As recently as 10-20 years ago, plastic surgery for men was typically limited to reconstructive surgery that focused on repairing damage caused by deformities or trauma. Cosmetic surgeries tended to be dominated by women, and the industry reflected that by catering primarily to treatments that were female-centric.
With the advent and popularization of the internet and social media, cultural values have begun to shift towards greater acceptance of these treatments in men. In addition, medical advances in technology have drastically decreased the costs, recovery time, while improving the aesthetics of the end result. So, whereas a cultural taboo may have once been a socially acceptable deterrent at one time, many men, especially those over 50, don’t feel the societal pressure that they once did. Many still wish to keep the rugged male look, but opt for the removal of some lines and a more relaxed look.
There are a number of specialist facial treatments available that enhance and rejuvenate the male face some of the more popular procedures available to men who are over 50 are discussed below:
Blepharoplasty
Blepharoplasty (Eyelid surgery) is a corrective surgery that adds or removes excess skin and fatty tissue from the eyelids. As we age, our skin loses elasticity, and gravity causes the eyelids to sag downwards. In addition, fat stores can accumulate in the eyelid, increasing a baggy look, and potentially hindering vision. Typically, this involves reshaping and rejuvenation both upper and lower eyelids.
Male blepharoplasty is more challenging than female blepharoplasty as it is key to be conservative to provide a natural looking result. Often male celebrities (e.g. Tom Jones, Mickey Rourke) who look very different to when they were younger have had upper blepharoplasty that has opened up their eyelids changing their appearance, key is conservative surgery and attention to fine detail to achieve a natural looking result (e.g. George Clooney).
Recovery following surgery, may include minor bruising and swelling that can last one to two weeks, and any scars that form slowly fade over subsequent weeks. Dr De Silva utilises state-of-the art modern technology including bio-technology to enhance recovery and speed up healing. The overall result is a more rested and youthful look.
Neck and Chin Lift
Neck and chin lifts typically involve an incision under the chin and/or behind the ears in order to deal directly with sagging skin or a weakened platysma muscle that becomes increasingly more likely as we age. This typically falls under cervicoplasty (for sagging skin) or platysmaplasty (to strengthen the neck). Dr De Silva utilises state-of-the art modern technology including bio-technology and sedation anaesthesia to enhance recovery and speed up healing.
Recovery time generally lasts for 3-weeks depending on the surgery involved, but patients should expect to return to their normal day-to-day activities within two weeks. Swelling and bruising, given the nature of the treatment are the most common side effects of the procedure. Results are often dramatic in nature, and patients should expect a much more streamlined throat, a more youthful look over the long-term.
Chin Implants
If you check out someone’s side profile, you might notice if their chin doesn’t stand out much. Ideally, it should be in a straight line with where the upper lip meets the nose. For many men, having a well-defined chin is considerably attractive.
There’s an operation, known as chin augmentation, to help with this. Different approaches exist, but a popular one uses chin pads. In earlier times, doctors had to adjust the jaw bone, and that took longer to heal. Nowadays, using these pads offers a faster way to enhance the chin’s appearance.
Why the Centre for Advanced Facial Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery?
Dr Julian De Silva is a certified plastic surgeon with multiple board certifications in both the US and UK, specializing in cosmetic procedures in the greater London area. Call us to schedule a consultation today, and we can discuss in further detail what your options are!
