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Is facial plastic surgery becoming a guy thing?

Whether it's for an older-than-average dad who wants to look as good as he feels when coaching his son's T-ball team, or a maturing manager striving to remain competitive in the ever-changing workplace, male facial plastic surgery can be a real game changer.

And by all accounts, procedures such as eyelid surgery, laser skin resurfacing, and injectables are on the rise among men, says San Francisco-based facial plastic surgeon Corey Maas, MD, the vice president of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS). "In terms of growth, male plastic surgery is in the triple digits," he says.

In It to Win It

Maas explains that many men undergo facial plastic surgery to maintain their youthful edge. "It is very common to have dads of elementary school kids in their 40s, 50s and 60s, and these guys are active, dynamic people who want to look as young as they feel and act," Maas says.

"The business world is not made up of old guys in smoky board rooms anymore, either," Maas adds. "It's young, dynamic tech people. For men, plastic surgery is not about beauty, but projecting the dynamics of youth and energy."

That's why more and more men are opting for nips and tucks. Now here's a snapshot of what they are nipping and tucking:

Injectables

Many men opt for minimally invasive injectables to rejuvenate their facial appearance without surgery. Botox or Dysport can paralyze the "11" between the eyes that makes men look angry, and/or minimize any crow's feet around the eyes. Soft tissue fillers such as Perlane and Restylane can restore volume to deep nasolabial folds and under-eye hollows.

New York City-based facial plastic surgeon Andrew Jacono, MD, adds that many a man's man will opt for Botox or Dysport injections to lift their brow, which tends to get heavy with advancing age. "Lifting it takes years off of a man's appearance," Jacono says.

Skin treatments such as intense pulsed light (IPL), microdermabrasion and laser skin resurfacing are also popular choices among men looking to get rid of sun spots, age spots, facial blood vessels and an overall ruddy appearance that can result from time spent outdoors on the golf course or sailboat.

Other procedures that can help subtly enhance men's appearance include hair transplantation, which is a lot more natural looking today than ever before, and teeth whitening, which can brighten and lighten a smile — an important asset in the boardroom, barroom and just about anywhere else.

Surgical Procedures

While many men are dipping their toes in the water with these non-invasive facial rejuvenation procedures, others are going full throttle and opting for eyelid surgery and facelifts, AAFPRS's Maas says.

"Men can't afford to look tired, weary or angry, and eyelid surgery helps rejuvenate the area around the eyes so they look more rested and alert," Maas explains. "Facelifts can address the neck and jowls, which tend to sag with age."

A Few Good Men

Male plastic surgery may have gotten a bad rap from some high-profile Hollywood celebrities who have had too much, too soon. "They are over-pulled, over-stretched and over-filled, and men think that is what you will look like with plastic surgery," Maas says. "But that is bad plastic surgery," he insists. "You don't have to look freakish; you can look really handsome."

Choosing a board-certified facial plastic surgeon who treats men can help ensure that you (or the man in your life) is pleased with the cosmetic results. Start your search for a skilled surgeon now.


  • Halaas 58x57

    Yael Halaas, MD, FACS

    60 East 56th Street
    3rd Floor
    New York, NY 10022
    (332) 239-6439


  • P

    Cosmetic Surgery Associates of New York

    465 Columbus Avenue
    370
    Valhalla, NY 10595
    (914) 421-0113


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    Min S. Ahn MD
    FACS

    The Aesthetic Wellness Center
    2 Connector Road, #2C
    Westborough, MA 01581
    508-366-2020