The Top Cosmetic Surgery procedures for Men

Typically cosmetic surgery is normally associated with women having procedures such as Breast Augmentation, breast reductions and liposuction. If we discuss men having cosmetic surgery we normally think about well known male actors and celebrities such as Sylvester Stallone, Michael Jackson and Mickey Rourke. These men are not great examples of natural and aesthetic cosmetic surgery results. However; men do have great Cosmetic surgery results it is just that we hear about the extreme and ridiculous results performed on the infamous celebrities.

Statistics released in March 2011 by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) demonstrate that many more men are now becoming more conscious about their appearances and maintaining their appearances that they are now considering some form of Cosmetic surgery. The statistics revealed that the overall increase in cosmetic procedures in men increased by 2% in 2010 when compared to the previous year. Some procedures in particular like Facelift surgery rose by 14% and Liposuction increased by 7% in 2010.

The ASPS statistics for 2010 show that men underwent an increased number of Surgical and minimally invasive procedures; the increase in surgical procedures grew faster than the traditional minimally invasive treatments.

The increase in men having cosmetic surgery may be related to a number of factors; such as an increase in the general fashion and cosmetic industry and therefore an increase in the participation of men in requiring cosmeceuticals and that their requirements do not seem to be unusual or the domain of women. Also with the changes in workplace perceptions and socially men may feel the need to have a rejuvenated and youthful appearance as well as being fit and healthy. Men and women have shifted the age for when they are choosing to have children. As such men may feel that they are now ready, mature and financially capable enough to make the decision to have Cosmetic plastic Surgery.

Interestingly once the minimally invasive procedures such as Botox® or dermal fillers were popular with men. It is apparent that as men age, so do the tissues and the addition of gravity means that the tissues sag. Consequently a much more comprehensive surgical procedure is required and is necessary to lift and rejuvenate the body to show any significant improvement.

Top Ten Cosmetic Procedures for Men (as an increase in percentage)

The list comprises the fastest growing cosmetic procedures between 2009 and 2010.

1. Facelift – 14% increase

2. Otoplasty (Ear Surgery) – 11% increase

3. Dermal Fillers – 10% increase

4. Botox® – 9% increase

5. Liposuction – 7% increase

6. Male breast reduction (Gynaecomastia) – 6% increase

7. Eyelid surgery (Blepharoplasty) – 4% increase

8. Dermabrasion – 4% increase

9. Laser hair removal -4% increase

10. Laser vein treatment – 4% increase

Top Ten Cosmetic Procedures for Men in 2010 (By Volume)

The top 5 Cosmetic Surgical Procedures (Invasive)

1) Rhinoplasty (Nose surgery) - 64,000
2) Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty) – 31,000
3) Liposuction/Liposculpture – 24,000
4) Male Breast Reduction (Gynaecomastia surgery) – 18,000
5) Hair Transplantation – 13,000

The Top Five Cosmetic Minimally-Invasive Procedures

1) Botox ® – 337,000
2) Laser Hair Removal – 165,000
3) Microdermabrasion – 158,000
4) Chemical Peel – 90,000
5) Dermal Fillers – 78,000

The majority of cosmetic surgery clinics show that whilst there are high profile men having cosmetic surgery, clearly many more men are “average” males who are looking to improve their looks and therefore to look as good as they feel. Many of these men are normally seen as tough male role models such as firemen, plumbers and bricklayers.

There are the men who are still quite physically active, perhaps approaching retirement who still wish to have a rejuvenated appearance to go along with their active lifestyle. It is not unusual in my practice to perform a combined Facelift, neck lift as well as an eyelid lift for mature men seeking to reverse the effects of the sun, genetic aging and gravity and to create a rejuvenated face and neck.

After having performed the cosmetic surgery procedure, it is not uncommon to observe a new invigorated male patient. The procedure itself appears to have provided a greater sense of self confidence; male breast reduction is such an example. Many males with large breasts commonly known as “man boobs” are often reluctant to go to the beach or engage in any social activity where they need to remove their shirt.

