|
|
 |
|
||
| Most men look at plastic surgery from a different perspective than women do. They view it as a strategic business move rather than labeling it as a beauty procedure. It is something that will help them revitalize their appearance and make them look refreshed. These results may allow them to continue competing with the younger workforce, possibly fibbing on job applications regarding their age. Perhaps men are finally feeling the effects of society’s stigma on beauty…the same stigma women have been dealing with for decades. Men are typically not shy about having plastic surgery. However, they do not usually like to disclose this information to others. They want subtle results that can be attributed to living a healthier lifestyle combined with working out. Regardless of why or how they justify it, men are having a lot more plastic surgery today versus 10 years ago. Popular procedures differ between men and women. Both have nose reshaping, liposuction, and chin/neck surgery. But men are more apt to have hair transplants, calf or peck implants, and breast reductions. Calf implant plastic surgeries have more than quadrupled in the United States since 2002. This procedure has become more popular due to the fact that many people who have combined regular workouts with a healthier lifestyle still may not see the results they want. There are many men who could work their leg muscles for hours each week and still not be able to develop them. This is the point where men may choose to have calf implants. As with any surgery, the best candidate for this procedure is someone who is healthy, a non-smoker, and has realistic expectations of the outcome. Calf implant surgery is performed on an outpatient basis and is usually completed in one hour. Incisions are made in the natural creases located on the back of the knees, and the implant is inserted into a pocket that the surgeon creates. Post-surgery, the patient may feel as if he has just completed an intense workout. This feeling will linger for about two weeks. Most patients can return to work in no more than 10 days, and they can resume their regular activities within four to six weeks. Male liposuction is one of the fastest-growing trends in male plastic surgery. It is a little costlier for a man since his frame is larger than a woman’s frame. Liposuction can be performed on several different areas of the male body. The abdominal region, face, and breasts are the body parts that most want transformed. Liposuction is performed by inserting a thin tube also known as a cannula into the affected area via a small incision to suction fat from the region. The area will dictate how much fat is removed. If it is from the facial area, it can be as little as an ounce or two. Recovery time depends on where the liposuction is performed. Compression garments are usually worn post-surgery and aid in the recovery process. They are worn for several weeks. Upon removal, most patients see their bodies returning to normal after about two weeks. Any residual swelling and bruising will begin to subside during this time as well. It is important to know that liposuction is not a miracle cure that shields the human body from fat returning. You can gain weight back after liposuction. This procedure does remove fat cells from the body and these will not regenerate. However, if a patient doesn’t follow a healthy lifestyle post-surgery, new fat cells can still grow and contribute to weight gain. Removal of fat from the chin and neck may be performed via liposuction as well. The procedure helps to remove jowls, “turkey necks,” and double chins. One important issue to discuss with your surgeon prior to facial liposuction is if you plan to lose weight after the procedure. Weight loss tends to affect the look of the face, so it is sometimes best to postpone this procedure until after you are done shedding pounds. My father’s nose was broken when I was a child during a soccer game. The thought of plastic surgery never entered his mind back then. His nose would heal and he would be fine. He now has battle scars to remind him of his glory days. This shows just how much men’s attitudes have changed regarding cosmetic surgery over the years. Nose reshaping is a very common male plastic surgery procedure. It may be chosen purely for aesthetic reasons, or as in my dad’s case, to repair a sports injury. During your initial consultation, your surgeon can show you computer images to help you decide what “model” of nose you want and which one best suits your face. Your nose must be in proportion to your chin to make your face look normal. Take your time during this process and listen to your surgeon’s suggestions. You don’t want to look like Owen Wilson when you had planned on more of a Bradley Cooper image. Nose reshaping, also known as rhinoplasty, is performed in one of two ways: either open or closed. During a closed procedure, incisions are made inside the nostrils to gain entrance to the nose bone. Then the cartilage and bone can be reshaped. This procedure requires less recovery time because the tissues are less disrupted. An open rhinoplasty requires an incision to be made in