Dr. Kiya Movassaghi Reveals Why the Faces of Men and Women Age Differently

EUGENE, Ore., July 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- It is commonly heard that women are said to look "older" while men look more "distinguished" as they age. While there may be some cultural bias at play, men and women age differently and those distinctions are often seen on the face, says Dr. Kiya Movassaghi, a board certified plastic surgeon in Eugene, Oregon.

Different Biological Responses to Aging

While genetics and lifestyle are factors, there are biological differences that affect the way the skin of men and women respond to aging. Here are a few key differences:

• Male skin is thicker than female skin and is usually firmer because it contains more collagen and elastin; thus men age more slowly and tend to display less fine lines and deep wrinkles than women do.
• Male skin thins gradually with age while female skin thins significantly after menopause.
• Female skin contains more subcutaneous fat.
• The male beard can act as a natural screen against ultraviolet light, helping protect the face from sun damage and preventing fine wrinkles on the cheeks.

For men, facial aging typically begins with wrinkles on the forehead and sagging or loose skin around the chin, leading to jowls and a less defined jawline. For women, the first signs of aging usually include fine lines around the eyes and mouth, and wrinkles or drooping skin on the fragile skin of the neck. While there are different surgical and nonsurgical approaches for every issue, facial rejuvenation for men and women may require different solutions, says Dr. Movassaghi.

Different Approaches to Address Aging

Just as the sexes age in different ways, their facial characteristics require unique treatment plans. For example, the facelift remains the gold standard treatment for restoring a youthful appearance to the mid-face area, while eyelid lifts make the eyes appear bright and refreshed. When planning a surgical approach, it is important to preserve the facial differences that distinguish men from women. Men have stronger features and full eyelids, and to retain the heavier male characteristics some standard approaches must be modified. For example, facelifts must be changed to accommodate the vascular bearded skin and eyelid lifts must be planned to retain some skin and fat to avoid a feminized eye.

Nonsurgical facial rejuvenation treatments such as BOTOX® injections work just as successfully for men as women, although men usually require more units because of their greater muscle mass. Men and women can benefit equally from the use of dermal fillers to restore lost volume and soften deep folds or creases.

The differences in facial aging between men and women are genuine, says Dr. Movassaghi, and gender characteristics must be accounted for when developing a treatment plan. But a skilled, experienced cosmetic surgeon can help patients find the right solution to address each issue in the most appropriate manner.

About Movassaghi Plastic Surgery & Ziba Medical Spa: Dr. Kiya Movassaghi is a board certified plastic surgeon who focuses on cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. He is a graduate of Harvard Medical School and is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Plastic Surgery at Oregon Health & Science University's School of Medicine in Portland. Movassaghi Plastic Surgery & Ziba Medical Spa is located at 330 South Garden Way, Suite 100, Eugene, Oregon, 97401. They can be reached by phone at 541.686.8700; for more information, visit drmovassaghi.com.

Media Contact: Niloo Marashi, Movassaghi Plastic Surgery & Ziba Medical Spa, 541.686.8700.

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SOURCE Movassaghi Plastic Surgery & Ziba Medical Spa