Although facial plastic surgeries like rhinoplasty are still largely more popular among women, men can also benefit from these procedures. Rhinoplasty is available to both male and female patients alike and the number of prospective male rhinoplasty patients is actually on the rise. Rhinoplasty patients, regardless of gender, can pursue this surgery to achieve facial symmetry, profile balance, improved self-esteem, and harmony among their facial features. Male patients see the same benefits as women, but will their surgery be performed in the same way?
Men as Candidates for Rhinoplasty
Let’s start at the beginning of the surgical process and discuss the initial rhinoplasty consultation between the facial plastic surgeon and the male patient. During this meeting, every male and female patient alike will be asked specific questions about their medical history, surgical history, current conditions, medications and supplements, and even lifestyle habits. Your facial plastic surgeon asks these questions to get a better understanding of your health, since it is important that you be in good physical condition prior to your surgery. To be a candidate, all patients must not smoke and should have reasonable expectations for surgery.
Rhinoplasty is a procedure open to a wide range of patients in a variety of ages. It is one of the few facial plastic surgeries that is performed on younger patients, sometimes even teenagers. As a prospective male patient, the maturity of your nose and your age may play a factor. Younger patients must wait for their noses to be fully developed. For young males, this can mean waiting until somewhere between the ages of 15 and 17 before a facial plastic surgeon can safely perform a rhinoplasty procedure.
Do Men Have Different Reasons for Seeking Rhinoplasty?
There are plenty of prospective male patients who are concerned with the aesthetics of their nose. Dissatisfaction with the side, angle, shape, proportions, or details of the nose is a leading motivation for patients of both genders. Men can be just as frustrated with a nasal tip that is too bulbous or nostrils that are too wide.
In addition, many of the men considering rhinoplasty might also have sustained nasal trauma in the past. While women can also experience broken noses and cartilage damage, it is more common in male patients, especially those who have played sports in the past. Because of the higher rate of breakages, male patients are also more likely to have internal damage that requires repair. In such instances, both cosmetic and medical changes will be made to achieve the patient’s optimum nasal structure.
Is the Male Nose Different?
First of all, every nose is different, so each rhinoplasty procedure must be uniquely customized to the patient and his or her desired results. However, there are some facial (and nasal) characteristics that can be more common among specific races and even genders. Male noses, for example, tend to have more extreme angles and wider proportions, generally. There is usually a wider gap between the bottom of the nose and the upper lip as well, which may factor into some surgical strategies.
Beyond changing up the angles of incisions or surgical approach, your facial plastic surgeon may have other slight differences to address when operating on a male nose. Typically, men have thicker and more vascular skin, which can make excess bleeding and fluid retention a more pressing concern. Your surgeon can take steps to prevent such complications, such as the placement of drainage tubes.
Do Men Need to Consider Other Factors Before Rhinoplasty?
While the physical differences between male and female patients is minimal, the psychological considerations may be a much bigger factor for men. Any facial plastic surgery is a big change and one that can create a psychological impact, but male patients are also up against the stigma society has placed on men seeking cosmetic surgery. Changing the shape and size of your nose isn’t a reason to be embarrassed, but it may take some men longer to accept this as true. If you’re considering rhinoplasty surgery as a male patient, talk to your surgeon about any concerns you have about the psychological effects of your decision. He can help you to have the best surgery possible physically as well as emotionally and mentally.
Where Can Male Patients Plan a Rhinoplasty Consultation?
Consult with the facial plastic surgeon to learn more about rhinoplasty procedures for male patients. Let Dr. Sheldon S. Kabaker guide you through the surgical process from start to finish. As the San Francisco Bay Area’s most experiences Aesthetic Facial Plastic Surgeon and Hair Transplant Specialist, he is both the founder and director of California’s longest standing office surgery facility and the past president of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS). He received his medical degree from the University of Illinois College of Medicine before serving in the U.S. Army Medical Corps and seeing active duty in Vietnam. Dr. Kabaker has become the world’s leading authority on hairline lowering surgery as well as an internationally recognized authority on facial plastic surgery and hair/scalp reconstruction surgery. Today, he serves as the AAFPRS fellowship director of young facial plastic surgeons while delivering satisfactory results to his patients. To book a consultation with Dr. Kabaker, contact his office located at 3324 Webster Street in Oakland, California by calling (415) 379-9015.