the small piece of skin between the nostrils. This makes working on the internal part of the nose easy, but it will produce swelling that will take more time to subside. Once the reshaping is complete, you will more than likely have to wear a nose splint or nostril packing to support the new shape until it heals. All stitches used (except the ones in the skin between the nostrils) will be self-dissolving. Bruising and swelling will gradually subside over several weeks. Healing time is different for all patients based on their healing ability. However, you will be able to return to light work within a couple of days or as your appearance allows. Although some women opt for hair restoration surgery, most procedures are performed on men. Males suffer from male pattern baldness (MPB), whereas females do not. Have you ever noticed that no matter how bald a man is on top of his head, there is usually a “wreath” of hair around the back and sides of the head? This is MPB, and this remaining hair is where transplant hair is harvested from. This hair remains because it is dihydrotestosterone (DHT)-resistant. This is the cause of 97% of all male hair loss. Hair transplanting was first discovered in the 1930s in Japan when a doctor was working with burn victims. Since that time, this procedure has been refined and improved to the point where men with transplants can’t be distinguished from men with a full head of natural-growing hair. At this time, hair transplants can only be performed by harvesting (DHT) hair from the patient’s scalp and transplanting it into balding areas. Hair from another donor would be rejected unless anti-rejection medications were taken for life, and the risks of taking these far outweigh the benefits. The only hair that can be successfully transplanted from person to person is hair from twins with an identical genetic makeup. Once hair is harvested from the DHT-resistant region, it is placed in tiny holes that have been punched in the scalp in the balding areas. This is a tedious process, as one follicle at a time is transplanted. Lasers are used in some clinics to make the apertures where the new follicular units are implanted. Once the transplanted sites begin to heal, a scab will form and fall off. When this happens the new hair will also be shed. But not to worry: the newly implanted hair will fall under your regular hair growth cycle, and new hair will start to grow within four to six months. Some have seen results in just three months. It just depends on your body’s healing ability. Diabetic patients may see a longer growth recovery time. Once new hair begins growing, it will do so at a rate of one-fourth to one-half inch per month. A full hair transplant may take several sessions to complete depending on how large the balding areas are. Recovery time is very short. Many patients return to work the next day if they feel comfortable. This procedure does take time. If you are impatient and want a full head of luxurious hair immediately, you should probably buy a wig or toupee. I personally know someone who has undergone gastric bypass surgery to lose weight. The results are nothing short of a miracle. However, there is one major issue to deal with after massive weight loss, and that is excess skin. What do you do with it? It is unsightly, and you certainly don’t want to lessen the euphoria felt from the weight loss by carrying around a few pounds of unwanted skin. This is where a body lift comes into play. It is another major surgery, and some say that it is just as drastic as the bypass itself. But in the end, it could all be worth it. A body lift can be completed in one or two surgeries; one for the upper body and one for the lower body. If you choose to do both at the same time, it is referred to as a total body lift. The surgery focuses on improving the appearance of the buttocks, abdomen, thighs, breasts, and arms. The order in which you choose to have your surgeries done will depend on your body type and what your surgeon suggests. Most body lift procedures follow the same surgical plan. First an incision is made in the region; excess fat is removed by liposuction; the muscles are tightened up; and excess skin is trimmed away. The incision is then closed by sutures. It is advised to wait at least 12 to 18 months after gastric bypass surgery to have a body lift. This should be enough time for the patient to reach their goal weight and to have integrated healthy eating and living habits into their lives. The procedure will require a one- to three-day hospital stay. Aftercare is of the utmost importance. Drainage tubes will probably be inserted during surgery to prohibit the build-up of fluid to prevent swelling. These tubes have to be maintained properly. Your surgeon will also give you specific dietary instructions to follow. Recovery time is normally four to six weeks, with exercise resuming at eight weeks. Men want to look just as good as women do. As our world changes, so do our attitudes regarding youth, beauty, and vitality. Sources for this story included: www.yourbariatircsurgeryguide.com, www.plasticsurgery.org, and www.americanhairloss.org. |
Plastic Surgery |
||
|
