A recent interview with singer Robbie Williams revealed that even attractive men are succumbing to social pressure to look their best. The singer admitted to undergoing a hair transplant and that he did feel pressure to have the surgery after years of living in Los Angeles. He’s not alone, and it’s not just celebrities trying to stave off the signs of aging. A New York banker told Details Magazine that he was tired of stress and a lack of sleep making him look older than he felt, so he headed to a facial plastic surgeon for help.
The 2012 report from the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery shows increases in a number of aesthetic procedures performed on men between 2011 and 2012. Numbers are calculated based on the average number of male patients each doctor sees per year. Here are six procedures more men are choosing in order to look younger.
Blepharoplasty
In one of the smaller rises between 2011 and 2012, AAFPRS surgeons still saw men seeking blepharoplasty raise from an average of eight patients each to nine. For men who want to correct drooping eyelids and eyelid bags, eyelid surgery is a good choice. You can have the surgery on both the upper and lower eyelids or just on one of the eyelids, depending on what needs to be corrected.
Botox
An injection of Botox Cosmetic temporarily blocks nerve impulses that control muscle movement. As the muscle relaxes, some creases and wrinkles smooth out, especially bunny lines, crow’s feet, and forehead lines. One injection lasts for three to five months, so men can try it for a few months, see if they like the results, and then receive an additional injection when desired. Botox was another procedure that saw increased interest from men. AAFPRS members reported an average of 56 patients in 2011, but by 2012 that number rose to 71.
Chemical Peels
In 2011, AAFPRS surgeons reported getting an average of four men seeking chemical peels. That number soared to 12 in 2012. With a chemical peel, a solution is spread onto the face in the facial plastic surgeon’s office. Phenol is one of the most common options for deep peels, and it works by damaging the upper layers of skin. Once these layers shed away, the newer skin layers are tighter and look younger. With a deeper chemical peel, the entire healing process can take anywhere from three to six months.
Facelifts
A facelift is a long-lasting surgical solution to reducing some signs of aging in the face. The number of men seeking facelifts from AAFPRS surgeons rose from an average of five per surgeon to seven in 2012. The surgical procedure corrects loose skin on the upper neck, jowls, and cheeks. The surgery also gives more definition to the jawline as the skin is tightened on the lower face.
Lip Enhancement
While an average of three men per AAFPRS surgeon was reported in 2011, the number of men seeking lip enhancement procedures increased to four in 2012. With lip enhancement, men can choose from non-surgical or surgical lip enhancements to reduce the signs of aging and add volume to thin, narrow lips. Non-surgical treatments involve the use of facial fillers, either collagen or a hyaluronic acid filler. Surgical treatments include fat injections, lip lifts, or implants.
Microdermabrasion
While women have embraced microdermabrasion for years, it’s recently gaining the attention of men. According to AAFPRS surgeons, they’ve seen their average male microdermabrasion patient tallies climb from 14 to 18 in 2012. Microdermabrasion involves a high-speed blast of a fine crystal powder against the skin. It is not painful, so no anesthesia is necessary. It’s great for livening dull skin, removing some lines and wrinkles, and alleviating the appearance of sun spots.
Do you want to learn more about facial plastic surgery? Check out Dr. Sheldon Kabaker’s list of cosmetic procedures that are common among both men and women. Next, schedule a consultation with Dr. Kabaker, an Oakland facial plastic surgeon, and find out more about the cost and recovery time for the procedure(s) you desire. Reach Dr. Kabaker’s California facial plastic surgery office at (415) 379-9015.