Following male breast reduction surgery most patients are motivated to join gyms to improve their general health, wellbeing and fitness levels. They have an increased desire to lose weight and build muscle to match their improved chest/breast area.

Many of these men have very supporting partners often of similar age, which is contrary to the popular perception that these are men with much younger partners. In my practice many of these women will not have had any cosmetic procedures or surgery, and so this has not been a natural or expected transition for their male partner to consider cosmetic surgery. It is a choice that these men make to help them maintain a rejuvenated, natural and aesthetically pleasing appearance for themselves and sometimes for their partners as well.

If you are looking for an experienced and skilled Cosmetic Surgeon who performs male cosmetic surgery procedures and non-invasive procedures such as Botox® and dermal fillers then contact Dr. Bobby Kumar today on (02) 9571 4850 or 0430 491 009 for an appointment at the Bareaesthetics Cosmetic Surgery clinics (Sydney,Port Macquarie or Adelaide).

Cosmetic Surgery can address these issues. An Abdominoplasty, more commonly referred to as a ‘tummy tuck’, is the surgery that removes excess skin and tissue, restoring the stomach to a flat, smooth and toned shape. A good Cosmetic Surgeon will aim to hide incisions in an area covered by underwear. The extent of an Abdominoplasty depends on the patient; for example, how much excess skin and tissue requires removal or whether the underlying muscle also needs tightening. These issues are discussed in a consultation with the Cosmetic Surgeon. A Tummy Tuck should not be perceived as an option to achieve weight loss.

Liposuction is surgery that can literally suck fat away. This should never be seen as a way to lose weight. In actual fact, a good Cosmetic Surgeon will advise you to achieve your optimal weight prior to having surgery. Liposuction can address those stubborn areas of fat that aren’t resolved through diet and exercise. Again incision sites are usually hidden by the Cosmetic Surgeon.

Following Abdominoplasty or Liposuction, the patient needs to wear a compression garment for a minimum of 6 to 8 weeks. This is really important to make sure you achieve the optimal results from your surgery, allowing the skin and underlying tissues to shrink to the new shape. Depending on the individual, the Cosmetic Surgeon may recommend continued use of the garment beyond 8 weeks, for example 4-6 hours a day for another couple of months.

Men and women who have had a Tummy Tuck or Liposuction typically describe the area affected as feeling tight after surgery. A woman who had an Abdominoplasty described the feeling post surgery as if she had done 1000 sit ups, however did not require more than a simple pain relief tablet such as paracetamol or digesic.

Often Liposuction is a part of Tummy Tuck surgery, giving the Cosmetic Surgeon the ability to refine and shape the abdomen and flanks to achieve a toned and shapely result.

Our faces age for many reasons. Heredity plays a role, as does gravity, which tends to pull soft facial tissues downward. In time our cheeks begin to sag, the crease running from the nostrils to the sides of the mouth is accentuated, and our jaw line and chin lose their smooth, refined appearance. As we age we also tend to lose some of out facial fat and our skin loses some of its elasticity, leading to more sagging of our features.

Exposure to ultraviolet light plays a role as well. Indeed, people who live in tropical climates, where the sun is strongest, often have prematurely aged skin, irrespective of their ethnic characteristics. In these areas, people may seek face lifts in their forties or even younger.

First described over 60 years ago, face lifts smooth and redefine the contour of the neck and jaw line to create a younger, more vital appearance.Years of research and experience have led to an increasingly sophisticated understanding of the ageing process, the more subtle elements in facial anatomy and the technical ways to restore a balanced and more youthful appearance.

• In addition, thanks to advances in both surgical technique and anaesthesia, face lift procedures have become safer and more comfortable and their results even more satisfying.
• It is important, however, to remember that while a face lift can help refresh your appearance it will not erase permanent creases, particularly around your lips. Additional procedures like Dermabrasion, laser resurfacing and chemical peels can improve those lines and can be performed in conjunction with your face lift.

