Cosmetic procedures for men are gaining popularity.  While millions of people have some kind of cosmetic surgery every year, cosmetic surgery by women still far outnumbers the amount of procedures done on men. What the procedures seem to have in common, however, is that the most popular cosmetic surgeries performed on both genders are similar although they may rank differently.

The most common surgical cosmetic procedure for men is liposuction, but the most common procedure among men for purely cosmetic purposes is currently nose reshaping, better known as rhinoplasty. While botox injections seemed to be the most popular in 2007, nose reshaping has now taken over as the number one procedure for men with 75,000 men having this procedure done in 2008. Liposuction for men however is on the rise, moving up from the sixth most popular procedure overall in 2007 to the third most popular in 2008. Microdermabrasion, which is the removal of or lessening of dark spots or scars on the skin as well as the removal of sun damaged skin, was the third most popular cosmetic surgery among men in 2007, but is no longer in the top five.

Eyelid surgery has also become one of the most common procedures among men, with 31,000 men choosing this type of cosmetic surgery in 2008. While the cosmetic procedure of laser hair removal is still a popular one as well, it has declined since it had been the number two most common procedure performed on men in 2007 and was no longer in the top five in 2008.

18,000 men opted to have breast reduction surgery in 2008, making this the fourth most popular cosmetic surgery for men. Hyaluronic Acid, which is more commonly known as wrinkle smoothing, had been the fourth most popular in 2007 but has declined in number as well.

Hair transplantation had 13,000 men undergoing this procedure in 2008, making this the fifth most common cosmetic procedure for men. The removal of skin imperfections, better known as IPL laser treatment, was number five on the list in 2007, but other cosmetic surgeries have knocked this off of the top five list too.

Cosmetic procedures among men are on the rise, and leading the way in these types of surgeries are Asian-American men. This is the fastest growing ethnic group in the industry, with the most typical male in this group being in their forties.

For men considering any type of cosmetic surgery it is important to find a surgeon that is certified in their area of expertise by an appropriate board. The board should be recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties. Seeing your regular physician is also something that is recommended to make sure there are no predisposing characteristics that may increase the risk of any complications that could be caused from the result of the surgery.

The most common cosmetic procedures for men seem to change from year to year, but it appears liposuction has remained one of the most popular for a few years now. With more men getting different procedures done every day, it ‘s hard to tell what the most popular of these cosmetic surgeries will be in the future, but one thing is certain….More men are undergoing some type of cosmetic surgery than ever before.

A facelift can be affordable when all variables are considered.  Before assuming this procedure is strictly for the affluent, research the facts and consider the many other financial implications of not having one.

A facelift is a popular cosmetic surgery among middle-aged to senior adults to reverse the look of aging. The face is the most apparent part of the body that shows a persons age because of wrinkles. After topical lotions and creams fail to give a person a more youthful look, surgery becomes the a viable option.

Youthfulness is highly esteemed. Having a youthful appearance is not only desirable, it can be expected in certain career fields.  Many professionals in sales, management, and executive positions feel more confident if they can maintain a youthful appearance. Facelifts and other anti-aging techniques help them maintain their competitive edges against their younger colleagues.

Middle-aged and senior adults may be divorced or widowed and seek to look their best to the opposite sex. They may be physically fit and have their hair and nails done by experts, but if their faces show signs of wrinkles, crow’s feet, and sagging, they may have a harder time joining the dating scene.

Overall a facelift can increase self-esteem. It can make the patient look better and feel better.

Procedure Costs

Costs vary widely depending on the surgeon, the area where the surgery is performed, travel expenses, and how extensive the procedure will be. The price range is $6,000 to $25,000. The surgeon’s fee is only $5,000 – $6,000. The remaining amount includes fees for the facility, hospital, anesthesiologist, and other fees.

The American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery reports that where a surgery is performed largely determines the price for a facelift. The most expensive are performed in the New England States, then the mountain/Pacific states, followed by the north central states and the south central states.

If the surgeon has his own facility the patient may pay less than if he performs surgery in a surgical center or hospital.

Price ranges for specific procedures are:

Standard face lift – $6,000-$15,000, average price of $8,000
Mid face lift – $4,000-$10,000, average price of $7,000
Lower face lift – $4,000-$10,000, average price of $7,000
Mini face lift (weekend) – $3,500-$6,500, average price of $5,000
Thread lift face lift – $2,000-$6,000, average price of $4,000

If a patient has a neck lift at the same time as his or her face lift, the patient will pay an additional $4,000 to $7,500. Any procedure added on to the face lift such as brow lift surgery, facial liposuction, eyelid surgery, or microdermabrasion will increase the cost.
The surgeon may point out that a basic facelift alone will not give the look one desires and additional surgery will be necessary.

Recovery Time and Costs

Those working full time should consider they will need to miss 10 days to 2 weeks of work due to swelling and discoloration.

The recovery time for an endoscopic facelift, thread facelift or a mini facelift is about one or two days or a weekend.

