Male Plastic Surgery Procedures
Did you know that . . .
the number of men having cosmetic surgery is growing at a faster rate than the number of women?
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 1.1 million cosmetic procedures were performed on men in the United States in 2007. Men now account for almost 10% of surgical and non-invasive cosmetic procedures, and those numbers keep going up each year. Move over, ladies – the men have arrived!
Among the cosmetic procedures men seek most often are liposuction, eyelid surgery, rhinoplasty (nose surgery) and male breast reduction (gynecomastia).
Male Liposuction
Liposuction is a medical procedure that removes excess fat from a specific body area. Liposuction for men is performed the same as liposuction for women, although the areas where liposuction is performed differ because men and women store fat differently. While women struggle with fat deposits in their hips and thighs, the chest and stomach tend to be problem areas for men. Consequently, men typically have liposuction done on their torso, including the abdomen, waist, and back. Other areas include the upper chest (in cases of gynecomastia, or enlarged breasts), around the neck, and under the chin.
It’s important to understand that liposuction safely removes the fat that lies directly under the skin, not the intra-abdominal (visceral) fat that surrounds the abdominal organs and creates the proverbial “beer belly” that many men develop. This is because the risk of nerve damage, blood loss, and punctured organs would be too great.
Liposuction is reserved for removing fat that has resisted diet and exercise programs; it should not be used for weight loss. Most surgeons follow the standard guideline that liposuction patients should be no more than 15% above their ideal weight when undergoing the procedure.
During liposuction, a thin, tube-like medical instrument called a cannula is inserted through a tiny incision and manipulated by the surgeon to break up fat pockets. The fat molecules are suctioned out with a vacuum machine through the cannula.
Liposuction can be performed in a surgeon’s office, a freestanding surgical clinic or in a hospital. Anesthesia ranges from a local with sedation to general anesthesia, depending on the amount of work to be done. Procedures usually last from 30 minutes to several hours. The costs are not covered by medical insurance, so you will be responsible for all costs.
Eye Lift or Blepharoplasty
Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty or eye lift), whether performed as a stand alone procedure or as part of a face lift, can take years off a man’s face. First, however, there are a couple special considerations that men must take into account before committing to any facial plastic surgery.
Male facial skin is thicker and has a richer blood supply than female skin. This means they are at greater risk for excessive bleeding or forming a pocket of blood called a hematoma. Because men often have more sun damage to their skin, it may need a little more help in the form of treatments like skin resurfacing. And, unlike women, men do not wear longer hairstyles or makeup, so it’s more difficult to hide the scars associated with surgery.
Fatty deposits and bags under the eyes, drooping layers of skin on the eyelids, and sagging eyebrows can all be erased with blepharoplasty. The final result is a more youthful face, especially if the eye lift is combined with other cosmetic facial procedures like a face or brow lift.
Luckily, the natural creases of the eyes are good camouflage for the hairline scars that result from an eye lift. They are sometimes also hidden in the lower eyelid. Because the skin around the eyes is thin, incisions heal quickly and scars fade fast.
Rhinopalsty for Men
Rhinoplasty (nose surgery) is an option for men who are dissatisfied with their nose, which can be reshaped, reformed and redesigned to conform with other facial features. Although nose jobs can be done strictly to improve appearance, there are two procedures that improve the function of the nose by opening up the breathing passages. These include septoplasty (surgery to reshape the septum, the vertical wall of bone and cartilage between the nostrils) and tiplasty, which reshapes the cartilage in the tip of the nose. Reconstructive rhinoplasty can rebuild a nose that has been traumatized by an accident, birth defect or disease. “Ethnic noses” (African-American, Asian-American) can also be altered through rhinoplasty.
Nose surgery can be performed as an open (external incisions) or closed (incisions within the nostrils) procedure. Either can be done in a doctor’s office, surgical clinic, or hospital as an outpatient procedure. If the goal is cosmetic, medical insurance will not cover the costs. If it is therapeutic (to correct breathing problems), insurance may cover some or all of the expense.
The end result of cosmetic rhinoplasty should be a nose that fits your individual face and adds to its balance. Taken together, your facial features will determine the dimensions of your new nose.
Gynecomastia Treatment
Gynecomastia (male breast enlargement) is the bane of male existence for both young and old. A hormonal imbalance can cause breasts to develop on a boy as he goes through puberty, dealing a blow to his self-esteem and confidence just when he needs them most. For his older brother or father, gynecomastia can be kickstarted by medications (ACE-inhibitors, some psychiatric drugs) and performance-enhancing drugs (including anabolic steroids and androstenedione) or excessive use of alcohol and marijuana. Obesity is also a contributing factor because it increases estrogen levels, which cause breasts to grow.
Any man who develops “man boobs” should be evaluated for an underlying physical cause. Oftentimes treatment will reverse breast development. But many cases are idiopathic, meaning there is no known cause, and these men can be helped by gynecomastia surgery.
Breast tissue is removed during a procedure called reduction mammoplasty, which is performed under general anesthesia or local anesthesia with sedation that leaves the patient awake but very relaxed. The incisions are made around the nipple or in the armpit, where they are usually unnoticeable once they heal. Gynecomastia patients wear a special elastic vest postsurgically to compress their chest, minimize swelling, and promote healing. Drains may also be inserted and removed a few days after surgery. Soreness and bruising may linger for a few days, but many men can return to work in less than a week.
Pectoral Implants
Some men are interested in enhancing their chests, and pectoral implants are one way to go. This relatively new procedure can be used as a cosmetic enhancement, to correct defects of the rib cage or chest muscles, to balance an asymmetrical chest, or by gynecomastia patients after they’ve undergone liposuction and breast tissue removal. Implants provide a defined outline to a man’s chest, mimicking the natural shape of well-developed pectoral muscles.
Made of solid silicone, these implants should not be confused with the saline or silicone implants used by women. Pectoral implants cannot leak or rupture.
The implant procedure is usually performed on an outpatient basis in a surgeon’s office, surgical center, or hospital, and takes between 1 and 2 hours. It can be combined with other cosmetic surgeries, including tummy tuck and liposuction. The surgeon makes a short incision on each side of the chest under the armpit and then makes a pocket under the pectoral muscle to hold the implant.
If you are considering having any of the above procedures, you must meet certain criteria. Your overall physical and mental health must be good, free of any active diseases or uncontrolled chronic conditions like high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, or asthma. If you smoke, drink excessively, or use recreational drugs, you may not be a viable candidate for plastic surgery. You must also be prepared to deal with the rigors of surgery and the discomfort of recovery.
Medical insurance generally does not cover the costs associated with these procedures, so you will be responsible for all fees. Financing is often available through the plastic surgeon’s office.
Find Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon
The next step is to consult with more than one plastic surgeon to discuss your goals for surgery. You can start by contacting a 1800BeYourBest to ask any questions you may have and set you up for a consultation with a qualified, board-certified plastic surgeon.