon’s office, you would probably envision a room filled with women. And you wouldn’t be wrong. But increasingly, men are seeking the help of plastic and reconstructive surgeons, too.

As society’s acceptance of cosmetic surgery grows, many men are feeling more comfortable addressing face and body issues that make them self-conscious. In fact, about 10 percent of cosmetic surgery patients are men. But with certain procedures – eyelid surgery and nose reshaping, for example – men represent an even larger segment of patients.

Some of the popular cosmetic procedures sought by men include:

Botox Injections

Botox injections are far and away the most popular procedure for both women and men. These are often used to counter the effects of aging on the upper third of the face. Over time, your skin loses thickness and its ability to hide the muscles underneath it. The injections temporarily relax the muscles that create wrinkles in the forehead and around the eyes. The effect lasts three to four months. It’s a relatively noninvasive procedure that’s done in the doctor’s office.

Dermal Fillers

These injections are used to counter the body’s natural loss of collagen, a protein that plays a key role in keeping your body together. Among other things, it provides strength and elasticity to your skin. Over time, your body starts to lose this vital protein, creating sagging skin and less volume – particularly in your face.

The fillers are used to:

• Add volume to sagging skin
• Create more symmetrical facial features
• Plump up lips and cheeks
• Smooth wrinkles and laugh lines

The procedure takes less than an hour and the results can last up to a year. The side effects are minimal, with temporary bruising being the most common problem.

Nose Reshaping

Nose reshaping (rhinoplasty) is the most common surgical procedure for women and men, with the latter accounting for nearly 20 percent of the surgeries in 2020, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

As with most procedures, it’s age that drives demand. Something most people probably don’t know is that as you age, your cartilage continues to grow. That’s why you sometimes see older people with ears and noses that may seem out of proportion with the rest of their facial features. Cosmetic surgery can deal with that unwanted growth.

Younger patients may simply be looking for a more refined look by adjusting a bump here or an angle there. And then there are people looking for relief from airway issues or repairs to broken noses.

Liposuction

This procedure, which is particularly popular in Florida, uses suction to remove unwanted fat from specific parts of the body. There is a wide range of areas that can be targeted. But men tend to focus on their love handles, the area below the belly button, the abdomen and breasts – half of men deal with excess fat in that region left over from puberty. There are different types of liposuction, with varying degrees of invasiveness. Your doctor will work with you to determine the best option.

Types of procedures include:

• Tumescent liposuction is the most common version and is often done with local anesthesia. The surgeon uses a series of small cuts and a thin tube, called a canula, to suction out the fat.
• Ultrasound-assisted liposuction uses ultrasound to break up fatty tissue for easier removal. This may be the best option if there is a large amount of fat to remove.
• Laser-assisted liposuction uses high-intensity laser light, inserted through small cut, to break down fat cells. 
• Power-assisted liposuction employs a device that forces the canula to remove fat in a rapid back-and-forth motion. It is sometimes used when there is a lot of fat to remove, or if there was a previous procedure.

Eyelid Surgery

Second to rhinoplasty in terms of popularity with men is eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty). It is done both for cosmetic and functional purposes. It’s a way to restore field of vision for people dealing with sagging skin in their upper eyelids. That skin can block peripheral vision and make it more difficult to do simple things like watch TV. Others may choose the procedure to deal with what they see as unsightly bags under their eyes or drooping skin over the top of their eyes.

During the procedure, your surgeon makes a cut along the fold of the eyelid. The excess skin, muscle and fat are removed and the incision is closed. Some swelling and bruising will occur, but will largely be gone within two weeks.