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MEN’S Historically, female patients have outnumbered male pa-
HEALTH tients in getting cosmetic surgery. For women — the fairer
sex — looking young and beautiful is a product of history
Male and sociologic influences. For men, while similar motivations
to look young and handsome are present, many male patients
Cosmetic Surgery are turning to cosmetic surgery to maintain competitiveness
on the Rise in the workforce. The working age continues to rise, and
many older men find that good jobs are going to younger
By Dr. Kenneth C.Y. Yu counterparts. As people are living longer due to better health
(through advances in healthcare and better diet and exercise),
20 San Antonio Medicine • December 2015 men are able to extend their careers. Men, like women, just
want to look as good as they feel inside. The American Society
of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery reported there’s been a 273 per-
cent increase in the number of procedures performed on men
since 1997.

What are the most common cosmetic procedures done by
men? In 2014, the top surgical procedures were rhinoplasty,
liposuction, blepharoplasty, and facelifts. Men also had min-
imally invasive procedures. The common injectable treat-
ments we hear in public are also popular with men, and
include Botulinum toxin injections (Botox or Dysport), soft
tissue fillers, laser hair removal and skin resurfacing proce-
dures.

Injectable treatments are increasingly popular with men.
Botox can selectively weaken facial muscles and help men look
more relaxed, less angry and tired. Forehead and glabellar
wrinkles (the “angry 11’s” between the brows) are common
areas that men want softened. In contrast to women, who
place a priority on smooth skin, men often just want a more
relaxed look but also want to keep some wrinkles. This helps
present an appearance of experience. Deepening nasolabial
folds is a common sign of aging, and this is another area where
men are looking for improvement. Various fillers (i.e.
hyaluronic acid fillers like Juvederm or Restylane or calcium
hydroxyapatite like Radiessse) can effectively fill in the de-
pression and achieve a more youthful look.

Another interesting finding discovered recently is the ob-
servation that many people (both men and women) are self-
conscious about their submental fullness or fat. This gives one
a “double chin” look. With the popularity of taking selfies
with smart phones, more people are seeking treatment for this
area. Traditionally, options included surgery (lipectomy) or
liposuction. However, the recently FDA-approved Kybella in-
jections offer patients a nonsurgical, minimally invasive in-