Men Have Unique Needs and Desires When it Comes to Plastic Surgery and Cosmetic Procedures

READING, Pa., Aug. 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- In decades past, male plastic surgery was uncommon. Today, men visit plastic surgeons with increasing frequency and without apology. According to the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), the number of cosmetic procedures for men jumped a staggering 106 percent between 1997 and 2012.

It is important to note that male plastic surgery needs differ from those of women. To avoid a feminized appearance, certain common surgical procedures must be adapted for male patients. A man's motivation for improving his appearance is often quite different as well. All of these factors should be considered before any cosmetic procedure is undertaken.

Physiological Differences

Cosmetic procedures for men must take some notable physical differences into account when a treatment plan is being developed. Here are several significant examples:

• Male features are inherently different. The male brow is stronger and the eyelids are fuller. To maintain gender differences—those relating to the eyes in particular—standard surgical techniques that are used on women are not appropriate for men. An eyelid lift for a man should not remove the same amount of skin and fat as for a woman, for example.
• Male skin is thicker and firmer. In addition to being thicker than female skin, male skin also contains more elastin and collagen; as a result, swelling may persist longer for men than women. Additionally, men tend to have less subcutaneous fat, so the face is more lean.
• Men have more muscle mass. This physical difference often comes into play when administering injectable treatments such as BOTOX®; usually more product is required for men than women.

Psychological Differences

Men also have different motivation when seeking aesthetic improvements. To keep a competitive edge in a culture that values youth, many men seek a refreshed, invigorated appearance without compromising the respect their years of experience have earned them. The mindset for men varies in a couple of ways:

• Men prefer more subtle results. While it's no longer taboo for men to opt for plastic surgery, they tend to feel more strongly about avoiding exaggerated results. When developing an approach for male plastic surgery, a rejuvenated but very natural-looking outcome is key.
• Men want to look sculpted rather than thin. When men undergo liposuction, they are generally interested in more than a smooth silhouette—they want the abdominal muscles to be emphasized, for example.
• Men want quick recovery times. In general, noninvasive procedures with little downtime, such as injectables, are appealing to men, who appreciate being able to be back at work the next day with little indication of having a procedure done.

Popular Procedures for Men
Dr. Brian K. Reedy and Dr. John G. Fernandez, plastic surgeons at Berks Plastic Surgery, note that men gravitate toward a particular set of cosmetic procedures that supports the male motivation for aesthetic improvement. Liposuction and CoolSculpting—a nonsurgical body contouring treatment—both sculpt the body and can help accentuate a muscular torso. Gynecomastia, or male breast reduction, also helps define the chest and profile while it reduces enlarged male breasts. Eyelid lifts are also popular among their male patients; when done with finesse, this surgery can refresh and rejuvenate the male face without a drastic change in appearance.

It is important that surgeons performing plastic surgery for men demonstrate a clear understanding of how the procedure should be planned to preserve the unique male characteristics, and they should also note that men are often motivated by different factors than women when seeking cosmetic improvements. A consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon can help the male patient understand all his options for plastic surgery and related aesthetic treatments.

About Berks Plastic Surgery:
Berks Plastic Surgery serves the Allentown, Reading, Harrisburg, and Philadelphia areas of Pennsylvania, providing plastic surgery and dermatology services. Board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Brian K. Reedy and plastic surgeon Dr. John G. Fernandez perform a full complement of aesthetic surgeries and cosmetic treatments. Reach Berks Plastic Surgery at 610.320.0200 or berksplasticsurgery.com.

Media Contact: Dr. Brian K. Reedy, 610.320.0200.

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SOURCE Berks Plastic Surgery