While expenses can quickly accumulate, for many these expenses are a necessary evil if they are to stay competitive in the job market.  A few thousand dollars now could mean earning several more thousand dollars each year.

Many people who are interested in cosmetic eyelid surgery tell their Doctor that they are interested in blepharoplasty but that they truly are not “vain.” They’re right! Most people are not looking at cosmetic eyelid surgery as a way to just look better. They realize that although cosmetic eyelid surgery does make the eyes look more beautiful, the appearance of the eyes conveys a deeper quality. The eyes express to those we know and meet something deeper about ourselves before we have a chance to communicate in other ways.

Once it is understood what makes a good candidate for cosmetic eyelid surgery, then it is easy to see who is not a good candidate. A poor candidate for cosmetic eyelid surgery is one who doesn’t truly feel energetic, vital, or interested and is hoping that the surgery will make them so. In other words, those who are hoping the eyelids can be brought into better harmony with who they are on the inside do very well with cosmetic eyelid surgery. However, those who hope the surgery will change who they are on the inside are not as good candidates.

Although cosmetic eyelid surgery is a relatively safe procedure, it is important to review the potential risks. The most dangerous complication from surgery is excessive bleeding after the surgery. The nerve that is responsible for eyesight could be potentially squeezed by excess blood and cause permanent loss of vision. By stopping any blood thinning medications two weeks prior to surgery the chances of such a problem are greatly diminished. Other potential risks of surgery include double vision, dry eyes, infection, a retracted or pulled down eyelid, asymmetry, undercorrection, overcorrection, and the need for more surgery. A brow lift has its own unique set of complications. These include tenderness along the hairline and weakness of the facial nerve. Fortunately, with good surgical technique such problems are rare.

One effect of surgery that is quite common is the formation of milia during the healing process. These are small cysts that can form along the incision line in the weeks after surgery. These cysts are hard to see with the naked eye but can be seen with a magnifying mirror. They are treated at first with simple observation since they usually resolve on there own and they are so difficult for anyone to see. If they don’t go away spontaneously after a few months, a Doctor can remove them in the office very easily.

For cosmetic eyelid surgery the simple answer is about two weeks healing time. The reality is there are so many factors that go into the healing process that in an individual’s case the healing time can vary. Some factors that affect healing are which procedures are performed, how easily the patient bruises, how well the eyelids are taken care of during the postoperative period, and how good of a healer the patient is.

Upper eyelid blepharoplasty causes bruising and swelling that starts soon after the surgery. The bruising and swelling will worsen the day after the surgery. Most patients will start improving on the third day after surgery and many patients feel comfortable driving on this day. Simple tasks around the house can be done as long as there is no heavy lifting.

Stitches will be removed by a Doctor between the fifth and seventh day after surgery. Patients who can work while still being bruised and swollen often choose to work after their stitches come out. There is no exact time when the healing stops. Rather it is a process that involves many stages. Most patients look very good after two weeks. Nevertheless, there is often a slight amount of swelling that can slowly resolve for even twelve months after surgery. Also, the hidden incision in the eyelid slowly loses its red color and becomes thinner. This process can take months to heal as well, but since the incision is hidden it is not an issue. Of course, if more surgery is performed then the healing process takes longer. A brow lift or surgery to remove the under eye bags will increase the healing time somewhat.

Dr. Daniel Ebroon is a board certified Oculoplastic Surgeon whom frequently lectures on the Cosmetic Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty) procedure.

By Daniel Ebroon, M.D.

If you have any of the following conditions you should research this surgery further as you could be a good candidate.

1.Excess or loose skin either hanging down from or obscuring the fold of the upper eyelids.

2.The upper eyelids appear puffy and the eyes look tired.

3.The lower eyelids are “droopy” and/or there is excess skin and wrinkles on them.

4.The eyes have extremely dark circles and “bags” under them.

Eyelid Lift Surgery in most cases can correct these issues provided that there are not other issues as well that need to be addressed. Your plastic surgeon would be able to tell you if you would need any other treatments as well such as Botox, fillers or chemical peels. This would depend on if for example you also had sagging of the eyebrows or something of that nature.

What Can I Expect?

You may be wondering what results you can expect from this type of procedure. Well, the main benefit is that after you are done healing which usually takes several weeks, you will appear more rested and refreshed. In time, the incisions will fade and be hardly noticeable at all. These results typically will last for a very long time but this will vary from person to person based on your lifestyle and hereditary factors. Also, the skin will still continue to age so eventually these conditions may start to appear at some point in the future. Most patients are happy with the results and their appearance but some do opt to have more improvements done as they age.

What Are The Risks?

There are thousands of people a year who have eyelid lift surgery and the vast majority never have any major complications. But as with any surgery there can be some risks involved including hematoma which is blood accumulating under the skin, infection, scarring, allergies, and damage to underlying foundations. Thankfully, these complications are very rare but you should still discuss all of these things with your surgeon or his staff.

If you feel that eyelid surgery would be a good option for you, find a qualified plastic surgeon and discuss your options. Also, make sure you follow your surgeon’s instructions and advice both before and after the surgery.

By: Sarah McCurdy

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