Plastic surgery has undergone a change lately. When I first started surgery training 15 years ago, I met only a few men who wanted to go under the knife. Plastic surgery was the domain of young women working on their bodies, and women over 35 refreshing their faces. Men picked up their wives and girlfriends after the procedures. They stayed away from the operating room themselves.
Not anymore. Last year more than 1,000,000 men had plastic surgery procedures, according the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic surgery. The number is growing: I see more and more men every month. Sports Illustrated now sits with Vogue in the magazine rack at our California plastic surgery center.
Men are turning to plastic surgery to feel better, look younger, and help with their careers. But just as men are from Mars and women are from Venus in relationships, so too are they different when it comes to plastic surgery. With the wrong procedures, or the right procedures done the wrong way, men wind up looking less like they did when they were in college -- and more like their college-aged daughters.
Where women tend to undergo lifts, men steer more toward reshaping and recontouring. Nationally, the top three surgical procedures for men are liposuction, rhinoplasty (nose work), and blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery). Men are going for Botox and skin treatments as well.
Even in-shape guys have love handles that tend to scream "flab." These areas usually can be eliminated with liposuction. Likewise, many men I see complain of fullness in the chest (and I am not talking pecs here) that diminishes their masculine look. Liposuction provides excellent results here too. This surgery can help bring back the abs men had in college.
Liposuction often provides desired outcomes that often cannot be achieved at the gym. Localized fat deposits that are hard to exercise away stand as inviting targets for liposuction. I had one patient nickname my liposuction machine his "mechanical personal trainer." Results like this are improved still more as men head back to the gym after their procedures. The procedure can be especially useful for the male chest as well.
Like rings in a tree trunk, lines reveal our age. In men, they tend to develop around the eyes and forehead. When treated early, Botox smooths fine lines on the face. By weakening tiny facial muscles, it stops the constant pulling that leads to lines on the overlying skin. Though the results only last between three and six months, the changes look very impressive.
When fine lines around the eyes graduate to true wrinkles, eyelid surgery turns back the clock. By removing excess skin and fat of either the upper or lower eyelid, men look refreshed without changing their overall appearance.
Men have different goals from women in seeking plastic surgery. And their distinct anatomy means that simply offering the same procedure to men as women will leave men dissatisfied with the results.
Plastic surgery is no longer for women only. Men have great results, just like women. But their bodies, goals, and temperaments are different. So the correct procedures, done in the right way, need to be selected to give men the outcomes they're looking for.
Bad Plastic Surgery Results
Plastic surgery is becoming the quick solution to cosmetic problems. Those who have the money would easily pay for such a procedure that promises so much. The truth is however, not every procedure is considered good plastic surgery. You may have to ask yourself a couple of questions to make sure that you get good plastic surgery.
Why do I want it?
Reconstructive surgery is good for those who have been on an illness or an accident. Some people who may not need this kind of surgery volunteer for cosmetic plastic surgery instead to change the way they look. If you belong to this second category then it becomes more important to ask yourself why you want to get good plastic surgery.
Make sure that your decision to go under the knife is made and motivated by you yourself and not by anyone else. It is a bad idea to attempt to change your appearance through surgery simply because you want to please someone else. There is no guarantee that people will change their views of you after surgery.
Do I have realistic expectations?
Even good plastic surgery will not ensure that you will look exactly as you imagined. Try paying more attention to your surgeon's before and after photos. You should be able to realize through pictures that even the most expensive procedures can only improve someone's appearance but not make her look like a super model. There is a big chance that there will even be some minor flaws with good plastic surgery.
Am I prepared to spend?
Plastic surgery today may be affordable, but it doesn't necessarily mean cheap. You would have to spend thousands of dollars for the doctor's fee alone and a few thousand more for miscellaneous expenses and other fees. You might consider paying for a cheap offer but cheap prices may not give you good plastic surgery. In fact, bargaining on plastic surgery might kill you. The best doctors and services are usually those that cost a lot.
Am I ready to face the consequences of bad surgery?
No matter how good your surgeon may be, keep in mind that even experts can make mistakes. Bad surgical work can lead to anything from an ultra ugly scar to a dislocated implant. It would be good if your surgeon has policies for post treatment. You should be ready though to spend just a little more to fix the error. In some rare cases, a mistake could lead to death or permanent disfigurement.
Do I have enough time to recover?
Recovery time varies from procedure to procedure. You should know if your kind of work will allow you minimum exertion or if your boss will give you a few days or weeks off for you to recover.
Surgeons say that most patients usually get back on their feet after a few days. Complete recovery however may take a couple of weeks or months. This may not be suitable for you if you are on the go or if your work requires a lot of lifting.
Both Lloyd Krieger & Trina Rowde are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Lloyd Krieger has sinced written about articles on various topics from Cosmetic Surgery, Breast Enlargements and Cosmetic Surgery. Lloyd M. Krieger is a plastic surgeon and founder of Rodeo Drive Plastic Surgery in Beverly Hills, California. More information is available on California. Lloyd Krieger's top article generates over 49500 views. Bookmark Lloyd Krieger to your Favourites.