Your consultation: talking it through

When you meet with your surgeon, you’ll have an opportunity to share your feelings about the results you want to achieve, learn about what will happen during your surgery and help design a procedure that meets your individual needs. It is often helpful to bring a photograph of yourself from the time when you thought you looked your best.

• Your surgeon will take a medical history and ask about any previous facial surgery.
• You’ll learn about normal differences in facial symmetry you’ve probably never noticed before.
• Your surgeon will gently lift your facial skin to assess what you might be able to expect after your surgery.
• He will also explain some of the other effects of surgery, like the fact that the position of your hair in front of your ear may be elevated and that, in men, the beard may be advanced under and behind the ear requiring shaving in that area.
• You’ll discuss the extent and position of scars you can expect.

Your surgeon will also explain some of the modifications that have improved the overall results of face lift surgery. These modifications, all of which can be individually tailored to suit your needs, include deep (S.M.A.S.) lifts, chin fat removal, and remodelling of the neck muscles.

In addition, you’ll learn about procedures that can be done at the same time as your face lift, including correction of eye bags (Blepharoplasty), forehead lift and the use of fat from other parts of your body to restore lost volume to the central part of your face. You’ll also learn about situations where face lifts & neck lifts can be combined with chin augmentation if the jaw contour is somewhat weak, or Midface lifts for more pronounced definition of the cheekbone area.

Your operation: what to expect

Before your surgery you will receive advice about what to do and what to avoid. For example, if you routinely colour or perm your hair it’s wise to have it done immediately before your procedure so it will be some weeks before you need to have it done again.

In most cases your face lift will be done under general anaesthetic and you will spend the night in the hospital. More limited procedures can be carried out under a local anaesthetic and sedation, but for a full face lift there is no real benefit from sedation.

Once you are comfortably asleep, the surgeon will make an incision that starts high in the temple area (hidden by the hair at this point) and courses down following the curves in front of the top and bottom of the ear and behind the middle part (tragus). The incision then continues round the earlobe and up behind the ear before curving gently back into the hair. In some cases a second incision in made under the chin where it will also be well hidden. Its purpose is to assist with definition of the chin and neck.

Using these incisions on both sides of the face, the skin and deep tissues are remodelled and re-draped. The incisions are then closed with stitches in front of the ear and metal clips in the hair. Small drainage tubes are may be inserted under the skin during the operation. These are often removed at the practice, several days after your surgery, so that bruising and swelling around the face and neck are minimal, and return to work and social activities is accelerated. Some surgeons also apply a light bandage around your head at the end of the surgery.

After your surgery :

Your bandages will be removed the morning after your surgery. After that, your hair will be washed and you’ll be allowed to leave the hospital.

Once at home, it’s important to take certain precautions:

• To prevent post-operative bleeding it’s important not to engage in vigorous activity for the first five days after your surgery.
• Aspirin should be avoided. Any discomfort can be controlled by taking a mild analgesic such as Paracetamol.
• You may gently wash your hair with a mild shampoo, exercising care in the suture area.

As your convalescence continues, you can expect certain things:

• Your sutures will usually be removed seven days after surgery. It is advisable not to apply any strong chemicals like bleach or ammonia to the area for four weeks following surgery.
• Your scars will usually be very faint at first, however you can expect them to thicken and become red for a few months after your surgery before they return to a more natural skin colour and texture.

• It is normal to experience some bruising, swelling and numbness after a face lift. These symptoms are temporary and should mostly disappear after two weeks. Numbness takes longer to settle down, and it will require approximately a month for the cheeks and three to four months for the underside of the chin. To help lessen post-operative bruising, we suggest taking Arnica for one week prior to your surgery and two weeks after. After the surgery, products like Lasonil® will be very useful to reduce and clear the bruises.

