In 2014, Americans spent over $12 billion on assorted cosmetic procedures, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS). One particular group of patients may be driving the increase… Many more men have turned to aesthetic cosmetic procedures, both surgical and nonsurgical, in the last 5 years. This marks a 43% increase for plastic surgery for men overall.
Men have undoubtedly always felt then need to look youthful and appear dynamic well into their 40s, 50s and 60s… but now, they are rethinking pills, diet, exercise, face-care products and plastic surgery. The statistics from ASAPs show that cosmetic surgery is becoming increasingly popular with men, as they try to deal with image maintenance and change. This is not limited to the San Francisco or Bay Area.
Since ASAPs began collecting statistical data on men’s procedures, they’ve noted a 273 percent increase in the number of procedures they’ve undergone.
According to a Business Insider report, plastic surgery for men has revolved around four main character types:
- Type 1: Seeks the photo-ready looks of a male model
- Type 2: Wants to perfect his body-building image
- Type 3: Characterizes himself as an “athletic dad” intent on a few “do over” procedures
- Type 4: CEO who views procedures as career enhancement
Similar to women, when men turn to plastic surgery or cosmetic surgery they are looking for the best plastic surgeon. They are often at the top of their careers and they feel young and confident, but worry that they don’t look it. Oftentimes, men will choose to leave a few more wrinkles than their feminine counterparts, as wrinkles for men can still be considered sexy or “trustworthy”. Some plastic surgeons refer to these lifts as the “Forbes Facelift”. This procedure often included a necklift, eyelift, jawline re-contouring, and possibly liposuction.
Common types of plastic surgery for men:
THE NECKLIFT: This procedure can get rid of loose skin and fat in the chin. This can help define the jaw and rid the patient of “jowls”. Hooray! (Nobody likes jowls… absolutely nobody.) During this procedure, the surgeon makes incisions around the ear lobe and behind the ears, removes excess fat, skin and tightens the underlying muscles.
JAWLINE RECONTOURING: Jawline recontouring can be done in a number of ways. The nonsurgical option involves the injection of Juvederm (a hyaluronic acid) into the jaw/chin area, to make it appear more angular and strong. The patient may also opt to receive injections in the cheek-bone are to augment facial structure and give more definition. Another option may be to place an implant on top of the bone that will re-contour the overlying skin.
THE EYELIFT: Also known as blepharoplasty, an upper and/or lower eyelift can rid the puffiness or drooping skin around the eyes, helping the patient look more awake, well-rested and youthful. This procedure involves thin line incisions, which are made in the natural eyelid creases. Find out more about this male cosmetic surgery procedure and see before and after photos on our website!
LIPOSUCTION: Liposuction, or LipoSelection at Dr. Kulick’s office, typically takes fat away from the around the abdomen (or other areas with unwanted bulge), so as to better show off the contours of the body, muscles and abs. The patient’s recovery varies with the amount of fat removed, the number of sites treated, their pre-surgical health and post-operative compliance. For most men, the unwanted fat is centered around the waistline.
Will this trend wane?
NOPE!
Men, like women, are facing a challenging and sometimes ageist job market. Men are starting to consider their options to maintain a youthful appearance that exudes energy and vitality – and often that can mean more plastic surgery for men offered by a board-certified plastic surgeon.
Let’s step away from the men for a moment…
Last year, there were over 10 million cosmetic procedures performed – with the greatest increase seen in “buttock augmentation” (up by 86 percent!) along with labiaplasty (up by 49 percent). For those who aren’t in on the downlow –get it? – labiaplasty is the contouring of the female genital region. ASAPS has cited this procedure as a “global trend” and has placed in the category of “ever-evolving concepts of beauty”. Nonsurgical fat reduction procedures also saw a big bump, which increased 43 percent.
The top five procedures for men and women overall are longtime fixtures in the plastic surgery field:
- Liposuction
- Breast augmentation
- Eyelid surgery
- Tummy tucks
- Nose surgery
But men have their favorites. These are the top three procedures:
- Blepharoplasty – an eyelid lift (essentially)
- Male breast reduction
- Facelifts
Costs
The costs of surgical and nonsurgical procedures vary on the type of procedures being sought after, the fees charged by members of the clinical team (usually based on amount of time required for the procedure), the facility, the amount of anesthesia required, the complexity of the procedure and more. IT’S YOUR FACE AND YOUR BODY!
THINK OF IT IN TERMS OF BUYING A CAR: When you buy a Mercedes Benz, you expect to pay more for it than you would for a Toyota, right? You expect different things from each brand. If someone offered to sell you a Mercedes for the price of the Toyota, you’d be suspicious and ask questions… “Is the transmission shot?” “Is the car stolen?” “Where are the seats/tires/brake pads etc?” If you want to have the “Mercedes Benz” of noses, cheeks, face, body etc., you should expect to pay a bit more.
Of course you can shop around for good deals! But keep in mind…
Make the correct decision: select a board-certified plastic surgeon! (Board-certified plastic surgeons undergo years of extensive training and adhere to a strict code of ethics and proven protocols when performing surgical procedures.) If you find a doctor to perform your procedure for much less than the industry average… your curiosity should be peaked! Why is it so much cheaper?! Look into who will be in your operating room, are you comfortable with the doctor, the facility, and more. If ANYTHING, seems shady… it probably is. Trust your gut feeling and BE CAREFUL! There are too many plastic surgery horror stories already.
Through plastic surgery for men and women, Dr. Kulick has helped thousands of patients overcome their physical concerns – whether those have to do with the effects of aging, issues attributed to genetics, birth defects or deformities caused by injury. In such cases, Dr. Kulick has helped his patients achieve heightened levels of self-esteem and enhanced quality of life.
Don’t put off your own happiness! If you have questions about the options that are available to you, call our office! (415) 956-2500
Dr. Michael Kulick, MD is a leading board certified plastic surgeon in San Francisco, California. During an initial consultation, he’ll examine your individual anatomy, discuss all your options, and create a unique treatment plan along with any other necessary procedures. If you’d like to learn more about the benefits of plastic surgery and are looking for a qualified cosmetic surgeon, use this online form to request a consultation with Dr. Kulick or call 415-956-2550.
