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.

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Other people prefer the personal microdermabrasion kits because a) they can be used in the privacy of your own home and b) they are much more affordable. There’s a trade-off though.

Office skin resurfacing will always outperform home microdermabrasion in terms of effectiveness. It’s equally true that the office treatment will always be more expensive and time-consuming than its home counterpart. So how do you find the right balance between money, comfort, results and side effects?

Microdermabrasion Comparison
Both home and professional microderm use micro crystals to abrade the skin. The results are similar: reduction of fine wrinkles and scars, smoother, fresh-looking skin, removal of age spots (professional microdermabrasion is more effective, due to the precision and depth of the abrasion).

The main difference between personal and professional microdermabrasion is that in the office, specialists use hand-held machines, similar to sandblasters, to spray and circulate high-pressure crystal flow (aluminum oxide, sodium chloride or sodium bicarbonate) onto your skin. A vacuum system of the machine sucks away used crystals and dead skin cells, leaving the skin refreshed and smooth.

In home microdermabrasion kits, the professional machine is replaced by a small foam applicator which you use with your fingers to apply the micro-crystal cream or foam; massage it gently across your face, so that the crystals are pushed against your skin; then wash and rinse.

Professional microdermabrasion is performed in spas, beauty centers and doctor offices, by trained professionals. The procedure lasts 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the size of the area treated. Several sessions are needed (6 to 12, depending on your skin condition and your expectations).

If time or money are in short supply, you can always choose to buy and use one of the many home rejuvenation systems. But remember that the trained hand of a professional is steady and precise, unlike your own fingers.

A certified professional moves the microdermabrasion wand over the target area, applying even and steady pressure to remove the top layer without affecting the deeper skin layers. He knows exactly how much pressure to apply and how many times to go over the treated area (usually, between 1 and 3 times per session).

What about after treatment recovery? Your face will look red for about 24 hours (similar to suffering from a mild sunburn) after professional microderm. With home microdermabrasion your skin doesn’t burn or become red because most micro-crystal creams have special ingredients that calm and nourish the skin during treatment.

Both types of microdermabrasion treatment need long term commitment. For visible results, home kits must be incorporated in your daily or weekly skin care routine. Professional microdermabrasion must be performed in a series of 10-12 weekly sessions, followed by maintenance sessions every 2-3 months in order to achieve good results.

Professional microdermabrasion costs somewhere between $100 and $300 per session while home products are much cheaper: $15-$200 (and last a long time).

Bottom line is this: professional microdermabrasion is more effective but also more expensive, it requires several visits to the doctor’s office and it will leave your face red for a few hours after the procedure. At home kits require less time and money, but are not as effective in removing deeper skin imperfections.

By Laura Marquina