Male Plastic Surgery Procedures Overview

Men are having cosmetic plastic surgery done in ever growing numbers. A little under 10% of all plastic surgery procedures are now done on men, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. The number of procedures performed on men increased 17% from 2006 to 2007. The top four surgeries for men are liposuction, eyelid surgery, rhinoplasty, and male breast reduction for gynecomastia.

With rare exceptions (surgery for gynecomastia being one), plastic surgery is not sex specific. Any cosmetic plastic surgery procedure can be done on a man or a woman. The actual surgery itself is the pretty much the same no matter what sex the patient is.

But there are some physical differences between men's bodies and women's bodies (besides the obvious ones) that need to be taken into account. Men usually have thicker skin on their face than do women. They also have a richer blood supply to their face and are at greater risk of excessive bleeding or forming a hematoma, which is a serious bruise or pocket of blood. Often, incisions for a face lift are hidden in the hairline, which can be a problem for man whose hairline later recedes and reveals the scar.

Although the surgery is largely the same, different techniques may be used on a man and certainly a different aesthetic will be needed. Men generally do not want to come out of surgery looking less masculine than they went in, which means that the surgeon must be aware of and experienced in producing the aspects of a face or physique that are masculine. The surgeon should understand that a man's face may need a larger nose or more prominent chin than a woman's face. For example, if he or she reduces the size of the nose too much, the nose may end up too delicate looking.

Liposuction for Men

Liposuction is a type of body sculpting that can remove a few pounds of fat. A surgeon makes several small incisions in the skin and inserts a thin metal tube called a cannula that is attached to a suction device through these incisions. The cannula is moved back and forth to break up the fat, which is then suctioned out. Liposuction should be reserved for areas of fat that have resisted diet and exercise and is usually not done on anyone who is not within about 15% of their ideal bodyweight.

In men, liposuction is most commonly performed on the torso, to remove small areas of fat on the flanks and abdomen, the love handles. It can also be done under the chin, where it can greatly reduce a double chin.

Eyelid Surgery

Eyelid surgery (or blepharoplasty) can refresh and rejuvenate an aging face by removing sagging excess skin above and below the eyes. The procedure is much the same for a man as for a woman, but must be done carefully to avoid causing the eyes to look too wide open. This would result in a permanently startled or staring expression.

Rhinoplasty for Men

Men often get rhinoplasty to eliminate a bump or straighten a crooked nose. Often men need to have a nose job to repair a nose previously broken during sports or roughhousing that healed badly. As with other types of male plastic surgery, the surgeon must take care not to inadvertently refine the nose too much and cause it to look too feminine.

Gynecomastia Treatment

Some men develop breast tissue, a condition called gynecomastia. It is a problem that is not uncommon, especially in teenaged boys going through puberty. For some, the condition may go away on its own, but for others, breast reduction for gynecomastia can help.

In this procedure, a plastic surgeon removes the breast tissue surgically, usually through an incision made around the nipple or under the armpit to hide any scarring. This may be combined with liposuction in the upper chest area to remove areas of fat.

For some men, excess fat on the upper chest can give the appearance of breast tissue, which is a condition called pseudogynecomastia. For them, liposuction alone may reduce these fat deposits on the upper chest.

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