Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Articles

Most men tend to be awkward with anything that involves some kind of social interaction. Blame it on generations of conditioning to never be too vulnerable, not even among those closest to us.

That’s changing slowly, though. And, believe it or not, plastic surgery is an indicator of it. Men have always been concerned about their appearance. I can vouch for that, not just as board-certified plastic surgeon but also as a card-carrying member of the gender. What’s changing is that it’s finally becoming more acceptable for them to say and do something about it. The taboo’s fading.

And it happens to be coinciding with the de-stigmatization of male plastic surgery. It’s easy to imagine that only a few years ago, a guy would never dare tell his best friend that he was thinking about getting Botox to iron out a few premature wrinkles. Today, he’s likely to not only tell him; he may even invite him along.

The number of men interested in undergoing cosmetic procedures is surging. The total number of cosmetic surgical procedures performed among men in 2015 was 1.2 million, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS). That’s just under 10% of the total number of cosmetic surgical procedures done that year, but it’s more than triple the number of men who went under the knife in 1997, the first year the ASAPS began tracking annual statistics.

The number of men considering plastic surgery is increasing, too, according to the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. In a recent survey, 31% of men said they were “extremely likely” to consider a cosmetic procedure. A little less than half said a boost in confidence was the main reason for their interest. A quarter said they wanted to “look younger” in an effort to remain competitive in their careers.

Confronting reality

In my most recent blog posts, I’ve tried to unpack how influential our jobs can be—for both men and women—in shaping our interest in plastic surgery. The workforce is growing younger by the year. And where experience once earned you stature, now it’s more likely to render your voice irrelevant. What more and more are seeking, in turn, are ways to sharpen the edges of their experience, if you will. Think nonsurgical cosmetic treatments that can shave a couple years off a face, while maintaining a very natural appearance.

Of course, work isn’t the only reason. At no point in our history have we been faced with more images of ourselves. Even if you maintain a modest social media presence, you still probably see a portrait of yourself when you log into your laptop, send a text, and scroll through your friends’ posts. It can have a cumulative effect. We all have at least one feature we’d like to change. If you’re faced with that feature—say, a receding hairline or prominent forehead wrinkles—a dozen times a day, day in and day out, it has a way of growing roots in our thoughts.

Being particular

The most popular cosmetic surgical procedures for men are liposuction, eye-lift surgery, breast reduction, tummy tucks, and facelifts, according to recent annual statistics from the ASAPS. While not all that different from the top procedures for women, the details of the procedures often dramatically diverge between the two sexes. Rhinoplasty, for example, is not the same surgery for men as it is for women. The same can be said of injectables.

So, if you’re considering male plastic surgery, seek out a board-certified plastic surgeon with extensive experience in treating men. If you can’t find a gallery on their website, don’t be shy about asking during your consultation.

In my recent post, I highlighted a few things to help guide your search for a plastic surgeon and ensure that you find one you can trust. Things like asking friends and family for recommendations, reading as many reviews as you can stomach—but digesting them with a grain of salt, and checking the surgeon’s credentials.

All of that should serve as preparation for your initial consultation with a plastic surgeon, a critical part of the process. Here are a few more tips for what you should be looking for in a plastic surgeon. These are intended to provide you with a framework for the consultation itself and the moments that will follow it, right up to your decision.

Treat the consultation like a job interview.

If you walk into your consultation thinking, It’s the doctor’s responsibility to sell me on his ability to do this procedure, you’re going to miss a prime opportunity to gain some valuable insight into both the procedure and the doctor. Not to mention, those pitches are going to begin to become indistinguishable.

So, just like you would for a job interview, come prepared with a list of questions to ask the plastic surgeon. Go in with the aim of trying to resolve any uncertainty you may have about the procedure and the surgeon. Here are some examples:

• What’s your experience with this procedure?
• Can I see photos of some of your patients who’ve had this procedure, specifically those with my body type?
• Where will the procedure be done?
• I know this procedure is routine and safe, but just in case there’s a complication, are you affiliated with a hospital?
• What can I realistically expect from the recovery, and can I avoid the use of opioids?
• What’s the total cost of the procedure, with all the fees included?

The consultation is also the time when you should express your impetus for the procedure and your goals for it. The former is just as important as the latter because the surgeon may be able to suggest an alternative, less-invasive way to resolve the concern, or a complementary procedure that could provide a more comprehensive solution.

Take note of the doctor’s demeanor, too.

There can be so much emphasis on a doctor’s technical ability and experience that their bedside manner is overlooked. But that’s an important factor to consider for what you should be looking for in a plastic surgeon. Plastic surgery is equal parts science and art, so you should be weary of any doctor who treats this process as formulaic, or who pressures you to undergo a particular procedure.

No matter how often they’ve performed this procedure, they should treat you uniquely, asking lots of questions of their own and openly discussing realistic outcomes. And then they should be willing to give you your space to digest all of that information and decide on your own—and even meet again, if you feel it’s necessary.

Take your time and trust your instincts.

The relationship between you and your plastic surgeon is a personal one. You’re sharing concerns with them, some that you may not even have expressed to your spouse or partner. So, take your time and be patient. If you’ve met with a few doctors and you didn’t connect like you’d hoped you would, keep looking. You didn’t begin this process by settling. Don’t start now.