Complications from Face Lift are rare

• Should infection occur it can usually be readily treated with antibiotics.
• If a haematoma (a collection of blood under the skin) should occur, a revisit to the operating theatre may be necessary. However, if a haematoma is dealt with promptly it should not affect the long-term results of the surgery.
• Occasionally, delayed wound healing may occur. This is particularly true in diabetic patients or patients who smoke. If you smoke, please discuss your habit with your surgeon.
• Damage to the nerves which control the facial muscles is extremely rare with face lift surgery. In the majority of cases where this does occur there is a full recovery.
• With any surgery that takes more than about an hour there is an increased risk of clots in the leg veins (deep vein thrombosis). Because of this, it is important that, apart from the measures taken during the hospital stay, you continue gentle mobilisation, exercising your feet lightly but regularly in the week following your operation. This will help restore your circulation and reduce the chance of clots forming.

Following childbirth and significant weight loss there are areas of fat deposition which are difficult to reduce despite regular exercise and dieting. The abdominal muscles are still lax and will bulge despite doing exercises to strengthen the “stomach muscles”.Abdominoplasty(Tummy Tuck) is the surgical procedure which removes the excess fat and skin apron that is otherwise difficult to reduce via conventional exercises. It is not a procedure or an alternative for weight reduction or as management for obesity.

Abdominoplasty is often combined with liposuction/liposculpture to contour the thorax and abdomen to give patients a defined and aesthetically pleasing figure.A Tummy Tuck requires a lower abdominal incision and can incorporate old caesarean scars with the added benefit of removal of some of the stretch marks. Patients should be aware that scar formation will occur; every effort is made to keep the scar within the underwear or clothing line.

Occasionally patients will require relocation of the umbilicus (“belly button”) when a significant amount of abdominal tissue is removed and during closure of the wound the umbilicus becomes distorted.

Tummy Tucks are performed in an accredited operating theatre under general anaesthetic with an anaesthetist; patient recovery is typically over several weeks.

The common complications are: Discomfort, bruising, a taut abdomen and decreased sensitivity of the skin.Less frequent or rare complications include: Deep vein thromboses and Pulmonary Thrombi (lung clots),Bleeding, seroma, wound breakdown and infection.

Smokers have a significantly higher risk of all complications.

Liposuction/Liposculpture

Liposuction removes fat cells from regions of fat deposition which are not able to be shifted by regular exercise and a sensible diet. The procedure therefore is not meant to replace these modalities for treating obesity and it is not a weight loss procedure.

Whilst liposuction removes fat cells it is the surgeon’s cosmetic/aesthetic skill to contour and define the regions of the body being operated on, Liposculpture is a reflection of the surgeon’s artistic ability and expertise to achieve the results.

Fat cells are removed from various levels of the area being treated as well as from adjacent areas to prevent complications such as dimpling and contour irregularities. An important consideration is how much fat the surgeon leaves behind; resulting in a better aesthetic result.

Liposuction/Liposculpture is performed in an accredited day surgery under anaesthetic with an anaesthetist.

Patients require several months to recover and will be required to wear a garment to compress the tunnels produced by liposuction and to have the tissues adhere to form a new contoured and defined shape.

The common complications are: Bruising, pain and discomfort, decreased areas of sensitivity which heal with time. Less common or rare complications are: Deep vein thromboses, pulmonary thrombi (Lung clots), bleeding, seroma and infection.

Smokers have a significantly higher risk of all complications.

Gynaecomastia (Male Breast Enlargement)

Men can develop fatty or fibrous breast enlargement, which may occur for a variety of reasons such as Metabolic, physiological, age related and medication induced.

Many men find the appearance unsightly and they develop poor self image, avoiding certain social situations requiring removal of shirts or T-shirts.The surgical management for Gynaecomastia is either Liposuction alone or a combination of liposuction and excision of the fibrous component of the breast tissue. A small incision is made around the lower half of the nipple areola complex; this eventually heals well and fades over 2-3 months.