We are seeing more men interested in facelift surgery and nonsurgical options at our Dallas practice than ever before. In many ways, the pandemic has opened up the opportunity for many patients who could not “afford” the downtime in the past. Being away from work for 2 to 3 weeks was not an option for many.
That has all changed, knowing that the majority of that “recovery” was due to not being presentable rather than being uncomfortable or in pain. Being able to work from home following a procedure has shortened the recovery for many and driven them to seek consultation regarding what may be best for their goals.
In this blog post, we’ll review male facial features, the most popular surgical and nonsurgical procedures for men, and explain the 3 areas most men want to rejuvenate.
Facial Attractiveness: Men vs. Women
In a February 2019 related blog post, we highlighted important differences among the facial structures of men and women. These differences as well as a recognition of what is aesthetically pleasing to the eye are critical to understanding as we map out treatment options for patients. You can see some of the ways male and female attractiveness differ in the image below.
Things that can be seen that highlight what NOT to do in men include:
- High arched brows in men
- Hollow upper eyelids in men and women
- Excessive fullness over the cheekbone in men
- Oval appearance of the face in men
- Flat cheeks and a square jawline in women
Most Popular Male Surgical Procedures
As a man, how can I rejuvenate my face?
Men coming to see us are often unhappy with 3 areas of their faces, asking us how they can address those issues. Let’s focus on these things and discuss the options we give to our patients to help correct and improve their appearance.
1) Heaviness of the upper eyelid area
The aging process is complex, and a precise patient-specific analysis must be performed to create a treatment plan that is tailored to that individual’s needs. The upper eyelid is influenced not only by the eyelid itself but also the brow position. Recognizing that males have a lower or heavier brow, rejuvenation must be approached cautiously. An over-elevated brow results in a surprised look and is very unnatural, particularly in males. That being said, some males do need a brow lift to help open up their eyes. This may be accomplished in a number of different ways depending on the patient.
- Botulinum toxin – in some patients we can inject the muscles that we term “brow depressors” to take away their action giving a modest lift or opening of the eye. In some patients, this is all that is needed to help improve this area.
- Brow lift – Brow lifts, in general, are not performed as often these days. That being said, there is still a role for elevating, particularly the lateral brow in men. This can be accomplished through an incision along the temporal hairline or one fashioned in a natural crease that exists in the forehead. In both cases, the goal is to modestly elevate the tail of the brow to open up the eye area.
- Upper eyelid surgery – The most common facial procedure we perform on men is the removal of the upper eyelid skin to open up the eye. In some patient’s insurance may cover this procedure should it be deemed a functional issue. This procedure involves an incision that winds up in the natural crease we have. It heals very well. The procedure can often be performed in the office under a local anesthetic.
The surgical procedures are not particularly painful. There may be some associated bruising or swelling that would make you less presentable for up to two weeks. We allow you to start to work out and get your heart rate up beginning at around two weeks, time. The majority of the swelling is gone in the first two weeks, but subtle changes will occur for a few months. Check out our Rapid Recovery Program.
2) Tired appearance of the lower eyelids
Aging of the lower eyelid is complex, and a detailed analysis allows us to tailor the recommended procedures to that individual. It involves changes to our skin, muscle, and underlying fat.
- Injectable fillers – in many patients, we can camouflage the aging changes by restoring volume to areas that have lost volume during the aging process. This is an office procedure done with a topical anesthetic and ice. We replace the lost fat along the bone and cheek with a water-based product to soften the transition from the eyelid to the cheek. This is not a surgical procedure but can be effective and has minimal if any downtime. Results last between 9-12 months.
- Lower eyelid surgery – this procedure can reverse all the components of the aging process of the lower eyelid in one procedure. The skin is tightened, as is the muscle. We remove some of the visible fat and soften the transition between the lower and upper eyelid. The procedure is most commonly coupled with upper eyelid procedures. Recovery, particularly when combined with the upper eyelid procedure may take 2-3 weeks to be presentable.
3) Dissatisfaction with the Neck
Today, more than ever, our neck is on display. The “selfie” and “zoom” era is not flattering and may accentuate neck changes experienced during the aging process. Men more than women are isolated in their focus on the neck and less concerned about the jawline and face. In general, non-surgical alternatives are not going to result in any significant change. This leaves us with two surgical alternatives:
- Direct neck excision – this is an office-based procedure that can be performed under a local anesthetic. It results in a vertical scar in the midline of the neck and directly excises the tissue in the central neck. It targets the “turkey neck” area and is the best way to improve the area long term. You can see some of our patients’ before-and-after photos below and in our photo gallery.
- Lower facelift/neck lift – This procedure involves more traditional incisions designed around the ears and will address the contour and shape of the jawline in addition to the neck. It requires a trip to the operating room, but can be done as a day procedure.
It is important for both patients and their treating physicians to recognize the differences between men and women with regard to the aging process as well as the best options we have to treat them. As facial plastic surgeons in Dallas, our facial rejuvenation goal remains to have our patients look as good as they feel. This should be done naturally and allow our patients to turn back the hands of time 10 to 15 years. We are fortunate to have many options to allow our patients to choose the best treatment to satisfy their needs.
Thinking about plastic surgery to reinvigorate your appearance? Contact us using our online form to request a consultation or call us at (214) 645-3112 (Dallas) or (469) 604-9120 (Frisco) to schedule an appointment.
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